WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Basketball suffered its second straight defeat at home, falling in its fall semester finale to Brandeis at the Bennett Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Judges balanced offense proved too much to help the Fighting Scots stage a second-half comeback, as Gordon fell to 3-6 on the season. Brandeis improves their season mark to 6-3.
Each team is off until after the holidays, reconvening for games on December 30. Brandeis will look to complete a clean sweep of Commonwealth Coast Conference competition when they head to Endicott for a 2 p.m. start. Gordon hosts Thomas for a midday game, while looking to snap a two-game skid.
Brandeis ran the gauntlet on both ends of the floor in the opening half, taking a commanding 20-5 advantage after 10 minutes. The Judges shot nearly 50 percent from the floor on their way to a 15-point advantage, while holding Gordon to 2-of-16 shooting in the period.
Gordon put together a more complete effort in the second quarter, as Meghan Foley (Malden, Mass.) and Jess Ryan (Milford, N.H.) jumpstarted the Scot offense. Gordon outscored the Judges 15-6 to begin the second quarter, but a three-pointer by Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif.) stopped the run and Brandeis was able to secure a 31-20 lead at the break.
The Judges dedicated the third quarter to pushing the tempo on both sides of the floor and it generated significant offensive runs. Brandeis held Gordon to only eight points in the third quarter, while scoring 20 of its own to essentially put the game out of reach for good.
Gordon responded with its best offensive quarter in the fourth, but Brandeis was able to match them blow for blow to keep the lead manageable for the Judges.
Thirteen different Brandeis players at least one point, led by Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) with 16. Paris Hodges (Southampton, N.Y.) was the only other Brandeis player in double figures with 15 points. The Judges held a 47-44 advantage on the boards and forced 22 Gordon turnovers, recording steals on 11 of them.
Foley and Ryan paced the Gordon offense for a majority of the day. Foley finished as the Scots' leading scorer for the fourth time this season with 16, while Ryan added a season-high 11 points in a starting role. Olivia Stark (Arvada, Colo.) was held scoreless for the first time, but dished out five assists in 19 minutes.
