BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team began its 2015-16 season with a split at the Pepsi Mariner Challenge hosted by Maine Maritime Academy. The Gulls dropped their season opener 68-65 to UMass Boston on November 14 and celebrated the first win of the season in a 94-50 downing of UMaine-Presque Isle the next day. The Gulls lost their home opener, 60-56, to Keene St. on November 24 and begin Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play tonight at Nichols at 5:30 p.m. Here's a look at the full schedule and the upcoming season.
Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) and Ilyza Holman (Ashland, Mass.) earned CCC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, on November 16.
RETURNING CAST: The Gulls' key returners include the CCC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine), as well as senior guard Kelsey Cuddy, an All-CCC First Team selection. Cuddy leads the team of returners in points (364), rebounds (174), blocks (48) and steals (90) from a season ago. Cuddy also paced the squad in blocks and steals for the past two seasons. Shaw, a three-time Rookie of the Week winner, scored 264 points and grabbed 170 boards en route to four double-doubles and 14 double-digit scoring games over the course of the season. Other players to watch include sophomores Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.), Hannah Kiernan (Wenham, Mass.) and Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.).
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Endicott will host 12 more home contests throughout the season against Eastern Nazarene (Dec. 5, 1:00 p.m.), Salve Regina (Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.), MIT (Dec. 10, 7:00 p.m.), Salem St. (Dec. 12, 1:00 p.m.), Roger Williams (Jan. 7, 5:30 p.m.), Bates (Jan. 12, 7:00 p.m.), University of New England (Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m.), Nichols (Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m.), Curry (Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.), Gordon (Feb. 13, 1:00 p.m.), Wentworth (Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m.), and Western New England (Feb. 20, 3:00 p.m.).
ON THE ROAD: Endicott's other remaining away contests include Brandeis (Jan. 2, 1:00 p.m.), Curry (Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m.), Western New England (Jan. 9, 1:00 p.m.), Wentworth (Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m.), Gordon (Jan. 16, 1:00 p.m.), Eastern Nazarene (Jan. 23, 1:00 p.m.), Salve Regina (Jan. 30, 1:00 p.m.), Roger Williams (Feb. 6, 1:00 p.m.) and University of New England (Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m.).
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, February 20 is the Gulls' final regular season home game (3:00 p.m. vs. Western New England) when the team will recognize seniors Kelsey Cuddy, Caity Lowry (Quincy, Mass.) and Katie Manning (Hull, Mass.).
PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Endicott was picked to finish fourth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Preseason Poll.
YEAR IN REVIEW: The Gulls finished their 2014-15 season with a 12-15 overall record and 7-11 mark in conference play as they fell to Curry in the CCC Semifinals. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.