Women’s Basketball Tops New England College on Senior Day, 75-59

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team earned a 75-59 victory over New England College Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Athletic Center. With the win, the Lions secure a first-round home game in the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 75, New England College 59
Records: Lions (9-13, 3-1 NECC) | Pilgrims (10-12, 1-4 NECC)

                                   
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene grabbed a seven-point lead midway through the opening quarter, 15-8, as Ashley Quigley (Fields Landing, Calif.) completed a three-point play from the charity stripe.
• The Lions sported a 21-14 advantage at the conclusion of the first period.
• The home team widened the gap to double-digits, 28-18, with 6:52 left to play in the second frame on a free throw by Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.).
• New England College trimmed the deficit to 40-35 as Lara Matias drilled a three-pointer just before the halftime horn.
• The visitors tallied the first six points of the third quarter to seize a 41-40 edge with 8:47 remaining in the period.
• Eastern Nazarene responded with seven unanswered points to reclaim the lead, 47-41, with 4:59 on the clock in the third.
• The Lions owned a 54-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter after both squads chalked up 14 points in the third frame.
• The hosts opened the fourth period with a 10-0 run spanning 4:07 to extend their advantage to 64-49.
• Eastern Nazarene snagged its largest lead of the day with 1:03 remaining in regulation as Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) knocked down a mid-range jumper, 75-52.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) poured in a game-high 23 points to go with six assists, five steals, and five rebounds.
• Te'yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas) finished with 13 points and seven boards off the bench.
• Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R.) netted 12 points and a pair of steals.
• Ashley Quigley (Fields Landing, Calif.) notched 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out four assists.
• Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.) chipped in with seven points and seven boards.
• Eastern Nazarene concluded the contest with a field-goal percentage of 46.8% while connecting on 3-of-10 from behind the arc.
• New England College shot 39.7% from the floor and 33.3% from three-point range on the afternoon.
• Asia Jones paced the Pilgrims with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Mackenzie McDonald added 11 points off the bench.

SENIOR DAY FESTIVITIES:
Prior to the start of the contest, the Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team recognized its two seniors: Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Michala O'Donoghue (San Bruno, Calif.).

                                                                                    
LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene visits Lesley February 15.