SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team traveled to Western New England on Saturday afternoon for the last regular season game before the CCC tournament. Three different Gulls scored in double digits in the 68-60 victory as they improve to 19-6, (14-4 CCC) while the Golden Bears fall to 10-15, (7-11 CCC).
The first meeting between the two squads was a battle that turned out in Western New England's favor back in January. This game would pose the same battle but the second time around the Blue and Green held strong to the end to take the victory. In the first half Endicott outscored WNE by 10 points led by senior Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) who dished out 13 points alone while adding two steals. The Gulls worked hard in the field offensively shooting 37.9% while holding their opponents to 28%.
In the opening 10 minutes of play both sides were going back and forth for points on the scoreboard with huge efforts from WNE's sophomore Chelsea Vujs (Berlin, Conn.). Finally at the halfway mark the Blue and Green started to get a rhythm and pull away from WNE after sophomore Nicole Catizone and junior Kayleen Whall came in off the bench and hit back to back treys to take a four point lead, the largest of the half. After another big jumper from long range by Catizone both sides went on a two minute stall with zero baskets.
Freshman Paige Young (Berlin, Conn.) broke the ice with a quick free throw followed by a jumper from Crough and two good free throws from senior Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.) that led to another stall for four minutes. Crough finished up the half with a layup and a good point from the charity stripe to close the half at 31-21.
The second half was a different story as the Golden Bears caused trouble for Endicott outscoring 39-37. However the Gulls worked hard defensively causing five turnovers while posting two steals and two blocks as a whole. Western New England took advantage of the struggles from the field for the Blue and Green while shooting well in return. Sophomore Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) helped keep the Gulls in check with her 14 points followed by senior Julie Manning (Hull, Mass.) who added 11 in the half.
To start off WNE opened up with five straight points to get within six of the leading Gulls. However Cuddy answered back shooting six points in two minutes to keep the cushioned lead. At the 13 minute mark both sides were struggling from the field putting up little numbers for over three minutes.
In the seventh minute of play the Golden Bears went on a tear scoring 11 points to the Gulls zero to take the lead for the first time since the first half. By 4:30 WNE was up by a basket but Endicott would not give up easily as they answered back by working hard in the paint and getting to the free throw line as Manning took back the lead after going 2-2 which turned into a 13 point run by the Blue and green. The Golden Bears worked to get back within reach but the run by the Gulls was enough to seal the victory.
Overall Endicott shot well from the field while working hard defensively causing 15 total turnovers as the lead changed 12 times throughout the game.The Gulls will take the court next on Tuesday, February 25th for the quarterfinal round of the CCC Tournament. The opponent and game time is TBD, please stay tuned through ECGULLS.com for details.
