Wentworth Opens TCCC Play With Overtime Win at Gordon

(Portions courtesy of Gordon College Sports Information)

WENHAM, MASS. – Leading by 12 points with five minutes remaining, the Wentworth women's basketball team allowed Gordon to sneak back into the game before holding off the Fighting Scots in overtime, 67-65, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for both teams.


A three-point play by senior Michelle Moffo (Southington, Conn.) in the final minute of overtime broke a 62-all deadlock and gave the Leopards a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. Moffo led Wentworth with 13 points and was one of four players in double figures.


The Scots had trailed 56-44 with 4:57 to play in regulation. However, senior Kim Levinsky (West Caldwell, N.J.) hit consecutive three-pointers and a foul shot, and classmate Becky Carroll (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) followed with a conventional three-point play to cut the lead to one with 1:59 remaining. After junior Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) sank a foul shot, sophomore Heather DeKleine's (Wayland, Mich.) fall away jumper knotted the score at 58-58 with 1:15 to play. A pair of free throws from DeKleine with 46 seconds remaining gave Gordon their first lead of the second half. However, a 15-foot jumper by Vallone knotted the score at 60. Gordon held for the final shot in regulation, but was unable to get a quality opportunity, as Levinsky's desperation three-pointer clanked off the rim and sent the contest into overtime.


Although Gordon fell behind 67-62 in the extra session, they had a late opportunity after Levinsky sank a three-pointer with seven seconds to play. Gordon got the ball back trailing by only two, after a missed free throw. The Scots set up an inbounds play, but were not able to get off a clear shot at the basket before time expired.


DeKleine, Levinsky, and Carroll all had 19 points apiece, accounting for almost all of Gordon's scoring. Levinsky hit six of nine from behind the arc, while DeKleine added eight rebounds and five assists.


Wentworth had a strong contribution off the bench from senior Jessie Coffey (Wakefield, R.I.) who drilled a pair of three pointers and scored 11 points. Freshmen Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.) and Morgan Furman (Falmouth, Maine) added 10 points apiece for the Leopards.

The loss snaps a two-game losing streak for Wentworth (5-6, 1-0 TCCC) with the five wins accumulated by the Leopards matching the win total from the entire 2008-09 season.  The Leopards host Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.  Gordon falls to 6-6 (0-1) and is at Anna Maria on Tuesday.