BOSTON, Mass. - Freshman Riselly Deoleo's (Machester, N.H.) 14 points and 11 rebounds helped spark a second half comeback for the Leopards, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated Endicott 44-41 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Tuesday evening at Tansey Gymnasium.
Wentworth snaps a four-game losing skid to stand at 6-18 (4-13 CCC), while the Gulls are now 10-13 (6-10 CCC).
Neither side could gain a large advantage in the first, as each team held a lead no bigger than four points. Junior forward Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) scored 14 points in the first, including a pair of three pointers. Junior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) led the way for the Leopards with nine points and seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
A layup by freshman Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) brought the score to 25-21 with 2:25 remaining. Deoleo's jump shot finished the scoring in the first, closing the half at 25-23 in favor of Endicott.
Deoleo kicked off the second half with a 3-pointer to take the 26-25 lead. The Black and Gold held the lead for five minutes until freshman Hannah Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine) nailed a jump shot to tie the game at 29 apiece. Shaw's jumper sparked 11 straight points for the Gulls, as they lead 38-29 halfway through the second. Wentworth slowly cut into the lead and finally recaptured the lead. Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.) hit a 3-pointer to even the score at 38-all, and Deoleo sank a jumper to put Wentworth up 40-38 with 2:23 remaining. Freshman Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.) hit a layup and finished the three-point play with a free throw to bring the Gulls within one with just over a minute remaining. Camara was fouled and made both her free throws to put Wentworth up by three in the final seconds.
The Gulls attempted a last chance 3-pointer, but couldn't get the shot off, as the Leopards defeated the Gulls 44-41.
Rogers scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked three shots while Camara added 11 points and five rebounds in the win.
Cuddy led all scorers with 16 points while adding four rebounds. Senior Kayleen Whall (Foxboro, Mass.) led the Gulls with nine rebounds.
Wentworth finishes the regular season on Saturday, as the Leopards travel to conference foe Nichols for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Endicott continues conference play on Thursday, as the Gulls host to Eastern Nazarene at 5:30 p.m.
