Salisbury, MD – In just their first year in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, the Regent University Women's Basketball team was one of the six teams to qualify for the chance to play for a championship. The young team has battled through adversity and set numerous program records this season, but they have become a family which resulted in some solid wins. Tonight, the Royals hoped to continue that success on the same court they visited just five days ago.
As the first quarter began, Freshman Kennedy Shipman (Virginia Beach, VA), just off being named 2nd Team All-Conference, gave Regent the early lead with a three-pointer and that was followed by back-to-back threes from fellow Freshman Eliza Entzminger (Winterville, NC), which stretched the advantage to seven points. Shipman would keep finding success as she connected on a driving shot from the baseline. However, the Seagulls offense began to wake up as they eventually were able to take a one-point lead, until Shipman answered with a floater to go back out in front. Freshman, Mikaylah Telfer (Chesapeake, VA) executed a pick and roll for driving layup, while Shipman drained a three-pointer from the top of the key, but Salisbury would go on a run in the second quarter and at the half the Royals trailed 61-24. The third quarter saw Shipman and Telfer get Regent on the board with a free throw and a layup. Junior Zipporah Johnson (Waterford, MI) scored her first points of the half with two free throws of her own and she found herself at the line numerous times throughout the fourth quarter, However, the Seagulls pulled away and the Royals' tourney would come to an end as they fell by a final score of 108-37.
Shipman finished with a team high 12 points and 4 assists, while Entzminger and Johnson added 9 points apiece. In addition, Telfer grabbed 8 total rebounds and Junior Shardae Williams (Fredericksburg, VA) recorded a block in the game.
Regent's season is now over, and they will turn their attention to offseason training and recruiting. They would like to thank all the fans and students for their support this year and are looking forward to getting back on the court again next year.
