Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Endicott College doubled up No.2 seed University of New England in the 2nd quarter to take the lead and never looked back, advancing through the semifinals of the 2022 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship with a 65-53 result on Thursday night (Feb. 24) at Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum.

The third-seeded Gulls (17-10) book a date in their third consecutive final and will visit top seed Roger Williams University on Saturday [Interactive Bracket]. The Hawks, whose only regular-season league loss was to the Nor'easters, topped No.5 Gordon College in the other semifinal, 70-47. The last time the CCC title was contested in 2019-20, Endicott won its first crown in five tries, over UNE.

The outcome halts UNE's nine-game unbeaten streak, which began following a home setback to EC on January 25. The Nor'easters wrap the year with an 18-9 overall record.

Sarah Dempsey [CCC 1st Team] put up 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals to pace the visitors. Tara Laugeni [CCC 1st Team] added 15 points and seven caroms. The pair combined for 25 of Endicott's 36 points after halftime. Emily St. Thomas was the only player in the match with multiple connections from downtown (3-of-4) and contributed 13 points with eight boards.

Gulls guard Olivia Duncan collected a game-high 11 rebounds to aid a 46-41 edge on the glass, while dishing out six assists and blocking two shots. Endicott, which did not score in the paint during the final 20 minutes and had just six in there all evening, outscored the hosts by nine behind the arc (15-6) and by seven at the line (18-11).

UNE received 12 points and seven rebounds out of Kaylee Beyor [CCC 3rd Team], along with 11 points, nine boards, and five assists from Allie Goodman [CCC 3rd Team]. Katrina Krenzer came off the bench and did not miss a shot en route to 11 points.

CCC Player of the Year Jordyn Franzen totaled eight points and seven caroms in limited minutes due to early foul trouble. Abby Cavallaro [CCC 2nd Team] had six points.

The Nor'easters came out strong with the game's initial eight points, however the last eight of the 1st period went for the Gulls, trimming the deficit to 12-11. Laugeni provided a momentary lead with the opening hoop of the 2nd, and Dempsey flipped it for good at 18-16. Endicott closed the frame with 15 of the final 20 points to take a 29-21 cushion into the break. Both sides shot below 30 percent from the field during the first half.

Dempsey produced eight in the 3rd as the visitors never let UNE within seven and extended to a 46-33 margin by the end. The teams traded baskets or points for most of the 4th, keeping the spread in double digits.