BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Megan McLaughlin (Southington, Conn.) hit a 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's basketball team its first lead of the game as the Leopards would hold on for a 52-49 win over Nichols in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Leopards improve to 3-3 overall and even their CCC record at 1-1. The Bison fall to 0-6 (0-2).
Both teams' offense struggled in the opening quarter as the two squads combined to shoot 8-for-25 (32 percent) from the floor. Nichols held the lead for most of the quarter with Wentworth tying the frame up twice, including when senior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) hit two free throws with 1:29 left. However, senior Jessica Kelliher (Marshfield, Mass.) scored three straight points to give the Bison a 12-9 advantage after the first quarter.
Kelliher's layup with 8:42 left in the second quarter gave the visitors a 16-9 lead, a lead that would be trimmed to one on back-to-back three pointers from senior Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.). Nichols upped its lead to as many as six with 2:45 left. A three-point play by Rogers and jumper from sophomore Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) made it a 21-20 game with 1:11 left, however the Bison took a 24-20 lead at the break.
An 11-5 spurt, capped off by two free throws from junior Taylor Daniels (Dudley, Mass.) with 3:13 left made it a 37-25 contest with 3:13 left in the third quarter before a 9-2 run – capped off by a sophomore Courtney McCormick (Hanson, Mass.) 3-pointer with 31 seconds left – made it 39-34 with 31 seconds left. Daniels hit two free throws on the next possession to take a seven-point lead and would lead by six after 30 minutes of play.
Kelliher brought Nichols' lead to eight with a basket 28 seconds into the fourth quarter, however a 13-2 Wentworth run, which included McLaughlin's trifecta, gave the Leopards the lead. Camara hit one of two free throws and a jumper to extend the lead to six with 31 seconds left. Kelliher countered with a layup to make it a four-point game, and, after a turnover, she cut the lead to two with 14 seconds left.
Wentworth missed two free throws, however Rogers grabbed the rebound off the second miss with 12 seconds left. McCormick was fouled with seven seconds left and would make one of two free throws to make it 52-49. Nichols advanced the ball into the frontcourt where it was deflected out of bounds with less than a second remaining. The inbounds pass was deflected back out with 0.5 seconds left, however, the game-tying shot was waved off after it didn't leave the shooter's hands until after the buzzer sounded.
Rogers had a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds to go along with three assists and three blocks. Camara had 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Sabino and McCormick had six points each.
Daniels led the Bison with 16 points while Kelliher added 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Both teams play on Tuesday night as Wentworth hosts Curry and Nichols is home against Johnson State.
