WENHAM, Mass.—Four Gordon players scored in double figures, but Eastern Nazarene's Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 11 second-half points to stave off a rally by the Fighting Scots. The Fighting Scots were able to chip away at a double-digit lead and outscored the Lions in the second half. However the Lions' early run proved too much to come back from, holding on for a 65-58 victory at the Bennett Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lions remain one of the hottest teams in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, winning their third CCC game in the last four tries and improving to 4-4 in conference play. Gordon remains winless in the conference and is now 2-13 on the season.
 
Eastern Nazarene led cover to cover, opening the game on a 13-2 run while using a pressure defense to force Gordon turnovers. The strategy worked well in the early going until Gordon was able to start breaking the press for good looks. The Fighting Scots crept back within eight points only to rebuffed by another long Lions' run. Nichols Greer (Odenton, Md.) took over during a 12-2 run and the Lions grabbed at 27-9 advantage with 7:18 to play.
 
Gordon looked more comfortable in the half court over the final seven minutes and was able to close to gap to 11 points at halftime, 34-23. Greer led the Lions with 11 points in the first half, while Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) pitched in 10 for the Scots.
 
ENC was able to hold the Scots at an arm's length for much of the second half. Gordon whittled the deficit down to four points with 11:18 remaining in the game, but the Lions were able to eventually get it back to double digits just a few minutes later. Once again the Scots made a run to get within two possessions at the 4:56 mark, but Eastern Nazarene was able to lock down the defense in the closing minute.
 
Mata led all scorers with her second-half explosion. Greer had a quieter second half, but still finished with 13 points and four rebounds. Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.) also had a great game with 14 points and eight rebounds at the low post. ENC only shot 35.8% from the field, but attempt 13 more shots than the Scots because of an outstanding offensive-rebound effort with 21 boards on that end.
 
Kratche paced the Gordon offense with 16 points, while also adding eight caroms. Freshman Sophie Linnell (Richmond, Va.) had 12 points and nine rebounds. Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.) and Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) each pitched in 10 points.
 
Gordon is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Roger Williams for the final game of the first time through the CCC schedule.