BOSTON, Mass. – Endicott College women's basketball senior forward Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.) became the program's all-time leading scorer on Saturday evening in the Gulls' 75-68 win over Suffolk University in front of a standing-room-only capacity-filled crowd at Smith Court.
Dempsey entered the contest three points shy of breaking the 27-year-old scoring record held by two-sport Endicott Hall of Famer Melissa Tarpy '98 (1,560 points, 85 games, 493 FG, 193 3PT, 381 FT).
Fittingly enough, Dempsey moved past Tarpy on the all-time scoring leaderboard with a sequence synonymous with her game – an old-fashioned three-point play.
At 8:34 of the second quarter, Dempsey drove baseline, beat her defender, and swished a reverse layup while drawing contact, giving her a chance to break the record at the free throw line.
The senior forward composed herself, eventually lined up her shot, and buried it, sending the Endicott bench and Gulls' faithful into a frenzy.
Dempsey finished the contest with eight points (1,566 career points, 102 games, 2021– current), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and an unforgettable moment in Endicott women's basketball history.
The Gulls led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter (51-30, 4:55) and never trailed following a Tricia Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) three-pointer with 2:11 remaining in the first (17-15 lead).
Libby Fleming (Bangor, Maine) paced the Gulls with a team-high 16 points (5-9 FG, 6-6 FT) and nine rebounds.
Cora Nadeau (Newport, Vt.) added 15 points (5-8 3PT), while Tenley Wallin (Danbury, Conn.) contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a block.
Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) rounded out the highlights with seven points, five rebounds, and six assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott is 19-17 all-time against Suffolk (winners of back-to-back games).
- Dempsey's other significant program records include most points scored in a single game (39 vs Nichols, 1/31/24), most field goals made in a single season (194, 25 games, 2023-24), most rebounds in a single season (288, 94o-194d, 2021-22), and most career field goals made (602).
- Wladkowski was credited with an assist on Dempsey's program scoring record-tying basket.
- Today's game only featured one tie and three lead changes.
- Endicott held advantages in points off turnovers (19-16) and bench points (16-11).
- The Gulls have won seven in a row dating back to 1/18/25.
- Endicott improved to 8-3 on the road this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (16-5, 12-2 CNE) hosts Nichols on Tuesday, February 11 at 5:30 PM. Suffolk (11-10, 6-8 CNE) visits Western New England next Tuesday at 5:30 PM.
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(Photo Credit - Sammy LaCorcia '28)
