Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Thomas, 65-58

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team topped Thomas 65-58 Friday evening at the Lahue Athletic Center to snap a three-game skid.            

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 65, Thomas (ME) 58
Records: Lions (8-8, 3-4 NAC) | Terriers (5-9, 2-2 NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene owned a 19-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
• The home team grabbed its biggest advantage of the night midway through the second quarter, 33-16, as Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R.) drilled a trey.
• The Lions outscored the Terriers 21-17 in the second frame to widen the gap to 40-28 at the half.
• After Thomas cut the deficit to two with 1:35 remaining in the third, Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R.) sank two free throws with 12 seconds left in the period to push Eastern Nazarene's lead to 47-43 heading to the final frame.
• The visitors snagged their only lead of the game with 7:30 to go in regulation as Brooke Jones knocked down a jumper, 49-47.
• The Lions responded with a 12-1 run to establish a 59-50 advantage with 4:02 on the clock.
• Eastern Nazarene converted 3-of-4 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch to lock up a win in the first-ever matchup between the two teams.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:             

• Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R.) netted a game-best 17 points and added three steals.
• Molly Smith (Hudson, N.H.) posted her first collegiate double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
• Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) tallied eight points and collected six boards while Kayla Taylor (Lompoc, Calif.) and Delaney Walker (Nampa, Idaho) each chipped in with eight points.
• Alexandria Paquet (Santa Maria, Calif.) finished with eight rebounds, eight assists, and four points.
• Eastern Nazarene shot 42.1% from the floor and 37.5% from three-point range.
• Thomas posted a field-goal percentage of 30.8% to go with 4-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Coolen and Brooke Jones both scored 12 points to lead the Terriers while Sky Kubwalo notched 13 rebounds and eight points.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene wraps up the weekend with its second-straight contest against Thomas January 13.