WENHAM, Mass. – Held to just five points over the first eleven minutes of play by Gordon College, Endicott's women's basketball team continued to fight their way back and didn't stop until they had secured a 67-64 victory over the Scots Wednesday night at Bennett Athletic Center.
The Gulls got 19 points from freshman Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) and seven assists from Nicole Heffernan (Londonderry, N.H.), which helped them climb out of an early hole. Whall ended the evening shooting 4-6 from the floor and converting on 11 of her 13 attempts from the free-throw line (85 %).
It took Endicott most of the first half to right the ship after the Scots opened up a 15-0 lead just six minutes into the first half. The Gulls trailed by 19 points at 24-5 before pulling off a 30-12 run that set up a second half with everything to play for. Halfway through the first period the Gulls were shooting just 13%, but went on to shoot 37% for the half, and a shade higher for the game.
Freshman phenom Leanna Tallamy (Wantage, N.J.) led the way for Gordon with 22 points and registered a double-double with 10 boards. Tallamy scored six quick points out of the gate as Gordon built their lead then converted a layup at the first half buzzer to complete her 14-point half and take the advantage away from the Gulls, who had got their noses in front for just the second time in the half.
The second half was a back and forth affair, with both teams struggling to seize control of the contest. Endicott took a 56-53 advantage with just over seven minutes to play when Jenifer White (Lisbon, N.H.) sunk a three-pointer, one of two she hit in the game. White scored 16 points for the Gulls, also going 6-6 from the free-throw line, and picked off three passes.
After Tallamy answered with a jumper, Katelyn Wright (Subdury, Mass.) sank one of her two three-pointers, but that was quickly countered by a jumper by Gordon freshman Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio). Two free-throws and a layup by Whall on Endicott's next possessions allowed the Gulls to jump ahead by six points, 63-57, with under four minutes to play.
Kratche, who had 21 points, three steals and four assists for Gordon, hit another bucket, and two free-throws by Tallamy pulled the Scots within two points, but after White converted two free-throws, a three-pointer by Skylar Bareford (Stonington, Conn.), who went 3-6 from downtown en route to an 11 point night, got the Scots back to within one. With just seconds to play, Heffernan sank two shots from the charity stripe and the Gulls' defense was able to keep Gordon from getting off a game-winning attempt.
Wright came off the bench to register three steals, while scoring six points for Endicott, matched by fellow reserve Jen McBrien (Medfield, Mass.).
Heffernan, Whall and Jordan Ferland (Charlestown, N.H.) each pulled down four rebounds, the most on the Gulls team that was edged 33-28 on the boards. Whall had a three-steal night of her own and Ferland blocked two shots and dished out four assists while scoring seven points.
Aly Towle (Rochester, N.H.) assisted on ten baskets for Gordon and pulled in seven boards, as did Kratche. Kratche fed four buckets herself and also stole three balls, while Tallamy's five thefts led all players.
Endicott had a large advantage in free throw attempts, hitting 24-31 chances from the line, while Gordon took only eight free-throw shots all game, making seven of them.
The Gulls pick up their 14th win of the season (14-8) and move to 11-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). Endicott will continue their road trip on Saturday with a 1:00 pm date with the Curry Colonels in Milton, Mass. Gordon (7-15, 2-13 CCC) will hit the road as well with a simultaneous matchup against Salve Regina in Newport, R.I.