Only three games stand between the Hawks and the start of playoffs. It’s been four weeks since the team took a loss — on the road versus Endicott College — in their Commonwealth Coast Conference run.

Recently, the wins haven’t come as easily.

“We rode the roller coaster today,” Head Coach Kelly Thompson said in response to their victory against Gordon College on Feb. 2.

The first quarter seemed like a strong start with the Hawks up 18-10, but among those 18 points were seven turnovers. In the second quarter, they were able to stay on top of Gordon, but still missed several shots outside and from the line.

Once the second half began, the turnovers returned. In the third quarter alone, the Hawks put up six. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, they regrouped and came out on top by 11 with a final score of 58-47.

This win was especially sweet to the team with alumni in the stands, purple and white balloons adorning the benches and posters for the Ryan Weekes memorial game. Weekes (’12) played for Thompson as a guard during her time at RWU. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with cancer.

According to Thompson, the memorial game is always the same day as alumni day for a reason.

“To get the opportunity to play in front of our alumni is always special,” Thompson said. “Not all of them played with Ryan so it’s a great opportunity to tell them about who she is as a person.”

Off the court, the Hawks are still busy in the community. Last week, they attended a practice for the Bristol-Warren fifth and sixth grade basketball teams in place of their own practice.

This proved to be helpful for the girls.

“It was amazing,” senior captain Magarita Delaporta said. “We made sure to get everyone pumped up to play with us.”

Going forward, the Hawks will face Endicott — the team responsible for their last loss — at home.

Still, after eight straight CCC wins, Thompson is open to any conference matchup in their first playoff game.

“We just need to be really solid and make good passes within our offense,” Thompson said. “Defensively, we need to communicate our way through things and just keep them in front of us.”