Feb. 14, 2009
NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Nicole Duchesne (Plaistow, N.H.) scored 22 points to lead Endicott College to a 77-63 win over Salve Regina University in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Rodgers Recreation Center. The Gulls won their tenth consecutive game and improve to 19-4 (10-1 TCCC) while the Seahawks drop to 15-8 (7-4 TCCC).
The Gulls led 46-30 at the half behind 14 points from Duchesne. They raced out to an 11-0 lead before Phillips knocked down a pair of free throws at 13:46 for the Seahawks. Senior Allegra Lovoy (Charleston, R.I.) netted the Seahawks' first field goal at 13:20, but the Seahawks were held to 10-of-30 shooting from the field (33.3 pct.) overall in the first half while the Gulls shot 50.0 percent from the field. Sophomore Olivia Browning (Trumbull, Conn.) paced Salve Regina with 11 points.
In the second half, the Seahawks climbed to within nine points several times late in the second half before a layup by Phillips with 1:55 remaining brought them to within seven at 70-63. The Gulls knocked down seven of their 10 free throw attempts down the stretch to pull away and seal the win.
The Gulls finished the afternoon 27-of-57 (47.4 pct.) from the field shooting and held a 50-44 edge on the glass. The Seahawks shot 22-of-76 (28.9 pct.) but managed to stay within striking distance by forcing 17 turnovers while committing just 10 of their own.
Duchesne was joined in double-figures by Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) who had 11 points and Ceciley Chisholm (Lexington, Mass.) who had 10 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) led all Salve Regina scorers with 17 points. Olivia Browning and Allegra Lovoy chipped in with 15 points a-piece. Lovoy entered the game third in the conference in scoring, but struggled to find her stroke all afternoon and finished 4-of-17 from the field for 11 points.
The Gulls return to action on Wednesday when they travel to New England College for a TCCC matchup at 5:30 p.m. The Seahawks will travel to Eastern Nazarene for a 6:00 p.m. game on Wednesday.
