Cranston East graduate Aireus Raspberry has solidified himself as an instant starter for the Johnson & Wales men’s basketball team this winter, appearing in the opening five for the Wildcats in all but one game to date. The former Thunderbolt earned his first start at the collegiate level in JWU’s second contest of the season, a 67-57 win over Goucher on November 16 in the consolation game of the Dick Leftwich Tip-Off Tournament, recording three points in 26 minutes. Things improved significantly for Raspberry three days later in the Wildcats’ home opener versus Fisher, as he poured in 14 points to help the hosts overcome a 36-29 halftime deficit to defeat the Falcons 70-67. It was the first of three double-digit performances for the freshman guard, as he notched 12 points in a 94-89 decision over Mitchell on December 7 before chipping in with ten as JWU upended hosts Juniata 67-52 on Saturday to to win the Doc Green Tournament. The majority of Raspberry’s offensive output thus far has came from three-point range, as 13 of his 21 field goals have come from behind the arc, contributing to his 54.2 three-point percentage, leading the team among players with at least 20 attempts. Raspberry has also held his own when JWU is not possessing the ball, racking up 26 rebounds and eight steals, grabbing three of each in the aforementioned tilt against Juniata. With a mid-season tournament victory now firmly tucked under their belt, Johnson & Wales is currently 6-4 on the campaign with one game remaining in 2019, a short journey within Providence to face crosstown rival Rhode Island College this Wednesday.

Success has been thin on the ice for Cranston native Jillian Egan at the start of her college hockey career, as her Salve Regina squad has only managed to chalk up a single win out of its opening ten games. However, the La Salle alumna had a key hand in that lone victory for the Seahawks, potting home the second goal of Salve’s 3-1 defeat of Becker on November 8, doing so at the 5:23 mark of the second period. Egan beat Hawk goaltender Madelyn Morgan for what was her first marker at the collegiate level, depositing home a rebound after Grace Schwartz’s initial effort was denied by Morgan’s blocker. The former Ram notched two more goals before the end of November, grabbing Salve’s only score in a 5-1 setback to Endicott on November 22 before firing home the Seahawks’ second in a 3-2 loss to Wesleyan four days later. Salve Regina is now in the middle of their holiday hiatus, with the Seahawks looking to return to the win column on January 3 as they begin a home-and-home with New England College, who are on a 17-game winless skid dating back to last season.