ROAD TO TCCC FINALS TRAVELS THROUGH ENDICOTT

Weston, Mass.—With a 50-46 defeat over Wentworth in The Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinals Tuesday, Regis College (18-8, 12-2 TCCC) will travel to unfriendly No.2 Endicott Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. to play the Gulls in the TCCC semifinals.

The Pride lost 82-70 to Endicott Feb. 6, and the two teams history goes back to the 2008-09 season when Regis lost 57-47 in the quarterfinals in Beverly, Mass. In the match-up earlier this season, four Gulls tallied double figures with Ashley Vitale leading the way with 25 points.

Vitale was 10-of-13 from the floor. Regis will have to make sure she is not so accurate the second time around. Teammate Ceciley Chisholm posted 18 points in the first meeting, and was equally successful from the floor shooting.

Four Regis players scored more than 10 points against Endicott.

Meagan Tobin (Quincy, Mass.) had a team-high 16 points, with Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.), Jessica Page (Quincy, Mass.), and Brittany White (Dorchester, Mass.) adding 15, 14, and 12 points respectively.

Regis shot 43 percent in that game, +3.4 percent better than its season average. In comparison, Endicott shot 63 percent from the field, and better than 54 percent from behind the three-point line. Endicott took seven fewer free-throw attempts (13-of-17) than Regis, but made them when they counted.

Regis had three fewer (12) turnovers than the Gulls, and on any other night would have beat lower seeded teams in the TCCC. Endicott has several players that are capable of hurting Regis from anywhere on the floor.

The Gulls were 7-of-13 from behind the three-point line, and with Kate Kovach (3-of-4) and Ashley Wright (2-of-4) both making 62.5 percent of Endicott’s three-point attack Regis must defend closely.

The Pride is capable of winning against the Gulls. Playing solid on both ends of the court, having the upper-hand in shooting percentage and on the boards, while limiting turnovers and distributing the ball to open players will all prove to be successful for Regis.

Page had her second scoring night of the season against Wentworth, which cannot happen against Endicott. Wentworth targeted stopping Page and they were successful. If a similar game plan comes from the Gulls, which should be expected, Crawford, White, Tobin, and the rest of the Pride should all step up their game.

Crawford has to trust more in her ability to drive the lane or shoot the mid-range jumper. When she has done so in previous games defenses have opened up the back door for the Pride to expose.

McNult needs to own the boards, and play with the same tenacity she does every game. Tobin, White, and Stefanie Wozmak (Auburn, N.H.) have to use their respective athletic abilities to keep Endicott honest, and be weapons for the entire team.

Regis has the ability to defeat Endicott. Head coach Julie Plant has consistently put together game plans that work, Regis must execute them. Endicott will be a hostile environment, and the Pride must keep its composure throughout both halves of play to dance in the finals on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Athletics will enlist the trusty Pride Ride for all fans to travel to the semifinals game Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. Riders must reserve their place on the Ride by Wednesday, Feb. 24 by 5 p.m. with their $2 reservation fee, that will be returned once on the Pride Ride Thursday.