BY MICHAEL VALLESCURO // FEB. 25, 2015 //

The Curry College women’s basketball team will play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals tomorrow night, Feb. 26, after beating Salve Regina in a thriller yesterday.

Salve Regina opened the game on a 10-2 run, but the fast start did not bother the Colonels. Showing some great determination and persistence at home, Curry found a way to tie the game going into the second half and eventually pulled away for the 54-49 win.

Kylie Beltz was the game’s leading scorer with 21. In the second half, Beltz went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and shot 3-for-3 from the three-point arc.

“Her shot came back! It was just hiding,” Curry assistant coach Stacy Cotter said after the game.

Samantha Corcoran finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and five blocked shots in an all-round great game. Teammate Kerry White added nine points and six rebounds.

“They really came through in the end, and it was defense that did it ’cause our shots were not falling for a long time,” said head coach Fran Elms.

With 25 seconds left on the clock, Salve Regina’s Brianna Del Valle (20 points and 11 rebounds) drained both free throws, making the score 53-49. However, Salve could get no closer.

Curry, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will host No. 7 seed Endicott at 6 p.m. The Gulls routed No. 2 Roger Williams in an upset win, 73-59.

DEFENSE
The Colonels showed a great defensive effort, with 43 rebounds and out-blocking Salve Regina, 10-1.

SHOOTING
The Colonels shot a respectable 45.5 percent from three-point range. However, 63 percent from the free-throw line and 32.7 percent from the field are things that can be improved.

LITTLE REST
Backup center Nicole Rice chipped in with three blocks and three offensive rebounds.