BRISTOL, R.I. – The Endicott women's basketball team took on conference opponent Roger Williams on Thursday evening for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) quarterfinals. Despite the 21 points from Senior Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) it was not enough as the Hawks came out with the 60-57 victory. Endicott falls to 20-7 overall while the Hawks will advance to the CCC Championship at 22-5.
The first half started out in Hawks favor but the Blue and Green pieced it together in the final 10 minutes to take the one point advantage entering halftime. Crough posted 13 points after trailing by seven to get the Gulls back on track. Defensively senior Sarah Robinson (Norwich, Vt.) came up big tabbing two steals in her 15 minutes of play while senior Julie Manning (Hull, Mass.) led in rebounds with five.
To start off the half the Hawks went on a seven point run until sophomore Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) broke the ice with a layup that fired up Endicott as Crough and Cuddy got the Blue and Green back within two as they went back to back scoring with a jumper and a trey at the 13:12 mark.
Two minutes later Manning tied the game at nine apiece as she drove to the basket in the paint. After another lead change in favor of the Hawks, Crough gave the Gulls their first lead of the night on and and1 play. Junior Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) followed Crough by helping give Endicott a five point advantage by going perfect from the charity stripe with 8:25 to go in the half.
The Hawks would not end the half quietly as they caused two Endicott turnovers followed by a good fast break layup from sophomore Alyssa Otis (Torrington, Conn.) and a deep trey from senior Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) to tie up the game. In the final three minutes of the half Crough put up six points to help give Endicott the 30-29 edge over the Hawks.
To start off the second half the Blue and Green took a five point lead with big buckets from Cuddy and Crough. RWU's Bovee was able to tie the game back up for the first time since the first half at 16:35 as she pulled off the and-one play. After a three minute stalemate where both sides were tied at 38 apiece Bovee again lit up the scoreboard giving the Hawks their first lead of the second half which turned into an eventual five point lead in the Hawks favor at the 10:48 mark.
Endicott would not give up as they pushed hard on the offensive end to answer all Hawks buckets. With a huge steal and a good layup up from Manning the Blue and Green were back within one with 8:10 left in regulation.
For the next three minutes of play both sides struggled to find the basket as they were each causing turnovers but failing to capitalize on the plays. Finally at the 5:35 mark the lull was ended as sophomore Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) as she was able to work in the paint to earn a quick two points.
With 16 left in regulation Crough got the Gulls back within two with a jumper in the paint and was able to get the ball back within the final seconds but the Hawks held strong to secure the victory.
Overall the Blue and Green shot 40% from the field while shooting 87.5% from the free throw line. Crough led in points with 21 while Manning held strong with nine rebounds followed by three blocks from Sarah Robinson.
Endicott will wait until Monday, February 3rd where they will hear if they have been selected into the ECAC women's basketball tournament.
