Women’s Basketball Edged in Overtime at Endicott, 78-73

BEVERLY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team dropped a 78-73 decision at Endicott in overtime Saturday afternoon.

The Lions move to 11-5 on the season and 5-5 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the loss. The Gulls improve to 8-9 overall and 7-3 in league play with the win.

Kayla Torio (Manteca, Calif.) posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jessica Franco (Phoenix, Ariz.) poured in 13 points off the bench and grabbed six boards. Amanda Cuervo (Whittier, Calif.) netted 12 points in her first career start while Ashley Rendon (La Puente, Calif.) added 11 points.

The visitors managed five points in the opening quarter while the home team chalked up 14 to own a 14-5 lead after 10 minutes of action.

Eastern Nazarene tallied the final five points of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 27-23 just before the half.

Endicott restored its advantage to double-figures with 5:35 remaining in the third on a layup by Hannah Kiernan, 39-28.

The Lions trailed by nine heading into the fourth quarter, 48-39.

Eastern Nazarene narrowed the gap to three with 5:51 to go in the fourth as Torio tossed in a layup, 56-53.

The guests pulled even with 44 seconds on the clock in regulation as Torio splashed a three-pointer, 67-67.

The two teams ended regulation deadlocked at 67-67, sending the contest to overtime.

In the extra session, Endicott built up a five-point edge with 2:15 left to play as Emily Pratt made two free throws, 74-69.

Buckets by Rendon and BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) trimmed the Lions' deficit to one with under a minute to go, 74-73.

The Gulls sealed the victory with four free throws down the stretch.

Eastern Nazarene shot 33.8% from the floor and 23.8% from beyond the arc. Endicott finished with a field-goal percentage of 43.3% to go with 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range.

Looking ahead, the Lions return home to take on Gordon January 25.