Women’s Hoops Roars Past Daniel Webster, 67-50

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team downed Daniel Webster 67-50 at the Lahue Physical Education Center Saturday to remain unbeaten.

The Lions improve to 4-0 on the year with the win, the program's best start since 1977-78. The Eagles flutter to 0-5 overall with the result.

Shelby Holmes (Seeley Lake, Mont.) scored 14 points, grabbed four boards and recorded three steals on the day. Michelle Detwiler (Elkhart, Ind.) netted 14 points off the bench on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor. Bailee Smith (Plano, Texas.) posted 10 points, six rebounds and two assists. Jessica Franco (Phoenix, Ariz.) hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds while Kayla Torio (Manteca, Calif.) finished with eight boards, four assists, three steals and a pair of points.

"It wasn't the prettiest, but we'll take a win. We have a lot to improve on but I'm thankful to have some momentum going into conference play next week," commented associate head coach Madison Flowers.

The home side tallied eight of the game's first 10 points to grab an early 8-2 lead four minutes into play.

The visitors cut the deficit to two with 1:32 remaining in the first period, 14-12, on a trey by Escarlin Reynoso.

Eastern Nazarene responded with a three-ball by Jacquelin Arretche (Los Banos, Calif.) with 1:14 on the clock to push the lead to 17-12.

The Lions clung to a 17-14 edge at the conclusion of the opening quarter.

In a closely-contested second quarter, Eastern Nazarene narrowly outscored Daniel Webster 15-12 to hold a 32-26 lead at halftime.

Eastern Nazarene shot 43.8% from the field in the first half while Daniel Webster owned a field-goal percentage of 40% through two quarters of action.

The hosts widened the gap to double-digits less than four minutes into the third frame, 38-28, as Detwiler tossed up back-to-back layups.

The Lions sported a 12-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter after Holmes splashed a three-pointer with 24 seconds left in the third, 47-35.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up the first six points of the fourth stanza to extend its lead to 18, 53-35.

The home team's largest advantage of the game came with 1:42 to go in regulation. A layup by Anessa Rippie (Marlton, N.J.) escalated the lead to 67-45.

The Lions finished with a field-goal percentage of 46.2% in the contest while connecting on 3-of-17 attempts from beyond the arc. The Eagles shot 31.7% from the floor and 29.4% from the perimeter on the afternoon.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene opens the Commonwealth Coast Conference slate on the road at Gordon November 30.