Women’s Basketball Tops Endicott 95-86, Claims First Victory of Season

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team posted its first win of the season Tuesday evening, downing Endicott 95-86 at the Lahue Physical Education Center.

The Lions improve to 1-7 on the year and 1-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Gulls drop to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.

Junior Mhiah Vickers (Westlake Village, Calif.) nearly recorded a triple-double as she finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.) poured in 21 points and grabbed four boards. Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.) notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.) chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

The home team captured a 16-7 lead 4:47 into the contest as Jordan Grays (Elk Grove, Calif.) banked in a put-back layup.

The visitors cut the deficit to two with a 7-0 run as Nicole Catizone drained a trey with 11:52 left to play, 16-14.

Eastern Nazarene reclaimed a nine-point advantage with 6:17 remaining as Vickers tossed in a fast-break layup, 36-27.

The Lions stretched their lead to 12 with 2:07 on the clock on a jumper by Mata, 47-35.

The hosts carried a 49-37 lead into the halftime intermission.

Eastern Nazarene sported a field-goal percentage of 51.2 at the half while also sinking half of its attempts from beyond the arc. Endicott shot 35.5% from the floor in the opening frame and 22.2% from three-point range.

Greer and Vickers paced the Lions with 12 points at the break. Salazar posted six first-half points and five rebounds.

The Gulls knotted the score at 56-56 4:17 into the second stanza on a three-pointer by Kelsey Cuddy.

The home side manufactured 15 consecutive points to gain a 75-60 advantage with 8:27 to go.

The guests pulled to within four with less than five minutes left to play as Kayleen Whall knocked down a three-pointer, 79-75.

Eastern Nazarene widened the gap to 10 points with 2:45 remaining as Salazar dropped in a fast-break layup, 87-77.

The Lions fended off the Gulls in the final two minutes of the game to secure their first win of the year.

Eastern Nazarene shot 52.8% from the field and 33.3% from the perimeter on the night. Endicott connected on 46.9% of its shot attempts while draining 44.4% of its three-point efforts.

Up next, the Lions will step out of conference play to host Daniel Webster January 3 following a 25-day hiatus.