NEWPORT, R.I. - The Endicott women's basketball team traveled to Salve Regina on Tuesday night for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup. The Gulls earned their second regular season victory over the Seahawks with strong efforts from senior Julie Manning (Hulls, Mass.) who came out with 10 points and six rebounds in the 65-48 victory. Endicott improves to 15-5, (10-3 CCC) while Salve Regina falls to 10-10, (8-5 CCC).
In the opening minutes the Blue and Green seemed to have hold of the Seahawks as they opened up on a nine point run while holding Salve Regina to zero points, which was led by Manning with six. Salve finally answered back at 16:01 after junior Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) broke the ice in the paint followed by a three-pointer from freshman Kelsey Kennedy (Medford, N.J.) but Endicott kept scoring during the lull taking a 12-5 lead with 13:25 left in the half.
After a three minute dry period for both sides the Gulls worked to pull away from the Seahawks with big points from sophomore Nicole Catizone (Woburn, Mass.). Salve however refused to end the half on a bad note as sophomore Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) pushed it offensively scoring six points in less than a minute to get back within seven points.
After four unanswered points by Del Valle, the Seahawks were within one of the Blue and Green with 4:21 remaining in the first. In the final minutes of play senior Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) hit a trey and a jumper to hold the 31-27 lead to enter halftime. Endicott shot an impressive 45.2% from the field but struggled at the charity mark going 1-4.
The second half was all about the Gulls as they opened up outscoring the Seahawks 15-6 in the first seven minutes to take the 43-29 lead. After a trey from junior Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) the Blue and Green were rolling as they continued to stack the stat sheet scoring 10 consecutive points at 9:28 to increase the lead to 20.
Salve Regina's, senior Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) worked to pick her team back up by nailing two from the charity stripe added by a quick layup, but sophomore Caity Lowry (Quincy, Mass.) would not let the points go unanswered as she picked up a layup with an extra point on the free throw line to keep a 19 point swing with 7:31 remaining in the game.
In the final five minutes the Seahawks attempted to get within reach scoring nine points but the Blue and Green scored an extra eight to keep the large lead and seal the 65-48 victory. Endicott picked up their game inside the arc in the second half shooting 52.2% while going 9-14 from the charity stripe.
Overall the Blue and Green shot 33.3% from long range and 48.1% from close range while the bench added 28 points.
Endicott will take the court next on Saturday, January 8th at 1:00 p.m. when they host Roger Williams for their second regular season matchup with the Hawks. In their last meeting on the road the Gulls defeated Roger Williams in overtime 78-77.
