Women's Basketball Closes out First Semester at Eastern Nazarene

QUINCY, Mass. – Junior Delaney Walker (Nampa, Idaho) scored a game-high 20 points as the Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team rallied to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 78-68, in non-conference action Wednesday night.

The Leopards had five student-athletes score in double figures, including sophomore Maddy Foster (Lewiston, Maine), who led the Black & Gold with 18 points

RECORDS:

WIT:  3-6
ENC:  4-7

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Maddy Foster, 18, Gabby Amoddio, 16; Nattaly David, 10; Abriana Busbey, 10; Brooke Carlson, 10
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Foster, 9; Busbey, 9; Brianna Carroll, 6
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Foster, 4; Busbey, 3; Francesca Farrell, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After falling behind, 6-4, Wentworth took a 7-6 lead on a three pointer from sophomore Gabby Amoddio (Wethersfield, Conn.). Using a 10-2 run that stretched into the second quarter, Eastern Nazarene took a 16-9 lead on a jumper from senior Michala O'Donoghue (San Bruno, Calif.).
• Wentworth, which outscored the Lions by a 26-12 margin in the second half by shooting 62.5 percent from the floor, responded with a 15-4 run, taking a 25-20 lead after a pair of senior Abriana Busbey (Palmer, Alaska) free throws with 4:28 left. After the Lions cut the lead to three, the Leopards took an 11-2 run into the break, extending their lead to 11 (35-24).
• The Lions opened the second half on an 11-3 run, cutting the lead to 38-36 on a sophomore Te'Yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas) layup with 6:43 left. Foster ended the run with a layup of her own and a sophomore Brooke Carlson (Contoocook, N.H.) jumper with 4:54 left gave Wentworth a 42-38 lead. After a Walker three pointer, Wentworth scored seven straight points, pushing the lead to seven (48-41) with 2:11 left. Eastern Nazarene closed out the quarter on a 10-2 run – with seven of those points coming from Walker – giving the hosts a 51-50 lead.
• Foster and Brianna Carroll (Douglas, Mass.) each hit a pair of free throws, giving Wentworth a 54-51 lead before senior Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) hit a three to tie the game. Wentworth reclaimed the lead on a Foster jumper (58-56), however, six straight Lion points put Eastern Nazarene on top, 62-58, with 4:43 left to play. Foster pulled the Black & Gold back within a pair and junior Nattaly David (Hyde Park, Mass.) hit a three to put the Leopards back on top. A three from sophomore Anaira Ayala (Guaynabo, P.R.) gave Eastern Nazarene a 65-63 lead. David converted a three-point play which put Wentworth ahead, 66-65, and her two free throws with 2:53 left tied the game at 68-all.
• Jimenez made a layup with 1:53 left to put the hosts ahead, 70-68, and the Lions got the ball back off a turnover where five of six free throws and a three pointer by O'Donoghue sealed the win.
• In addition to her 18 points, Foster had nine rebounds and four assists. Amoddio added 16 points. David, Busbey, and Carlson each scored 10. For David, all of her points came in the fourth quarter.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight was the 45th all-time meeting between the two teams. Eastern Nazarene holds a 28-17 series advantage, having now won the last 12.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth takes a break for the holidays before hosting Suffolk in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game on Tuesday, January 3, at 5:30 p.m.

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