Endicott Suffers Season Opener Loss to Middlebury in Tip-Off Tournament

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Endicott faced off with NESCAC foe Middlebury in the opening game of the 2014-15 women's basketball season and the Gulls were defeated 67-46 on neutral court. Playing in the Smith Tyler Tip-Off Classic, Endicott (0-1) will play Rivier on day two of the invitational for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.

Endicott freshman forward Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) was the lone bright spot in a poor shooting day for the Gulls as Shaw scored a team-high 11 points, collected eight rebounds, and totaled two assists and a steal in 22 minutes off the bench. Shaw made 5-of-12 attempts from the floor and 1-of-2 free throws as the team managed 23% field-goal shooting as compared to 45% by the Panthers.

Middlebury's starting five scored 61 of their 67 points with sophomore forward Elizabeth Knox (Falmouth, Mass.) netting a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Knox added five rebounds and an assist. Panthers guard Sarah Kaufman (Boulder, Colo.) was the only other Middlebury player in double figures with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Another 10 rebounds from Sabrina Weeks (Los Altos, Calif.) and eight from Rachel Crews (South Burlington, Vt.) factored into Middlebury's 46-39 rebounding advantage.

Gulls senior forward Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) led Endicott's starters with 10 points and six boards, including three on the offensive glass. Shaw was Endicott's leading rebounder with eight but Whall and junior guard Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) each added six caroms apiece. Endicott freshman forward Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.) and senior guard Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.) added seven and five points, respectively, in the loss.

Off the bench for Endicott, freshman point guard Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) dished out a team-high three dimes. Coppola and freshman teammate Hannah Kiernan (Wenham, Mass.) each contributed defensively with three steals.

With the loss, Endicott fell to 0-2 all-time against Middlebury with their last meeting coming in the 1998-99 season.

On day two of the Smith Tyler Tip-Off Classic, Endicott will take on GNAC opponent Rivier (0-1) at 2:00 p.m. The Raiders will be coming off a 67-58 loss to the host Smith Pioneers despite a game-high 17 points from guard Deanna Purcell on Saturday afternoon. Endicott and Rivier have not met on the hard court since the 1998-99 season. The Gulls are 3-4 all-time against the Raiders.