Women's Basketball Cruises Past Wheaton In Season Opener, 80-61
NORTON, Mass. — The Endicott women's basketball team opened up its 2025-26 season with an 80-61 road victory at Wheaton on Friday evening from inside Haas Athletic Center.
Five Gulls registered double figures in scoring amidst the sizable win.
Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) led the way with a double-double from the floor. The star guard posted 19 points (9-17 FG) and hauled down 13 rebounds (11 defensive, two offensive) in her season debut. She also dished out three assists and swiped two steals.
Sarah Shaw (Southwick, Mass.) got the start at center and put up an impressive 12-point (5-9 FG, 2-2 FT), six-rebound performance.
Freshman guard Aleah Bracey (New Bedford, Mass.) also joined veteran guards Sofia Mazzotta (Billerica, Mass.) and Tenley Wallin (Danbury, Conn.) in double figures, as the trio combined for 39 points (14, 14, and 11, respectively).
After the two teams started out deadlocked at nine over the first 4:37 of play, the Blue and Green ripped off a 10-4 run to close out the first quarter. Mazzotta sparked the run with a triple and a pair of freebies.
The Lyons responded with an 18-16 second quarter, bridging the gap to six (37-31) heading into halftime.
Endicott came out of halftime firing on all cylinders. The Gulls outscored the Lyons 27-13 in the third period, smothering the hosts defensively and converting turnovers into fast break buckets. Wallin, Shinney, and Mazzotta fueled the game-separating surge.
Wheaton won the fourth stanza by a 17-16 score, but the third-quarter separation was more than enough to secure an 80-61 road win for the Gulls.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Bracey's 14 points are the most by a Gull in their collegiate debut since 2010 (based upon available data).
- First win in a season opener since 2022-23 season (11/12/22).
- Shinney's 13 rebounds set a new career high.
- Tonight was only the second matchup between the two programs. The Gulls evened the all-time series at one apiece.
- The Gulls shot 53.2% from the floor and held Wheaton to just 39.3%.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (1-0) heads to Emerson on Monday for a 7 PM non-conference contest. Wheaton (0-1) heads to Roger Williams on Wednesday for a 6 PM non-conference matchup.
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(Photo Credit - Kaeli Talora '25)