Smolensky’s first three gave Salve Regina its first lead (9-7, just over five minutes into the contest), jump starting a 16-0 run for the Seahawks. The Seahawk lead got as high as 24 points (66-42) following Smolensky’s final three with 7:25 remaining. Smolensky finished with 15 points.
Bison guard Casey Butler [JR/East Longmeadow, Mass.] led the visitors with 20 points and nine rebounds. Nichols missed all eight of their three-point attempts.
Three other Seahawks scored in double figures as Matt Coute [JR/ Somerset, Mass.] also had a 15-point effort including three threes. Chris Collier [SR/ Exeter, N.H.] added 14 points on 7-for-8 from the floor while Matt Grendal [SO/ Foxboro, Mass.] contributed a dozen points and seven rebounds.
Salve Regina (6-4; 3-0 CCC) hosts Curry on Tuesday, January 11, at 8:00PM; Nichols (2-5; 0-2 CCC) comes back to Rhode Island to play at Roger Williams on Tuesday. The two teams meet again next Thursday (1/13) in Dudley, Mass.
Newspaper Box Score Nichols vs Salve Regina 01/08/04 3:00 pm at Newport RI At Newport RI SALVE REGINA 74, NICHOLS 52 NICHOLS (2-5; 0-2 CCC) Casey Butler 8-16 4-7 20; Justin Lewis 4-9 0-0 8; Chris Vallee 1-3 4-5 6; Anthony Smith 2-8 1-2 5; Terrence Parker 1-4 3-4 5; Ron Powers 2-3 0-0 4; Jermaine Baskerville 1-3 0-0 2; Dave Berkland 1-4 0-2 2; Scott LaTorra 0-2 0-0 0; Stephen Van Loan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-53 12-20 52. SALVE REGINA (6-4; 3-0 CCC) Matt Coute 6-11 0-1 15; Matt Smolensky 5-7 0-0 15; Chris Collier 7-8 0-2 14; Matt Grendal 5-10 2-3 12; Jon Hazzard 3-8 0-0 6; Chris Goodridge 2-8 2-2 6; Steve Walsh 1-2 4-4 6; Jay Pallotti 0-1 0-0 0; Sean Martin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-56 8-12 74. Nichols 23 29 52 Salve Regina 34 40 74 3-point goals-Nichols 0-8 (Casey Butler 0-3; Chris Vallee 0-1; Anthony Smith 0-1; Terrence Parker 0-2; Scott LaTorra 0-1), Salve Regina 8-15 (Matt Smolensky 5-5; Matt Coute 3-5; Jon Hazzard 0-2; Chris Goodridge 0-1; Jay Pallotti 0-1; Sean Martin 0-1). Fouled out--Nichols-None, Salve Regina-None. Rebounds-Nichols 35 (Casey Butler 9), Salve Regina 31 (Matt Grendal 7). Assists-Nichols 5 (Anthony Smith 3), Salve Regina 17 (Matt Grendal 5; Chris Goodridge 5). Total fouls-Nichols 17, Salve Regina 16. A-108