Gordon College Women's Basketball returned to Kanas Court this afternoon for a New Year's Eve match-up against the visiting Alfred Saxons. The Fighting Scots and Saxons battled until the final whistle with the home team coming out on top, 76-74.

For the Scots, Ami Rivera booked a double-double with 23 points and 11 boards, Sophie Peters also notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Naomi Nicholson and Woynitu Ciccarello scored 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Alfred's Jaidyn Chest had a team-high 21 points, Grace Rittenhouse added 16 points, while Felicia Stewart chipped in 15 points

How It Happened

• The Fighting Scots and Saxons went point for point to open up the first quarter before Alfred used a short run to attempt to pull away (12-8) midway through the frame. However, the Scots quickly bounced back to regain the lead (13-12) with 3:05 on the clock thanks to buckets from the rookie duo of Leah McGarvey and Ciccarello. Alfred closed out the final minutes with a pair of layups to hold the 16-15 advantage after one.
• Rivera caught fire in the second, netting the first 12 points of the quarter for the blue and white (3-3 from behind the arc) to ignite the Scots' offense. Gordon finished off the quarter outscoring their counterparts, 9-0 to lead, 36-30 at the break.
• A total of 52 points were scored in the third quarter and despite Alfred outscoring the home team by four points, the blue and white stayed ahead (60-58) thanks to another Rivera three-pointer with seconds remaining.
• Not going away without a fight, the Saxons erased a 10-point deficit and trailed by just one point with less than 30 seconds to go in regulation. Rivera drained a pair from the charity stripe to widen the gap to three before Nicholson added another point from the foul line. After a technical foul with one second left on the clock, Alfred hit both from the free throw line but it wasn't enough as the Scots secured the win. 

Beyond The Box Score

• Sophie Peters earned her first double-double of her young career as well as scored a career-high in points with 14.
• Ami Rivera broke the Gordon College Women's Basketball's career three-point record today. The previous record was 140 set in 2010.
• Naomi Nicholson netted a season-high 17 points. 
• The Fighting Scots play again on Thursday, January 2 as they travel to face Mount Holyoke College at 5 p.m.