Late AMCATS Rally Falls Short Against Gordon, 69-64

Late AMCATS Rally Falls Short Against Gordon, 69-64

WENHAM, MA- The Anna Maria College women's basketball team (3-5) cut an early fourth-quarter deficit down to as little as five, but a hard-fought battle came up just short as the squad fell to the Gordon College Fighting Scots (4-3), 69-64 Wednesday evening at the Bennett Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Both sides played a back and forth first quarter as Gordon outscored Anna Maria, 15-12. The largest lead the AMCATS saw was three at two different points in the contest. Their first three-point lead came off the first basket of the game from an Amber Wilson (New York, NY) three, and the other was 5:40 into the game when Francesca Hammond (Worcester, MA) put in a layup (7-4). 
  • Gordon started off the second quarter with a 7-3 run led by five points from Serianna Anderson (Newcastle, WA) and two points courtesy of Madison Wynbeek (North Haledon, NJ). With the score now 22-15, the AMCATS went on a quick 4-0 run after Hammond knocked down two free throws, and Wilson hit a jumper which made the score 22-19.
  • However, with just a little over two minutes left in the half, Meghan Foley (Malden, MA) drilled a three-pointer and gave the Fighting Scots a 25-19 advantage headed into halftime. 
  • Similar to the first two quarters, both sides played hard and Gordon outscored Anna Maria, 22-19. The Fighting Scotts raced out to a 39-30 lead paced by Foley's five points and received contributions from Sarah Gibbs (Elizabethtown, PA)Olivia Gagnon (Pelham, NH), and Delaney McDonell (Wells, ME). 
  • The 'Cats cut down the nine-point deficit to one after they went on an 8-0 run with four minutes left in the quarter. Wilson hit two three-pointers during the rally while Sierra Johnson (Brockton, MA) chipped in two points from a jumper. 
  • Gordon started to pull away in the fourth after they notched their largest lead of 13 with 7:24 left (55-42). Anna Maria chipped away at the lead when they went on an 8-0 run when Sienna Johnson (Brockton, MA) and Wilson spearheaded the run with three points apiece, and Sierra Johnson hit a jumper that knocked the lead down to 55-50 with 5:40 left. 
  • After Wilson hit a three with 3:16 left to cut the Gordon lead to 61-56, the Fighting Scots went on a game-sealing 6-1 run. Gagnon led the run with three points after she converted an and-one opportunity, and Foley hit two free throws for the 66-57 advantage. 
  • Although, with the score being 69-61 with 58 seconds left, the squad capitalized on a turnover by Foley when Wilson hit the big three to make the deficit five (69-64). Unfortunately, Anna Maria could not foul Gordon before the clock ran out.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Wilson stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and five blocks. She ultimately led the team in points and blocks on the night.
  • Hammond and Sierra Johnson rounded out the double-digit scorers for the AMCATS with 14 and 19 points respectively. 
  • Along with her 14 points, Hammond also led the team in rebounds with eight. 
  • Foley led all scorers on the night as she tallied 32 points for the hosts. Whereas Gibbs' 14 rebounds were also a game-high. 
  • Gordon held the edge in shooting splits of field goal and three-point percentage (39.1%/30%) versus Anna Maria's 38.1%/29.6%.
  • Anna Maria held the advantage in free-throw percentage (80% versus 68.4%).
  • The 'Cats outscored the Fighting Scots in the second half 45-44 (including a 26-22 fourth-quarter advantage). 

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria returns home when they take on Mitchell College Saturday, December 7 at 1 PM. Meanwhile, Gordon hits the road taking on Curry College Saturday, December 7 at 1 PM.

STAY CONNECTED

For the latest on Anna Maria College Athletics, follow the AMCATS via social media on TwitterFacebookInstagram.