Endicott's defensive effort leads to 50-47 win at Curry
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MILTON, Mass. – A team defensive effort and a double-double from sophomore guard Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.) helped Endicott women's basketball earn a 50-47 victory over Curry on Saturday in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action.
The Gulls (15-8, 12-4 CCC) held the Colonels (8-15, 6-10 CCC) to just 26.7% (16-of-60) shooting from the field for the entire game and Endicott swatted eight Curry shot attempts as part of a solid defensive effort on the road. Sophomore forward Jordan Ferland (Charlestown, N.H.), who ranks second in the conference in blocked shots, accounted for four blocked shots with fellow sophomore Julie Manning (Hull, Mass.) claiming two.
White led a balanced Endicott offense, one that saw all nine players score points, with 10 points and 12 defensive rebounds, an assist and a steal. The sophomore made 3-of-6 shots from the floor and 3-of-6 attempts at the free throw line. Forward Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) matched White for a team-high 10 points.
After a quiet first half for Curry leading scorer Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.), the junior went on to score a game-high 11 points to lead the Colonels. Carolyn Houston (Melrose, N.Y.) and Kylie Beltz (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) added nine and eight points, respectively.
Endicott's first half defense held Curry to just 28.6% (8-of-26) shooting from the field, helping to give the Gulls a 31-23 advantage at the break despite eight points from Curry's Beltz. The Colonels leading scorer for the season at 12.2 points per game, Rafferty, was limited to just three points on 1-of-5 shooting.
At the other end of the court, Endicott made 41.9% (13-of-31) of their field goal attempts with White putting up seven points, six rebounds and a steal in 15 first half minutes. The Gulls showcased their balanced offensive approach as eight of the nine Endicott players to see time in the first half scored points.
In the second half, Curry twice trimmed the Gulls advantage to just a one possession game by rallying to make it 38-35 at the 13:42 mark and 48-45 with 3:12 remaining. Over the final three minutes, Curry struggled at the free throw line by making just 2-of-6 attempts. Ashley Assarian's (Chicopee, Mass.) free with 1:38 to go in regulation pulled the Colonels to within one point at 48-47, but White nailed a jumper on the next possession to put Endicott back up by three.
Curry look to take advantage of an 0-for-6 run at the free throw line by Endicott in the final minute, but the Gulls defense stepped up with clutch blocks by junior Jen McBrien (Medfield, Mass.), Crough and Ferland. The blocks by Crough and Ferland were on Curry three-point attempts that looked to tie the game. Ferland blocked Beltz as the game clock expired to make the 50-47 Endicott win official.
Endicott will host the top team in the CCC, the University of New England, on Tuesday, February 14th at 6:00 pm for Senior Night. The Gulls will honor the team's lone senior, Nicole Heffernan (Londonderry, N.H.).