NCAA TOURNAMENT: Women's Basketball Battles, Falls to Cortland, 48-46

BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Endicott women's basketball team battled through the end, but ultimately fell to Cortland, 48-46, in Friday evening's NCAA First Round matchup at Morrell Gymnasium.

Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.) stayed hot after her huge second half performance at Western New England. The senior forward cashed in 14 points (6-11 FG) and five rebounds on the evening.

Tenley Wallin (Danbury, Conn.) provided some offense from the backcourt, as she turned in eight points (4-6 FT), three rebounds, and an assist.

Libby Fleming (Bangor, Maine) locked down the paint with a game-high 10 rebounds and two blocks. She also posted four points for the Blue and Green. 

Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) dimed out four assists, hauled down six rebounds, and also put in six points for the Gulls. Sofia Mazzotta (Billerica, Mass.) came off the bench to score eight points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT) in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Dempsey kicked off the scoring for the Blue and Green with a beautiful pump fake and drive to the rim for an easy deuce. Wallin then followed up with back-to-back midrange jumpers to put the Blue and Green up 6-0 through the first 4:30 of action.

After a 7-0 run put the Red Dragons on top, Dempsey snapped the run with her patented baseline midrange jumper, and then followed up with an and-one bucket from inside on the next trip down. Mazzotta then joined the action with a smooth downhill layup through the Red Dragons' defense to make it 13-7 Endicott (1:56 remaining in first quarter).

The Gulls closed the quarter with back-to-back buckets from Fleming and Mazzotta to take a 17-7 lead heading to the second.

Dempsey got the Gulls into the scoring column after a scoreless opening six minutes of the second quarter, making good on an open midrange jumper to end the 4-0 Red Dragons mini-run.

A few minutes later, Katelyn Konareski (Milford, Conn.) drained a corner triple to beat the shot clock, putting the Gulls back up by eight (22-14) heading to halftime.

Shinney expanded the Gulls' lead to double digits (24-14) after a tough drive to the rim early in the second half.

However, the Red Dragons' offense awoke, as they cashed in a 10-0 run to knot up the contest at 24 apiece.

Wallin forced the issue with a drive to the rim, earning two free throws (both made) to end the Cortland run (26-24, 6:07 3Q).

The Gulls continued to grind their way to the line in the third, as Shinney and Wallin each earned consecutive trips to put the Gulls up 28-26 with 2:32 remaining in the quarter. Konareski then drilled her second three-pointer of the game to put Endicott up 31-26.

The Red Dragons tightened things up to close the quarter, and the two teams headed to the fourth in a 31-30 dogfight.

After a few free throw trips to the line for both sides, Dempsey followed up a missed corner three and layed up a putback bucket down low. After the play, Endicott received a technical foul, and the Red Dragons converted one of two chances at the line to make it 35-33 Endicott.

A few costly turnovers for the Gulls and conversions for the Red Dragons put Cortland up 40-36 with 3:41 to play.

A Shinney floater kept Endicott knocking on the door, making it a 43-41 Cortland lead with 1:50 on the clock. Cortland then padded its lead with a second-chance layup with just 21 seconds remaining. 

Out of a timeout, Endicott drew up a play for Dempsey. The senior converted from the post, bringing it back to a one-possession game. 

Trailing 46-43 with 13.2 on the clock, the Gulls were unable to find a score, and consequently sent Cortland back to the line.

In a last ditch effort, Mazzotta was able to create some space and splashed an open triple, but Cortland inbounded the ball to allow the clock to expire, closing out the game by a 48-46 score. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• First meeting between the two programs all-time.
• Most wins for Endicott since 2013-14.
• Cortland's 31.0% from the field was a season-low.
• The Gulls received 14 points off the bench as opposed to Cortland's five.
• Endicott won the battle on the glass, 17-14.

FIRST HALF NOTES

• The Gulls defense held the Red Dragons to just 3-15 (20%) shooting in the first quarter.
• They followed up by holding them to just 3-14 (21.4%) in the second.
• Dempsey led all scorers with nine points (4-7 FG, 1-1 FT).
• SUNYAC Player of the Year Kayla Campbell (Franklin, N.Y.) was held scoreless in the opening 20 minutes.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (22-6) sees its 2024-25 campaign come to a close after a Conference of New England (CNE) Championship and 22 wins.

Cortland (25-3) advances to the second round tomorrow night at 7:30 PM. It will face the winner of the Bowdoin/Brooklyn matchup this evening. 

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(Photo Credit - Bradley Griffin '28)