PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Gordon Women's Basketball fell on the losing end of a back-and-forth battle in its season opener at Chatham University, 64-59. The Fighting Scots received double-double performances from senior Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and freshman Sophie Linnell (Richmond, Va.), but the Scots couldn't quite claw their way back from a second-half deficit.
 
The Cougars improve to 1-1 on the season, while Gordon falls to 0-1 on opening weekend. The Scots return to Wenham on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. for their home debut against Fisher College. Gordon edged the Falcons by a few points in Lynn last season.
 
It took a few minutes for either time to find the scoring groove, but Chatham's Rachel McClain broke the draw at the 16:55 mark in the first half. However, the Fighting Scots would go on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes with Kratche scoring three buckets during the streak. The two teams traded points back and forth until the eight-minute mark where Gordon held a 16-10 advantage. Chatham would hit two triples over its next four possession to pull within a bucket at 18-16 with six minutes to play in the first half.
 
The Cougars took charge over the final few minutes of the first period, gaining its first lead since 2-0 when Jesse Hinkle hit a pair of free throws at 5:45 in the half. Chatham would convert four more charity shots over the next two minutes to open a four-point lead at 25-21. While Chatham's offense began to find the mark, Gordon struggled to put points on the board during the final stretch of the first half. Two more deep balls by the Cougars gave them their largest lead of the game at 31-22 with less than two minutes to play.
 
Gordon was able to score the final four points of the half, but Chatham held a five-point advantage heading into the locker room. Kratche led all scorers in the first half with 14 points, but the long range of game of the Cougars provided the scoring difference. Chatham hit four first-half triples, while Gordon finished 0-for-3 behind the arch for the game.
 
The Fighting Scots chipped away slowly at the Cougars' lead in the early portion of the second half and eventually took a one-point lead with 13 minutes to play on a Kratche layup. However, more sharpshooting from behind the arch put the Cougars back ahead with 12 minutes remaining. Becky Rowe and Anna Shashura led Chatham with two triples apiece.
 
Once again the Scots battled back from a several-possession disadvantage to take a lead late in regulation. Jenna Olson's (Rutland, Vt.) layup with 2:58 remaining gave Gordon a 55-54 lead, but Shashura answered on the other end to give Chatham the lead for good. The Cougars' 6-0 run gave them a five-point lead with less than a minute to play and Gordon was only able to score four points down the stretch to fall short of a perfect rally.
 
McClain and Shashura both pitched in 15 points apiece, while Rowe and Hinkle combined for 18 points off the bench for the hosts. Chatham's bench outscored Gordon's 23-0 for the game. Hinkle and Mega Sieg led the Cougars with six rebounds, while Jessica Manfredi directed the offense with six assists in 28 minutes.
 
The Fighting Scots owned the boards on the afternoon, outrebounding the Cougars 41-25 for the game. Linnell led the Scots with 13 rebounds in her first collegiate game, while Kratche reached the double-double plateau with 10 rebounds. The senior paced all players in scoring with 24 total points. Linnell and Olson was the only other two Scots in double-figure scoring with 13 and 10 points respectively. Minus junior Mariel Barner (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) ran the offense and dished out five dimes.