Gulls weather storm, earn trip to TCCC Finals
Feb. 26, 2009
BEVERLY, Mass. - For just the second time in program history the Endicott women's basketball team will appear in The Commonwealth Coast Conference Finals, this after defeating the University of New England, 78-67, on Thursday evening in Beverly, Mass. UNE wraps up its season at 20-7 while Endicott wins its 13th-straight game and improves upon its record-setting season by notching its 23rd win. Endicott's Ceciley Chisholm (Lexington, Mass.) had her second-consecutive double-double in the playoffs with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
The Gulls were all over the Nor'Easters to start the game as they jumped out to an early 11-3 lead on a pair of freethrows by Nicole Duchesne (Plaistow, N.H.). UNE would not go quietly however as they went on a 15-6 run to take a one-point advantage as Chelsey Meszaros (North Clarendon, Vt.) connected from downtown, the third-consecutive three-point field goal for the Nor'Easters.
The teams would trade baskets for the next few minutes before the Gulls could build a five point cushion on a layup by Chisholm with 3:51 to go in the half. Again UNE would chip away as Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) scored on a layup that cut the lead to two with less than a minute to play. The Nor'Easters' Alli Gamache (Dudley, Mass.) gave UNE a one-point advantage going into halftime as she hit UNE's sixth three-pointer of the period with one second remaining, giving the Nor'Easters the 34-33 lead.
The lead changed hands seven times in the frame while there was only one tie. The Gulls outscored UNE in the paint 18-12 but the Nor'Easters held an 11-3 edge in second-chance points. Endicott raced out to eight fast break points while also scoring 15 points off 10 UNE turnovers.
Endicott came out of the half looking to take back control as Chisholm scored in the first minute of the second half to take the lead. A visitor's turnover would lead to a made jumper by Ashley Vitale (Wilmington, Mass.) prompting a 30-second UNE timeout. Margo Russell would score out of the timeout for the Nor'Easters but the Gulls would go on a 13-4 run to take a 50-40 lead.
The Gulls would continue to extend their lead as a layup by Ceciley Chisholm scored on a Jenna Cosgrove (Sharon, Mass.) feed to give Endicott the 14-point advantage with just over 10 minutes to play. UNE would chip away as a pair of freethrows by Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) cut into the deficit making it a 69-60 ball game with 1:39 to play in the game. Endicott would hit enough of their freethrows to keep the Nor'Easters at bay as Nicole Young (Rockland, Mass.) hit a freethrow to give the Gulls an 11-point advantage with :21 seconds remaining, leading to the final outcome - 78-67.
For the game, Endicott had 20 assists on 26 field goals while committing 19 turnovers. The Gulls also received six blocks and 10 steals while edging UNE in rebounds, 44-42. The Nor'Easters would only connect on 1-of-11 three-pointers in the second half and shot only 32.4% from the field in the game. The Gulls would shoot 47.3% from the field including 60% (6-of-10) from beyond the arc.
Ceciley Chisholm's 18 points and 15 rebounds were both game-highs. It was her second double-double in as many games as she had 18 points and 13 rebounds against Regis College in the TCCC Quarterfinals. The junior has increased her output since the turn to postseason play as she is averaging 18 points per game and 14 rebounds per game in two playoff contests. During the regular season, Chisholm averaged 10.3 points per game and just 5.9 rebounds per game.
Chisholm was joined in double-figures by Nicole Duchesne who had 15 points, Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) who had 12 points, five assists and four steals, and Nicole Young who had 10 points and seven rebounds. Jenna Cosgrove came off the bench to chip in with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
The Nor'Easters were led by 17 points and eight rebounds from Margo Russell. Chelsey Meszaros and Alli Gamache each chipped in with nine points apiece while Gamache led UNE with four assists and a pair of steals.
Endicott will move onto the TCCC Championship game as they host Salve Regina University at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The No. 5 Seahawks were able to upset the \#1 seeded Nichols College, 60-45, in the other Semifinal matchup on Thursday night. Endicott traveled to Salve Regina on Valentine's Day earlier this year and beat the Seahawks, 77-63, in their only matchup this season.