BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team hosted Roger Williams on Thursday evening for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) showdown. After both sides battled for 40 straight minutes the Hawks were able to edge the Gulls 71-60. Endicott falls to 5-7 (1-4 CCC) while the Hawks improve to 7-5 (4-1 CCC).
Endicott will take the court next on Saturday, January 10th as they host CCC top dog Curry for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off. Roger Williams will also hit the court next on Saturday as they host CCC opponent Wentworth at 1:00 p.m.
Both sides battled for the entire game as the Hawks were led by junior Rachel Battisa (Johnston, R.I.) who tallied 19 points coming off the bench while the Blue and Green were led by a 13 point effort from juniors Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) and Nicole Catizone (Woburn, Mass.). Coming in right behind the junior combo was senior Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.) and rookie Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) who each hit 11.
The Hawks just edged the Blue and Green from the field with a 44% mark to Endicott's 42% while the Gulls owned the free throw line shooting 9-of-13 (69%). Wright controlled long-range shooting for the Gulls hitting an impressive 3-of-4 while she also went 4-of-5 from close range. The Hawks were able to out-rebound Endicott with 42 boards to 26 which led to their 11 second chance points. In their efforts three different Hawks tallied six rebounds each while both senior Lisa Lutz (Downers Grove, Ill.) and freshman Teagan Dunn (Burlington, Conn.) came up with three offensive boards.
The first half was an absolute battle as the Hawks only held a three point advantage after some key efforts by Cuddy (7) and Wright (6) who each posted some essential points throughout the 20 minutes. Roger Williams showed depth as almost every player off the bench and all but one starter tallied points, led by a six point effort from sophomore Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.).
Both sides each struggled from the field putting up 38% while Endicott owned the charity stripe with their 60% shooting to the Hawks 38%. Roger Williams worked a tough post game as they came up with six total offensive rebounds to the Gull's one. However for the Blue and Green, Cuddy played a tough defensive battle at the top of the arc coming up with three steals which alone totaled more than the entire Hawks team in the half.
The second half was just as big of a battle as Catizone made some key treys which led to her nine points in the half while Shaw came up big off the bench with some huge points under the basket as she also put up nine. Endicott again controlled the free throw line with an impressive 75%, led by Catizone who went 3-of-4 while the Hawks posted a strong 50% from the field and 42% from long-range.
Battista posted a strong game in the second half putting up 16 points and four rebounds while junior Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) followed with 12 points and four rebounds highlighted by an impressive 7-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe.
With 14:54 to go in regulation, Catizone notched a pair of free throws to tie up the game and give the Gulls their best opportunity of the night but the Hawks slowly started to fade away to secure the 71-60 victory.
The pair will meet again on Saturday, February 7th in Bristol for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off.
