CCC CHAMPIONSHIP: Roger Williams Edges Endicott To Secure Second Straight Title, 61-51

BRISTOL, R.I. — The sixth-seeded Endicott women's basketball team fell to first-seeded Roger Williams, 61-51, in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Campus Rec Center Gymnasium.

Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.) led the Gulls with a game-high double-double of 18 points and 12 boards, alongside two blocks.

Taylor Bogdanski (Saugus, Mass.) added 10 points and four rebounds while, Tara Laugeni (Woodbridge, Conn.) chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds. 

The Hawks raced out to a 19-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter courtesy of a late 7-0 run. 

Endicott responded in the second by orchestrating a 6-0 spurt to chip away at Roger Williams' lead, 19-16. The run was ignited by a Laugeni jumper, an Emily St. Thomas (Sterling, Mass.) long two-pointer, and a Dempsey layup.

From there, Roger Williams held Endicott scoreless for the next 4:36 of action, which eventually fueled a 9-3 run to close out the half and secure a Hawks' 28-19 advantage at the break.

The Blue and Green came out of halftime with all cylinders firing outscoring the hosts 14-6 to bring the game within one point, 34-33, with 3:10 remaining in the third.

Dempsey and Bogdanski highlighted the run with four points each, while Cassie Caldwell (Marshfield, Mass.), St. Thomas, and Laugeni all contributed two points apiece.

Roger Williams halted an Endicott comeback, however, pulling away by as many as 13 points (50-37) in the fourth quarter to win its second straight conference championship.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott made its fourth straight appearance in the CCC Championship today (2019-20 champs),
• The Hawks remained unbeaten at home this season (15-0).
• Endicott is the lowest seed ever to make the CCC Women's Basketball Championship.
• Roger Williams forced 23 Endicott miscues and turned them into 24 points.
• The Blue and Green outrebounded the Hawks by a slim margin, 44-42.
• Roger Williams never trailed in the matchup. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Roger Williams (25-3) has earned the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and will find out its first-round opponent on Monday, February 27. 

Endicott's season comes to a close at 13-15. 

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(Photo Credit - Jonny Ratner '24)