QUINCY, Mass. - The Eastern Nazarene Lions women's basketball team defeated the Roger Williams University Hawks, 65-64, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) game on Senior Day to conclude the 2010 season at the Lahue P.E. Center on the campus of ENC.

Though losing, Roger Williams University is seeded 8th for the TCCC playoffs and will face the TCCC's top seed in the first round of the conference playoffs next week while Eastern Nazarene misses the playoffs. 

Senior Jessica Schoppee (Scarborough, Maine) finished her career while leading the Lions to the victory with a 17 pt., 13 reb. performance.  The Lions hot shooting, 41.3% from the field, secured the win to bring their final record to 9-16 (3-10 TCCC) as the Hawks fell to 9-16 (5-8 TCCC) on the season.

The Lions led 14-12 at the midway point of the first half, when senior Jessica Schoppee tallied her 1,000th career point, her final game as a Lion.  Her personal milestone was a part of a 10-3 run that increased the Lion's lead to 24-15.  Alexis Malloy (Greenbelt, Md.) and Schoppee established themselves offensively as Malloy finished the half with 12 pts. and Schoppee 11 pts.  The Lions crashed the boards and made their shots, shooting 47% from the field while out rebounding the Hawks, 29-14, to lead at halftime, 43-29.

ENC started the second half with an 8-1 run increasing their lead to 51-30, with sixteen minutes remaining.  However, RWU began to chip away at the lead and pulled to within 10 points, 55-45, on a basket by Danielle Perrault (Ridgefield, Conn.).  With six minutes left to play, the Hawks cut even deeper into the lead as Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) sunk two free throws and then converted an “And-1” three point play to pull within three, 59-56.

The Lions managed to extend their slim lead to 65-60 on free throws by Shardae Brown (Waterbury, Conn.) and Malloy with two minutes left to play.  But the Hawks refused to go away, as they trailed by one, 65-64 with :05 left to play and possession of the ball. But strong Lion defensive pressure prevented the Hawks from getting a final shot off as the home team secured the 65-64 victory.

The Lions Jessica Schoppee had a double-double with 17 pts. and 13 rebs. as Alexis Malloy also had a double-double with 13 pts. and 16 rebs.  The Hawks Alexandria Lanieri posted a game high 23 pts. and 12 rebs. The Lions shot an impressive 41% from the field and beat the Hawks on the glass 53-41.

ENC and the women's basketball team congratulates seniors and co-captains Jessica Schoppee and Christine Tucker (Oakland, Calif.) for their outstanding NCAA careers and thank them for their contributions to the ENC Women's  basketball program.

- Release courtesy of Ben Wilson of the Eastern Nazarene College Sports Information Department