Women's Basketball

Freshman Carly Haynes

Gulls Fall to Defending CCC Champ, Salve Regina in Quarterfinals, 54-46

Feb. 25, 2004

Box Score

NEWPORT, Rhode Island -- Two-time defending Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Champion Salve Regina University held Endicott to just 46 points in tournament play to come away with an 8 point win last night. Despite Endicott's own tenacious defense that held Salve to just 19 second half points and forced 21 turnovers, the Gulls were shut down on the offensive end, scoring only 23 points both halves.

There were five ties and six lead changes in the first half, none in the second. After freshman forward McKenzie Ferguson put Endicott up one (18-17) with a pair of free throws, Salve Regina finished the half on an 18-5 run to lead at the break, 35-23.

The Seahawks held their largest lead of the night (42-27) with 13:04 remaining in the second following a layup by freshman forward Margaret O'Brien. But the Gulls were not about to go down without a fight. Endicott held Salve Regina scoreless over the next five minutes as the Gulls went on a 13-0 run to cut the margin to two (42-40) after two from the charity stripe from freshman point guard Carly Haynes.

Salve Regina point guard Kelly Mallon ended the five-minute drought with two free throws. Following a Ferguson free throw, Mallon swished a three-pointer for a six-point cushion. Endicott would only get as close as five (47-42) after Haynes made one of two free throws with 6:09 remaining. The Seahawks scored a total of seven points in the final six and a half minutes, but the Gulls shared their struggles from the floor (20.7 percent shooting in the second half).

Sophomore Meaghan Stapleton led the Seahawks with 16 points including four three-pointers in the first half. Mallon finished with 14 points while sophomore Lindsay Frederick led all players off the glass with 10 rebounds. Salve Regina will play Gordon at home Thursday in the Semi-finals of the CCC Tournament.

Haynes finished with 15 points and five steals. Ferguson tallied 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Endicott (13-13) ends its season at the Rodgers Recreation Center for the second straight year.

"These young women have so much to be proud of," said Coach Lucey. "We could have crumbled after the first half. Salve had gone on a big run to end the half and they were playing at home, but our ladies came out and gave it everything they had. Just like they have all season, they kept going at Salve and never gave up. We pulled within 2, but unfortunately just couldn't hold Salve off. They have grown so much this season. We had some tough games in the first half of the season but we stepped it up and finished off the season winning 7 of our last 9 games. That's what this is about. These women should be proud."