ENDICOTT TOPS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 83-69

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team hosted Emmanuel on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference matchup. After career scoring highs by junior's Kelsey Cuddy (21) (Madison, Conn.) and Nicole Catizone (17) (Woburn, Mass.), the Gulls soared to a 83-69 victory. The triumph is the first for the Blue and Green over the Saints in their 18 meetings as Endicott improves to 2-2 while Emmanuel falls to 2-3.

Overall, the Gulls earned a game-high in all scoring categories this season as they shot an impressive 83% from the charity mark while bumping up their percentage from long range to 60%, led by a 4-5 effort by Catizone. From close range Endicott shot 52% with strong efforts from rookie, Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.) who went 6-9 in the paint.

The Blue and Green controlled the tempo from the very start of the game as they outshot the Saints, 42-35, in the first half. The Gulls were stealthy from long range shooting 55.6% while scoring 11-13 from the line. Cuddy led the Gulls with nine points while Charette posted six points and five rebounds.

In the opening minutes of the half, the Blue and Green came out of the tip-off hungry going on an early 7-0 run highlighted by a pair of treys from Cuddy and senior Katelyn Wright (Sudbury, Mass.). The Saints did not let the lead last for long as they answered back with a five-point effort by junior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) and by the 11:48 mark the Gulls led by just two points.

The Gulls would slowly start to kick the lead back up with a pair of good layups by freshman Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) and a deep trey from Catizone as Endicott held a 25-16 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the half.

In the final minutes of the first half, the Blue and Green continued to work the offensive pressure and allowed little scoring opportunities for the Saints. By the end of the first 20 minutes of play, Endicott held a seven point lead. Despite the tough defense by the Gulls, Higgins was able to nail nine points while senior Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) pulled off some key points in the final minutes to finish the half with eight.

The second half was again controlled by the Blue and Green as they outshot Emmanuel 41-34 while shooting an impressive 67% from long range and 81% from the free throw line. Both Catizone and Cuddy recorded a stealthy second half as they each scored in double figures.

In the opening minutes of the half, Endicott started to pull away early after Catizone nailed two straight three-pointers and a free throw in less than 35 seconds to give Endicott a 55-43 lead. Emmanuel worked to cut the lead down with some key points from Higgins and sophomore Alexis Ezell (Acworth, Georgia) who made it a 64-55 game at the 9:38 mark.

Freshman point guard, Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) game in off the bench and controlled the tempo for the Gulls with her crisp ball handling and play making skills. As the minutes trickled down Catizone and Cuddy went full force nailing nine of the 10 final Endicott points to help secure the 83-69 victory over the Saints.

Higgins finished with a career-high 24 points while Ezell finished with 15 points. Also in double-figures was senior center Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) with 10 points.

Endicott will take the court next on Wednesday, December 3^rd as they host cross-town rival Gordon at 5:30 p.m. to begin conference play. Emmanuel will see the court next on Tuesday as they travel to Brandeis for a 6:00 p.m. matchup.

*Release courtesy of Endicott Sports Information