Women’s Basketball Bests Wentworth on Senior Day, 46-39

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team collected a 46-39 victory over Wentworth Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Physical Education Center on Senior Day.

Prior to the start of the contest, the Eastern Nazarene women's basketball program honored its senior class: Jordan Grays (Elk Grove, Calif.), Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.), Lauren Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.), Krystal Holl (Smithsburg, Md.), Kristina Kaczmarek (Chatsworth, Calif.), Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Katelyn Memory (Kiowa, Colo.) and Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.).

The Lions improve to 13-8 on the season and 8-6 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the win. The Leopards slip to 6-15 overall and 2-12 in league play with the loss.

Salazar paced the home team with 10 points and seven rebounds. Mata notched eight points while Greer finished with six points and a team-high 13 boards.

Eastern Nazarene bolted out to a 9-2 lead five minutes into the game as Mata converted two free throws.

Greer floated in a jumper inside the paint in the final minute of play to give the Lions a 14-6 advantage at the conclusion of the first period.

The hosts ended the second quarter on an 8-0 run to boast a 12-point lead at intermission after outscoring the guests 12-8 in the frame.

Eastern Nazarene shot 28.1% from the floor and 11.1% from the perimeter in the first half. Wentworth sported a field-goal percentage of 20% at the break to go with 0-for-6 shooting from three-point territory.

Salazar chalked up seven first-half points while Mata chipped in with five points.

The Leopards fired in nine of the first 11 points in the third quarter to cut the margin to five with 1:29 left to play.

The Lions halted the 7-0 run as Mata buried a pair of foul shots with 1:07 to go in the third.

After mustering just four points in the third period, Eastern Nazarene clung to a 30-23 advantage heading into the fourth.

Wentworth pulled to within two with 4:17 remaining on a jumper by Kellie Messer, 37-35.

The home team widened the gap to seven on a bucket by Greer followed by a three-pointer from the right corner by Grays with 2:18 to go, 42-35.

Both squads knocked down four free throws in the final minute of play as Eastern Nazarene emerged with a 46-39 win.

The Lions wrapped up the game with a field-goal percentage of 22.2% while connecting on 18.2% of their attempts from long distance. The Leopards shot 28.1% from the floor on the day and came up empty on all 13 tries from behind the arc.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene welcomes Roger Williams February 10.