Jan. 13, 2009
BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott College women's basketball team was held to its lowest scoring output of the season with only 49 points as Nichols College defeated the Gulls 61-49 in TCCC action on Tuesday night. The loss drops the Gulls to 9-4 (1-1 TCCC) while the Bison improve to 11-2 (2-0 TCCC). Endicott was led by Ashley Vitale's (Wilmington, Mass.) 14 points and four rebounds in the loss.
In the first half, the Gulls were able to keep the Bison at bay as Endicott held at least a three-point lead during the entire period. Endicott was able to extend its lead to nine, its largest of the game, on a layup and converted free throw by Ceciley Chisholm (Lexington, Mass.). The Gulls led the entire first half and entered the break with a six point edge over the visitors.
Nichols would start to chip away in the first five minutes of the second half as the Bison cut the deficit to two points on an and-one by Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, Mass.) who made the free throw to make the score 33-31. Nearly a minute later, Lyndsey Bennett (North Brookfield, Mass.) hit a jumper for the Bison and tied the score at 33. The Gulls would respond with a 5-0 run capped off by a layup from Nicole Duchesne (Plaistow, N.H.) to take the lead back at 38-33.
Nichols would respond with a run of its own that would seal the fate of the Gulls. The Bison closed out the game on a 23-11 tear to beat the Gulls on their home floor.
Vitale was the leading scorer for the Gulls with 14 points while Kaylin Burke (Leominster, Mass.) led the Gulls in rebounds with eight. Nicole Duchesne had six assists to go along with nine points and four rebounds.
The Bison were led by senior MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) who had 14 points, six rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and two blocks. Michele Guerin (Chicopee, Mass.) came off the bench to lead Nichols in rebounds with eight while Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) chipped in with 11 points.
The Blue and Green return to action on Thursday in a non-conference matchup with Babson at 7:00 p.m. at MacDonald Gymnasium in Beverly, Mass. Nichols will travel to Henniker, N.H. on Saturday for another TCCC game against New England College at 1:00 p.m.
