Strong Second Half Leads to Endicott Win
Jan. 5, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Florida Sunshine Shootout All-Tournament team selection Nicole Duchesne (Plaistow, N.H./Central Catholic) helped pace a Gulls offense that scored 49 second half points to defeat Spalding University, 85-64, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday.
Endicott opened the contest with a quick two points from Paris Sanders (Needham, Mass./Minuteman Tech). The Golden Eagles and the Gulls exchanged buckets throughout the first 10 minutes of action. The Blue and Green strung together a series of hoops including a deep 3-ball from Nicole Duchesne to build a comfortable 12 point lead with 5:30 left in the first.
Refusing to cave early, Spalding fired back with a 17-6 run to close out the opening frame, escaping into the dressing room trailing by one, 36-35.
For the second day in a row, Endicott shot lights out in the second half. The Gulls converted on 57% (15-of-26) of their attempts from the floor in the final stanza. Several halftime adjustments played a large role in the Endicott success, as the Blue and Green shut down Allie Graves (Nashville, Tenn.), holding her to just four second half points after scoring nine in the first. The Gulls also stopped Brianna Miles (Louisville, Ky.) and Brittany Buss (Louisville, Ky.), holding the pair scoreless after they each chipped in seven points in the opening half.
Nicole Duchesne led all scorers with 19 points and four assists. Aubrey Drugan (Salem, N.H./Bishop Guertin) notched 12 points while Ceciley Chisholm (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) and Sara Doherty (Somerville, Mass./Arlington Catholic) each had 10 points for the Gulls.
With the win, Endicott improves to .500 at 5-5 overall (0-0 TCCC). The Gulls return to action on Wednesday evening as they will take on cross-town rival Salem State College at 7:00 pm in Beverly, Mass.