Women’s Basketball Wins Season-Opener at Worcester State, 64-55

WORCESTER, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team collected a 64-55 victory at Worcester State Wednesday evening to kick off the 2023-24 campaign in the first matchup between the teams since the 1990-91 season.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 64, Worcester State 55
Records: Lions (1-0) | Lancers (0-1)

                                   
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene grabbed an early double-digit lead as Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) tossed in a layup with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter, 15-5.
• Worcester State battled back to cut the deficit to 18-15 on three unanswered treys by Katie Hurynowicz to close out the opening frame.
• After the Lancers narrowed the gap to one point, the Lions chalked up 10 consecutive points to reclaim a double-figure advantage, 28-17, with 3:44 left to play in the second frame.
• The visitors carried a 36-21 lead into the halftime break after outscoring the hosts 18-6 in the second quarter.
• Despite Worcester State holding a 15-12 edge in third-quarter scoring, Eastern Nazarene sported a 48-36 advantage heading into the final frame.
• The Lancers outscored the Lions 19-16 in the fourth but the guests prevailed with a season-opening win to claim their first win over Worcester State since the 1987-88 season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:              

• Delaney Walker (Nampa, Idaho) scored a team-best 15 points to go with five assists.
• Genesis McNeill (Providence, R.I.) finished with 13 points, eight steals, and three boards in her collegiate debut.
• Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) netted 11 points and hauled in a team-high nine rebounds off the bench in her first collegiate game.
• Kayla Taylor (Lompoc, Calif.) added eight points and five boards while Eva Graf (Mather, Calif.) chipped in with six rebounds and three points.
• Eastern Nazarene posted a field-goal percentage of 35.9% while connecting on 5-of-19 from beyond the arc.
• Worcester State was limited to 23.5% shooting from the floor and a 35.7% clip from three-point range on the night.
• Katie Hurynowicz paced the home team with a game-high 19 points while Abby St. Martin and Cameron Watkins each tallied 10 points.
   

LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene will host Norwich November 11 in the first home game of the season.