WENHAM, Mass.—A strong defensive push fell just short as the Gordon Women's Basketball team remained without a victory in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with a 38-36 loss to Roger Williams. The Scots held the Hawks to a season-low 38 points, but a rally attempt in the final minute could not be fully completed.
 
Gordon falls to 4-13 and 0-10 in the CCC, while Roger Williams improves to 10-7 and 7-3.
 
It was Fighting Scots, not the Hawks who looked like the favorite coming into the game. Despite going winless its first time through the CCC slate and losing to the Hawks by 35 in the first meet, Gordon came out swinging for the fences on both ends of the floor. The Scots scored the first nine points of the contest and did not allow a Roger Williams basket until the 2:44 mark in the first quarter.
 
From there, Gordon went cold on the offensive end, something that has plagued them at times with a young roster. Over the first five minute of the second quarter, Roger Williams scored 12 straight points to cap off a 16-0 run that lasted over 10 minutes of game time.
 
Sophomore Sophie Linnell (Richmond, Va.) did her best to keep the lead from getting too slated, as a couple of hustle plays led to five points for the forward. She had nine points in the first half, including two free throws with under a minute remaining in the half, to make it a 19-17 game a halftime in favor of Roger Williams.
 
Neither team gained much of an advantage in the third, as the lead changed hands several times. Senior guard Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) was held in check for much of the night, but she scored four straight points at the end of the third to break open a previous tie game.
 
Gordon cut the deficit down to two points several times in the fourth quarter and had opportunities to tie or take the lead late, but could not capitalize.
 
The Fighting Scots will look to rebound on the road this week when they travel to Western New England on Wednesday. The Hawks hope to avenge an early season loss to Salve Regina on Wednesday as well.
 
For the Foes:

• Battista was the only Hawk in double figures with 14 points in 30 minutes. The senior guard had 12 of her points during the 12-0 run in the first half. She also added two steals.
• Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) had nine points, three blocks and two steals at center.

 
For the Scots:

• No Gordon player reached the 10-point plateau for the first time in 2015-16.
• Linnell did not score in the second half, but did pull down seven total rebounds and had two steals.
• Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.) and Sydney Pefanis (Cumming, Ga.) each put up eight points. Smith added nine boards and a block. Pefanis led the team with three blocks and three steals.

 
Quick Hits:

• Saturday marked the second time Gordon has held a team under 40 points this season. Previously held Lesley to 30 in an early victory.
• Roger Williams has won eight straight in the series. Gordon's last victory over the Hawks came in February of 2012.
• Two points marked the lowest differential between the two schools in four years.