BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Endicott women's basketball team traveled to #20/#22 University of New England on Saturday afternoon for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) showdown. Despite a career high 18 points from junior Nicole Catizone (Woburn, Mass.) and just one point shy of a career high with 20 points from junior Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) the Gulls fell in a tough 77-63 battle to the nationally ranked opponent. Endicott sits at 3-3 (1-1 CCC) while the Nor'easters improve to 5-1 (2-0 CCC).
Endicott will take the court next on Tuesday, December 9th as the travel to their third CCC opponent of the season, Eastern Nazarene for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off. The reigning CCC champions, UNE will take the rest of the month off before starting off the New Year on Saturday, January 3rd when they travel to Maine opponent, Bates at 2:00 p.m.
Today marked the fourth game of the season for Catizone where she scored in double figures while Cuddy has scored in the double digits in three games. Catizone led the first half for the Blue and Green putting up nine points followed by seven points and five rebounds by Cuddy. The second half showed a strong game by Cuddy as she went on to score an impressive 13 points and making three blocks while Catizone again tallied nine points to total 18.
Overall the nationally ranked opponent shot for 45% from the field while the Blue and Green put up 36%. As they consistently have all season the Gulls used their percentage from the charity stripe to their advantage scoring 7-of-10 while the Nor'easters struggled from long range scoring just 7-of-24 while Endicott put up 32%.
The Nor'easters battled the boards out-muscling the Gulls as they earned 16 more rebounds which helped lead to the 10 second chance points for UNE. The Nor'easters were able to shut down the strong and deep Endicott bench by holding them to just two points today, to mark as a season low. The Blue and Green did fight defensively as they forced 13 total UNE turnovers while being able to notch nine points. In the paint the Nor'easters took control outscoring Endicott 34-14.
The UNE starting five was stealthy today as each scored in double figures, led by the 2013-14 CCC Player of the Year, Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) who posted 17 points, nine rebounds and one steal. Playing strong defense for the Blue and Green was rookie, Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) who earned a career high three steals while crashing the boards with six rebounds. Joining Shaw on the defensive statistics leader board was senior Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) who managed a team high with eight rebounds to go along with her nine points and three assists.
Despite the loss the Blue and Green put up fight as the lead changed four different times while Catizone and senior Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.) battled from long range putting up key three-pointers throughout the game.
Endicott will face the CCC foe again in the New Year on Wednesday, January 28th for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off in Gulls territory at the MacDonald Gymnasium.
