Women’s Basketball Captures 63-58 Win at Wentworth

BOSTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team eked out its fourth-consecutive victory Thursday evening, defeating Wentworth 63-58 at Tansey Gymnasium.

The Lions improve to 8-4 on the year and 3-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the outcome. The Leopards fall to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in league play with the loss.

Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.) scored a season-high 19 points and dished out four assists to lead Eastern Nazarene. Jaysa Cooper (Frisco, Texas) recorded her second double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Grays (Elk Grove, Calif.) chipped in with 10 rebounds while Celina Calderon (Lompoc, Calif.) and BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) each contributed six points off the bench.

The visitors formed a six-point advantage with 2:38 remaining in the first period, 16-10, on a jumper by Cooper.

Eastern Nazarene clung to a narrow three-point edge entering the second quarter, 18-15.

The Lions lead reached double-digits with 1:14 to go in the second stanza, 36-26, as Calderon drained a trey.

The home team chalked up the final four points of the first half to cut the halftime margin to six, 36-30.

Mata led Eastern Nazarene with nine points through 20 minutes while Cooper registered eight points, eight boards and three assists.

The Lions shot 38.9% from the floor and 20% from long distance in the opening half. The Leopards owned a field-goal percentage of 38.5% at the break while sinking one three-pointer on six attempts.

Wentworth outscored Eastern Nazarene 14-11 in the third period to trim the gap to 47-44.

After the Leopards netted a pair of free throws, the Lions answered with a triple by Fraser to push their lead to 50-46 with eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Rachael Camara tossed in a layup with a minute to go in the contest to pull the hosts to within one, 59-58.

Mata knocked down four clutch free throws in the final 12 seconds to clinch a 63-58 victory for the guests.

Eastern Nazarene finished with a field-goal percentage of 35.9% while connecting on six three-pointers in 23 tries. Wentworth shot 34.7% from the floor on the night and 30% from beyond the perimeter.

Looking ahead, the Lions return home to battle Nichols January 9.