BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team starts the 2017-18 season looking to build upon last year's success.

Head coach Brittany Hutchinson (99-71, 69-39 CCC) is in her seventh year at the helm of the program and looks to lead her squad to its 16th straight CCC tournament appearance.

RETURNING CAST (ROSTER): The Gulls return nine student-athletes from last season's roster. Senior Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) led the team in points per game (14.4) and three-point percentage (33.8), and also averaged 8.1 rebounds per game to earn 2016-17 All-CCC First Team honors. All-CCC Third Teamer Hannah Kiernan (Wenham, Mass.) started all 26 games for Endicott last season and averaged 1.4 steals per game. Also, returning for the Gulls are seniors Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) and Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.). Coppola led the team in assists per game with 3.2 throughout the 2016-17 season, while Charette appeared in 24 games for Endicott and averaged 2.7 rebounds per game.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR (SCHEDULE): Endicott begins the 2017-18 season at the Cave Classic which runs from November 17-18. The Gulls will face Bridgewater State on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. The team has their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 21 against Keene State at 5 p.m. in MacDonald Gymnasium. Endicott starts conference play at Nichols on Wednesday, Nov. 29 with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The full schedule can be found here.

PRESEASON PLAUDITS (POLL): The Gulls were picked to finish third in the CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll with a total of 83 points and one first-place vote.

2016-17 YEAR IN REVIEW: During the 2016-17 season, the team had an overall record of 13-13, a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) record of 12-6, and advanced to the CCC quarterfinals.

WHAT'S NEXT 

The Gulls open the 2017-18 season against Bridgewater State on Friday, Nov. 17 at the Cave Classic. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. 

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