Feb. 24, 2005
Beverly, MA - Senior Sarah DeLuca recorded a double-double (23 points, 12 rebounds) as the Fighting Scots of Gordon College defeated their cross-town rivals Endicott College, 70-59, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference semi-final game. Tonight's game was the rubber match of the season series between the two teams and also marked Endicott's first conference semi-final appearance. The Scots, who have played in a semi-final game for the past four years and made it to the championship twice, will vie for the title again this weekend.
Gordon controlled the first half, hitting 48% from the field and a perfect 100% from the line. Despite their top-notch performance, the Gulls managed to take the lead twice with their largest lead 20-16 on a free throw by freshman Aubrey Drugan at 7:41. With 3:46 remaining, Gordon closed out the half on a 10-2 run led by DeLuca to go into break with a 38-29 lead.
The Gulls came back fighting strong in the second half, shooting 75% from the free throw line and 60% from three-point range. Down 45-29 early in the 2nd half, the Gulls put together an 11-0 run led by junior Jodi Brown with two 3's at 14:30 to narrow the score to 45-40. That was as close as the Gulls would come, however, as Gordon slowly extended their lead and kept the margin in double-digits for the rest of the game. The Gulls made a run for it and pulled within 10 with just under a minute to go on two free throws by junior Liz Yuneman, but the 88% free throw shooting by the Gordon Scots kept the game out of reach.
Yuneman and Brown led Endicott with 15 and 14 points respectively. Gordon finished with 3 players in double figures. DeLuca (23 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) and Genny McWhorter (19 points, 4 assists) led the Scots. Freshman Kristen Helgesen added 11 points and 6 rebounds.
The Gulls (18-9) hope their season has not come to an end as they await a potential ECAC tournament bid. With tonight's win, Gordon (15-12) advances to the CCC championship game Saturday afternoon when they travel to face Colby-Sawyer in New London, NH.
