SALEM, Mass . – In their first action of 2013, Endicott's women's basketball team dropped their second consecutive slim decision, falling 51-47 at Salem State University on Wednesday evening at the O'Keefe Center.
Endicott (6-3) was led by 12 points and 11 rebounds by Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.), her second double-double of the season. Vikings senior Bridget Dullea (Peabody, Mass.) scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the hosts over their North Shore Cup rivals and improve their record to 7-5.
This was the tenth consecutive year in which the Gulls and Vikings have met, and Salem State now holds an 8-2 advantage in the all-time series.
Endicott led early behind the shooting of Samanth Crough (Cohasset, MA), who scored six quick points in the first ten minutes, but was then stifled the rest of the evening. Crough ended the night with 10 points, while sophomore Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) came off the bench to tally 11 points.
After Salem State pulled ahead, Endicott guard Ashley Walenta (Plainfield, Conn.) tied the score at 18 with a three-pointer with just over six minutes to go. However, the Lady Vikings pulled ahead behind three steals and back-to-back layups by Dullea to grab a 26-22 lead at halftime. Both teams were ice cold from the field, and shot under 33% including a combined 4-18 from behind the three-point arc.
Dullea scored 10 points in the second half to lead a trio of Salem State players in double figures. Sandra Lanier (Groton, Mass.) and Lara Bruni (Gloucester, Mass.) each added 11 points as the Lady Vikings won their third game in a row.
Crough and Jordan Ferland (Charlestown, N.H.) each knocked in jumpers to open the second half to knot the score at 26. A Bruni layup and seven free throws pushed the lead to 40-31 for the home team with just over 10 minutes remaining before Whall scored seven straight points - two layups and three free throws - to bring the Gulls to within two at 40-38. Salem State responded with an 8-2 run and three free throws by Lanier and Fleming down the stretch iced the 51-47 victory.
Senior forward Jen McBrien (Medfield, Mass.) led Endicott with four assists and two steals, while Crough pitched in with two blocks on the defensive end. Endicott shot just 28% from the field in the second half and ended the game 4-19 (21%) from three-point range.
Lanier corralled nine boards for the Lady Vikings, who also shot poorly from the field, hitting just 16-58 (27%) shots.
The Gulls will return to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action on Saturday afternoon when they return home for a 1:00 pm matchup with Western New England University.
The Vikings will be on their home court at the same time and will also take up conference play again, entertaining Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe Westfield State.
