Women’s Basketball Opens Season with 75-49 Win Over Gordon

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team defeated Gordon 75-49 Wednesday evening at the Lahue Athletic Center in the first tilt of the 2020-21 campaign.

The Lions begin the season at 1-0 overall while the Fighting Scots dip to 1-1 on the year.

Courtney Barba (Pismo Beach, Calif.) paced the squad with 14 points while Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Center, Utah) tallied 12 points and grabbed four boards off the bench. Stevie Orton (Gilford, N.H.) added eight points and eight rebounds. Bailey Craig (Placerville, Calif.) notched eight points while Nahatabaa Nacona (Chinle, Ariz.) and Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) both scored seven points.

The home side boasted a 25-7 advantage through the first frame before widening the margin to 41-19 at the midway point of the game.

At the half, Eastern Nazarene sported a field-goal percentage of 45.7% while connecting on 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. Gordon shot 32% from the floor and 0-for-4 from three-point range.

Orton paced the Lions with eight first-half points and seven rebounds. Craig chipped in with seven points off the bench while Jimenez poured in five points.

Eastern Nazarene owned a 17-point lead through three quarters, 57-40, as the visitors held a 21-16 edge in third-period scoring.

The Lions outscored the Fighting Scots 18-9 in the final frame to lock up their first victory of the season.

The home side shot 43.3% from the floor and 44.4% from long range on the night. Gordon finished with a field-goal percentage of 28.8% to go with 4-for-15 shooting from behind the arc.

Caroline Sikkink led the Fighting Scots with 16 points while Abby Vampatella netted 10 points and Caleigh Williams hauled in 10 rebounds.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene welcomes Fisher to the Lahue Athletic Center March 5 and 6.