Mazzotta's Game-Winner, Shinney's Triple-Double Lead Women's Basketball Past Tufts, 77-74 (OT)

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott women's basketball team defeated Tufts, 77-74, in Tuesday evening's non-conference overtime thriller from MacDonald Gymnasium.

Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) recorded the first triple-double in program history as a crucial component to the overtime victory. She scored a season-best 23 points (11-14 FG), pulled down 11 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists in her 43 minutes played.

Aleah Bracey (New Bedford, Mass.) dropped a career and game-high 25 points on 9-16 shooting from the field (7-13 3PT). 

Tenley Wallin (Danbury, Conn.) rounded out the double-digit scorers, as she poured in 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT), while Sofia Mazzotta (Billerica, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet (nine points, six assists, four rebounds) and nailed the game-winning three-pointer in overtime.

Tricia Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) also turned in a solid performance with her eight points (3-7 FG, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two steals and rejection on the evening.

The Jumbos held a 61-53 lead with just 4:43 remaining in regulation, but the Gulls molded together a 12-4 run in the final 4:21 to send the game into overtime. Two triples from Bracey and deep jumpers from Wladkowski and Wallin highlighted the spurt.

Then, with the Jumbos still leading by two and under 30 seconds remaining, Shinney broke loose for a floater inside to knot things up at 65 apiece. The Gulls forced a Jumbos miss at the buzzer, and the game headed into overtime.

After Endicott won the overtime tipoff, Bracey delivered another clutch triple to put the Gulls up three immediately. However, the Jumbos responded with a three of their own to regain a 74-72 lead with 45 seconds remaining. 

Eerily similar to regulation, Shinney broke loose for a drive to the rim and finished a floater through contact to tie the score at 74.

A Jumbos turnover set the stage for an Endicott game-winner, and Mazzotta delivered the blow.

The junior guard drained a fadeaway three from the right wing to put the Gulls up 77-74 with just 2.4 seconds remaining.

The Jumbos had one final look out of a timeout, and were not able to convert, ending the battle in favor of the Gulls, 77-74.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• First ever win for Endicott over Tufts (eight all-time matchups).
• Shinney's triple-double is the first in program history.
• Wallin, Bracey, Shinney, and Mazzotta each played 41+ minutes in the win. Wladkowski also turned in nearly 38 minutes played.
• Bracey finished one triple shy of the program's single-game record.
• The contest featured nine lead changes and nine ties.
• Endicott shot 50.8% from the floor and 40.0% from deep. 
• The Gulls' starting five scored all 77 of their points.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (4-3) welcomes MIT to MacDonald Gymnasium on Monday, December 1 in a 7 PM non-conference matchup. Tufts (3-3) visits Rhode Island College on Sunday, November 30th for a 1 PM game. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Bradley Griffin '28)