WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Basketball opened its 2015-16 season with a bang, beating visiting Newbury College 73-57 at the Bennett Center on Saturday. The Fighting Scots broke open a close game in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Nighthawks, 21-6.
 
Both teams got their first taste of the new basketball rules as halves have been broken into quarters. The Nighthawks and Scots were even 7-7 after the first five minutes of the first quarter when Newbury found its groove from the field. Jovanna Sandifer (Boston, Mass.) hit a jumper in transition following a steal and fellow senior Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) drained a triple. Off another Gordon turnover Newbury's Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) capped off a 7-0 run with a lay in on the other end.
 
The Nighthawks led 14-9 after the first period, but Gordon fought its way back into the game in the first two minutes of the second. Senior Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) gave the Scots their first lead of the game at 16-14 when she hit an open three off a feed from Olivia Stark (Arvada, Colo.).
 
Newbury countered with a 9-0 run of its own, as Savannah Olsen (Battle Creek, Mich.) got into a rhythm at the low post.
 
The game of momentum continued to turn as Gordon found something on offense down the stretch to eventually take a 27-26 lead with just a minute remaining in the first half. However, Newbury scored six of the final seven points in the half to take a 31-27 advantage into the break.
 
The lead changed four times in the early stages of the third quarter, but Newbury looked to take a hold of the game with Olsen's moves down low. The freshman scored on three consecutive possessions to give the Nighthawks a 44-36 lead with 15 minutes to go in regulation.
 
An and-one play completed by Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.) jumpstarted Gordon the rest of the way. Jess Ryan (Milford, N.H.) brought the Scots all the way back with a three from the corner as time expired in the third quarter to give Gordon a 52-51 entering the last 10 minutes.
 
Timely shots carried Gordon in the last quarter, as they went on a 21-3 run to open the frame and end the game effectively.
 
Olsen led the Nighthawks in her collegiate debut with 16 points and nine rebounds. She also had a game-high two blocks. Sandifer was second with 12 points, while Taylor Kelley (North Billerica, Mass.) had 11 in her first college game. Spears had the most well rounded game for Newbury with 10 points, six rebounds and five steals.
 
Smith led all players with 21 points for the hosts. The sophomore forward shot 7-for-11 from the floor and made three treys in 34 minutes. She also contributed four steals and a team-high four assists. Stark was not far behind with 13 points and four steals in her college premiere. Vetere had 10 points, while Jamie Tafoya (Fort Collins, Colo.) had 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.
 
Gordon beat last year's best marks in points in a game and threes in a game, which sat at 64 and six respectively. The Scots made nine shots from behind the line on Saturday.
 
Newbury stays on the road with a tough matchup at Wheaton on Wednesday, while Gordon hosts Mount Ida on Tuesday.