BEVERLY, Mass.—A career-high 22 points from freshman Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.) was not enough for Gordon Women's Basketball to overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half, ultimately falling to host Endicott 55-47. The Fighting Scots mounted a comeback late in the second half, but Endicott's hot shooting effort in the second half proved insurmountable.
 
The first 10 minutes of play was a game of runs, with Endicott taking the early 10-4 lead before Gordon answered with a 9-1 run of its own for a two-point lead. Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Smith were an invaluable part of the Scots' offense in the first half, as they clung to the 13-11 advantage midway through the period.
 
Endicott's Kayleen Whall brought the Gulls back with a pair of breakaway layups to regain their lead, one they wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the half. Gordon's offense struggled to find its footing over the final 10 minutes of the half, while the counter-attacked worked wonders for their rivals. The Gulls outscored the Scots 17-5 over the final stretch to take a 10-point lead into halftime.
 
Gordon's Smith and Endicott's Whall led all scorers in the half with 11 points apiece, while Smith held the rebounding advantage with four boards. Seventeen first-half turnovers were the story for the Scots during their scoring drought over the final stretch of the half.
 
The Gulls took a stronghold on the momentum in the second half with a well-balanced scoring attack from inside out. Endicott built its lead to as large as 19 points with only five minutes remaining when Gordon made one final push. The Fighting Scots couldn't miss over the final five minutes and change, with Smith and Vetere leading the way. The visitors outpaced Endicott by 11 points the rest of the way, before falling 55-47.
 
Whall was the only Endicott player in double figures, although she did not score in the second half and finished with 11 points. Six other Gulls finished with at least six points to pace the spread attack. Hannah Shaw led the Gulls with seven rebounds and Kelsey Cuddy (Madison, Conn.) had a career-high eight steals. Endicott's 63-percent shooting performance in the second half helped create the large lead, although the Gulls struggled with turnovers in the final period.
 
Smith had a breakthrough game on 9-of-12 shooting and six rebounds. Only Vetere joined the freshman in the double-digit scoring category, as the sharpshooting junior pitched in 14 points. Sophie Linnell (Richmond, Va.) grabbed seven rebounds and had a team-high four steals for the Scots.
 
Gordon (2-4) is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Boston for a Commonwealth Coast Conference matchup at Wentworth.