Quincy, MA. - The Eastern Nazarene Lions women’s basketball team
defeated the Roger Williams University Hawks, 65-64, in a The Commonwealth
Coast Conference (TCCC) game on Senior Day to conclude the 2010 season at the
Lahue P.E. Center on the campus of ENC. Senior Jessica Schoppee
(Scarborough, ME) finished her career while leading the Lions to the
victory with a 17 pt., 13 reb. performance. The Lions hot shooting, 41.3%
from the field, secured the win to bring their final record to 9-16 (3-10 TCCC)
as the Hawks fell to 9-16 (5-8 TCCC) on the season.
The Lions led 14-12 at the
midway point of the first half, when senior Jessica Schoppee tallied her
1,000th career point, her final game as a Lion. Her personal milestone
was a part of a 10-3 run that increased the Lion’s lead to 24-15. Alexis
Malloy (Greenbelt, MD) and Schoppee established themselves
offensively as Malloy finished the half with 12 pts. and Schoppee
11 pts. The Lions crashed the boards and made their shots, shooting 47%
from the field while out rebounding the Hawks, 29-14, to lead at halftime, 43-29.
ENC started the second half
with an 8-1 run increasing their lead to 51-30, with sixteen minutes
remaining. However, RWU began to chip away at the lead and pulled to
within 10 points, 55-45, on a basket by Danielle Perrault (Ridgefield, CT).
With six minutes left to play, the Hawks cut even deeper into the lead as Alexandria
Lanieri (Port Jefferson, NY) sunk two free throws and then converted an
“And-1” three point play to pull within three, 59-56.
The Lions managed to extend
their slim lead to 65-60 on free throws by Shardae Brown (Waterbury, CT)
and Malloy with two minutes left to play. But the Hawks refused to
go away, as they trailed by one, 65-64 with :05 left to play and possession of
the ball. But strong Lion defensive pressure prevented the Hawks from getting a
final shot off as the home team secured the 65-64 victory.
The Lions Jessica Schoppee
had a double-double with 17 pts. and 13 rebs. as Alexis Malloy also had
a double-double with 13 pts. and 16 rebs. The Hawks Alexandria Lanieri
posted a game high 23 pts. and 12 rebs. The Lions shot an impressive 41% from
the field and beat the Hawks on the glass 53-41.
Though losing, Roger Williams
University is seeded 8th for the TCCC playoffs and will face the
TCCC’s top seed in the first round of the conference playoffs next week while
Eastern Nazarene misses the playoffs. ENC and the women’s basketball team
congratulates seniors and co-captains Jessica Schoppee and Christine Tucker
(Oakland, CA) for their outstanding NCAA careers and thank them for their
contributions to the ENC Women’s basketball program.
Contributed by Ben Wilson
-ENC Athletics