MILTON, Mass. - The Curry College women's basketball team captured a 53-49 victory over conference foe Endicott on Wednesday night in the Katz Gymnasium. The win moves the Colonels to 6-12 overall and 4-7 in conference action. The loss drops the Gulls to 8-10 overall and 7-4 in conference action.

Endicott was able to build an advantage in the early going as they gained a six point lead at 11-5 on a layup by Kaleigh Putnam (Wallingford, Conn.) with 3:09 to go in the first stanza.

The deficit for the Colonels would be pushed to 10 following back-to-back threes by Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) to make the score 17-7.

Erica Ulrich (Westminster, Mass.) converted on a shot from distance that trimmed the Curry deficit to seven heading into the second quarter of play, 17-10.

Ulrich opened the second quarter action with another three to cut the deficit to just four and after two free throws and a layup by Molly Plunkett (Quincy, Mass.) the game would be tied at 17.

The Colonels were able to grab the lead when Paige Senatore (Ayer, Mass.) converted a layup to make the score 20-17. Later in the quarter Sam Bamford (Easton, Mass.) knotted the game at 24 with 28 seconds remaining in the first half.

But Endicott would have the final shot heading into the break and Putnam knocked down a mid-range jumper as time expired to send the Gulls into the locker room with a 26-24 advantage.

The Gulls would build their lead to six in the early stages of the third quarter, but the Colonels would respond. They would embark on a 6-0 run over a two minute span to tie the game up at 30 nearly halfway through the stanza.

In the latter stages of the third quarter Nicole Rice (Woburn, Mass.) made a layup to give Curry a three point lead at 37-34 with 1:42 to go but Coppola knocked down a layup of her own to trim the lead to one heading into the final quarter of play.

The Colonels were able to grab their biggest lead at six points following a layup by Emily Irwin (Billerica, Mass.) to make the score 44-38 with seven minutes remaining. Endicott would pull within two on a layup by Hannah Kiernan (Wenham, Mass.) and knotted the contest at 46 after a layup by Sarah Hood (Burlington, Mass.) with 5:05 to go in regulation.

Curry reclaimed the lead with 2:41 remaining after a three pointer by Plunkett to give the Colonels a 49-46 advantage. The game would eventually be tied up again at 49 on a layup by Hood with just over a minute to play.

Curry closed the game on a 4-0 run on a layup and free throw by Plunkett and another free throw from Irwin to give the Colonels the 53-49 conference victory.

Plunkett finished with a game-high 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field. Irwin added 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for a double-double. Rice had 11 points of her own to finish as the final Curry player in double figures.

Hood and Putnam led the way for Endicott with 11 points apiece. Hood added 13 rebounds for a double-double and Putnam put up seven rebounds in the loss. Coppola and Kiernan were the final two Gulls in double figures in the contest with 10 points apiece.

Curry had the edge in shooting percentage at 36.5%, compared to 34.4% for Endicott. The Colonels also had a better three point percentage and free throw percentage. The Gulls had the edge in rebounds (41-34) while Curry committed three less turnovers that led to 15 points. The Colonels finished the contest with a 22-18 edge with points in the paint.   

Curry returns to the hardwood on Saturday as they will travel to Salve Regina for a 1 p.m. start time. Endicott will head to Wentworth on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip.