Feb. 18, 2009
HENNIKER, N.H. - Endicott College's Nicole Duchesne (Plaistow, N.H.) scored a team-high 22 points lifting the Gulls past the New England College Pilgrims 81-63 Wednesday evening. With the win the Gulls improve to 20-4 overall and 11-1 in conference play, while the loss drops the Pilgrims to 9-14 overall and 3-9 in the conference. The win sets a new record for wins in a season, breaking the previous record of 19 wins accomplished in the last two seasons of play.
The two teams would battle evenly through the opening minutes of the first half before the Pilgrims would use a 12-6 run to take a 28-17 lead with 9:40 remaining in the period. The Gulls would respond however, holding the Pilgrims scoreless through the next seven minutes of play and using a 19-0 to take a 36-29 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the half. The two teams would exchange buckets late in the half as Endicott would head into intermission leading, 38-31.
The Endicott offense would control the opening minutes of the second half as the Gulls would score the first eight points - extending their lead to 46-31. NEC would battle back, cutting Endicott's lead to just six points midway through the half. However, the Gull offense would use a 14-0 run to rebuild their lead and cruise to the 81-63 victory.
Endicott's Ashley Vitale (Wilmington, Mass.) finished with a double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Endicott's Ceciley Chisholm (Lexington, Mass.) finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) chipped in 13 points for the Gulls.
Leading the way for NEC was Ashley Hutton (Lebanon, N.H.) who finished with a game-high 29 points, including nine three-pointers. NEC's LaShawnda Wilson (Burlington, Vt.) scored 10 points and grabbed nine assists, while senior Katie Plankey (Columbia, Conn.) also scored 10 points for the Pilgrims.
The Blue and Green return to action on Senior Day this Saturday as the Gulls will host Curry College at 1:00 p.m.
