MILTON, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team traveled to Curry on Thursday evening for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals. Despite a team high 10 points from junior Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) the Colonels had three starters in double figures to secure a spot in the CCC Finals with the 66-49 victory over Endicott. The Gulls wrap up the season at 12-15 (7-11 CCC) while Curry will advance to the title game at 17-10 (12-6 CCC) to compete with the winner of University of New England vs. Western New England.
Endicott will end their 2014-15 season in the CCC semifinal round. The Gulls have made four straight trips to the semifinal finals under the leadership of head coach Brittany Hutchinson. Despite the loss, the Gulls did manage to oust the #2 seed Roger Williams in the quarterfinal round to snap a four-game losing streak to the Hawks.
Overall the Colonels owned the field shooting 41.7% while holding the Blue and Green to just 25% and 11.5% from long-range. Led by a game high 21 points, sophomore Shannon Griffith (West Hartford, Conn.) paved the way shooting an impressive 6-of-7 from the field and 9-of-11 from the charity stripe.
Led by a game high five offensive rebounds by Cuddy and four from freshman Hannah Shaw the Gulls were able to tally 11 second chance points while the game high two steals from Shaw helped give Endicott 11 points off Curry turnovers.
The first half was controlled by the Colonels as they outscored the Blue and Green 33-19. Curry went 42.9% from the field while holding the Gulls to just 17.9% from the field and 10% from beyond the arc. Endicott did take advantage of their trips to the line leading with 80% to the Colonels 70%. The Colonels were led by Griffith who recorded 11 points in the half while both Catizone and Cuddy put up five points each in the first 20 minutes of play.
After going bucket for bucket in the opening minutes Curry started to pull away at the 17:26 mark running a 14 point run while holding Endicott to just seven points by 9:27. Freshman Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) came in off the bench and gave the Gulls a spark as she made a pair of back to back layups to get Endicott back within 14 points at the end of the half.
The second half showed stronger shooting from the Gulls as they were just outshot 33-30 led by nine points from senior Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.). For the Colonels Griffith played another strong half tacking on 10 points and five boards. With the help from Whall and five additional points from Cuddy the Gulls put up 10-of-29 (34.5%) from the field to get within reach of Curry through the half.
Endicott started the half with back to back layups from Shaw and senior Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.) to make it a 10 point game but the Colonels nailed eight quick points to boost the lead back up beyond a 10 point margin.
The Gulls worked to get back within reach but their efforts were not enough as Curry pulled away with clutch free throws in the final minutes to secure the 66-49 victory.
