WENHAM, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team traveled across town to Gordon on Wednesday night for the first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup of the season. Sophomore Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) tallied a team high 13 points while posting six rebounds and six assists in the 58-42 victory. The Gulls move to 4-1 (1-0 CCC) while the Fighting Scots fall to 2-3 (0-1 CCC).
The Blue and Green came out firing in the first half as they outscored the Scots 25-19. Cuddy and senior Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.) each recorded seven points to help give Endicott an edge throughout the half. The Gulls took control early holding Gordon to just eight points for most of the frame.
With 13 minutes left in the first the Blue and Green started their run of eight unanswered points while creating a 14 point lead. After six scoreless minute for both sides the Scots worked to get back in the game with four minutes remaining in the half. Sophomore Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) woke the Scots up with two back to back buckets. Teammate Lauren Kranyak (Locust Groce, Va.) followed in her stead tallying seven points in less than three minutes to close the gap to a 25-19 score to end the half.
The Gulls entered the second half ready to take back control as they outscored Gordon 33-23 while shooting 80% from the free throw line and going 12-35 from inside the arc. Cuddy and senior Julie Manning (Hull, Mass.) sent a spark through the Gulls in the opening minutes, after the Scots scored a quick six points, by working hard in the paint to nab two layups apiece.
At the 10 minute mark junior Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.) came in off the bench and earned a three point play after getting fouled off a made basket in the key. Minutes later she then put up a big shot from down town to make it a 46-35 game.
Senior Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) was a machine crashing the boards as she came out with eight in the half but worked hard offensively earning four, while one resulted in the put back and another got Wright to the free throw line for another easy two points.
Overall the Blue and Green as a whole earned 10 second chance points to the Scots two while they tallied 11 points off the 21 forced turnovers. With the group efforts Endicott took 48 rebounds to Gordon's 35, led by Crough who led both sides with 11 to tie her career single game high.
With the victory the Gulls have now won 12 consecutive games to Gordon while recording eight double digit wins in their last 10 meetings.
Endicott will tip off next this coming Saturday on December 7th as they host their first CCC contest of the season against Eastern Nazarene for a 3:00 p.m. start. The Fighting Scots will also hit the court on Saturday as they travel to conference opponent Nichols for a 2:00 p.m. start.
