Women’s Hoops Opens League Play with 64-48 Loss at New England College

HENNIKER, N.H.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team suffered a 64-48 setback at New England College Wednesday evening in the first New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tilt of the season.

The Lions dip to 8-6 on the year and 0-1 in league action with the outcome. The Pilgrims improve to 10-5 overall and 1-0 in the NECC with the win.

Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) netted 16 points to lead the offense while adding six rebounds. Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Heights, Utah) recorded 12 points and six boards. Sophia Torres (Fort Mohave, Ariz.) added six points and five rebounds while Te'Yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas) chipped in with six points off the bench.

After the visitors snagged a narrow 8-6 edge, the home side strung together a 12-0 run to seize an 18-8 lead with less than a minute remaining in the opening period.

Eastern Nazarene leveled the contest at 24-24 with 1:40 left to play in the second quarter on a bucket by Jimenez.

The two teams played to a 26-26 stalemate in the first half after the Lions outscored the Pilgrims 18-8 in the second frame.

Eastern Nazarene shot 25.7% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc in the opening two quarters. New England College posted a field-goal percentage of 36.7% in the first half while connecting on 1-of-8 from three-point range.

Jimenez poured in a team-best 14 points in the first 20 minutes of action while Oviatt added six points and five boards.

The hosts regained a double-figure lead with 4:15 remaining in the third as Kayla Goldring sank the first of two free throws, 40-30.

The guests narrowed the gap to 45-37 just before the third-quarter horn as Simpson knocked down a jumper.

New England College outscored Eastern Nazarene 19-11 in the final frame to secure its first conference victory of the season.

The Lions finished the game with a field-goal percentage of 29.5% while making 4-of-16 three-point attempts. The Pilgrims shot 44.1% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the arc on the evening.

Goldring poured in a game-high 19 points to lead the Pilgrims. Brianna Pierreval notched a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards on the night.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns home to battle Wesleyan January 20.