Gulls Open 2012 Season with Victory at ECSU Tip-Off Tourney

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Endicott's women's basketball team got their 2012 season started by using a strong second half showing to defeat Connecticut College 58-47 in their opening game at the Eastern Connecticut State University tip-off tournament.

Endicott junior Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.) led all scorers with 20 points and was one of three Gulls to grab 8 rebounds as the Gulls overcame a six-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Camels 36-19 after the break.

Freshman Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) added 13 points off the bench and junior Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) added ten points and two assists for the Gulls.

Crough, White and Jordan Ferland (Charlestown, N.H.) each had eight rebounds for Endicott, who outdid Connecticut College on the boards by a 47-39 margin. Ferland helped out on the defensive end with two blocks and Whall had five steals in the victory.

White was 3-8 from behind the three-point line and hit seven of eight attempts from the free-throw line.

The Gulls opened the game on a 7-0 run but that was the largest lead they would hold in the first half. The Camels used a 17-4 run to take an 11 point lead with just over two minutes to play, capped by a three-pointer by Kayleen Murray (Litchfield, Conn.), who scored five points for the Camels.

The Blue and Green trimmed the Connecticut lead to six at the half and then, after falling behind by eight again, pulled off a 17-4 run and led by five points with two minutes to play. White and Whall did their part by sinking free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Endicott improved their shooting in the second half, shooting 34 percent from the field after posting just a 19.4% in the first half.  Each team hit five three-pointers, but Endicott had an edge in getting to free-throw line. The Gulls shot 25-36 from the charity stripe, while the Camels made just 8 of their 18 opportunities.

Sophomore Carlee Smith (Willimantic, Conn.) had the most consistent night for the Camels. She was the only player in double figures, scoring ten points, while adding three steals and five assists. Junior Aly Boyle (Westford, Mass.) led the Camels on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds, while junior Tara Gabelman (Irvington, N.Y.) scored seven points to go with a block, two steals and five rebounds.

Endicott (1-0) will play in the tournament's championship game on Sunday afternoon against host Eastern Connecticut State, who beat Simmons College 64-33. The Gulls and Warriors will tip off at 3:00 pm.