WENHAM, Mass. -- Simmons basketball opened their 2011 season yesterday against the Fighting Scots of Gordon College, falling 55-46, and moving to 0-1 overall on the year.

After the Scots jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the opening minutes, the Sharks rallied back with an 8-2 run of their own to even the score at 10-10 with just under 10 minutes to play in the period. Possession and scoring remained relatively balanced throughout the remainder of the half with the host Scots carrying a 26-23 lead into the break.

Gordon retained that lead for the first five minutes of the second stanza at which point the Sharks stole the ball and converted on the ensuing possession to overtake the lead, 30-29. For the next nine minutes both teams traded leads until the Scots took over for good with 6:50 left in regulation en route to the nine-point win.

Gordon's Leanna Tallamy led the way in her rookie debut with 16 points, eight rebounds, and a pair of assists, while fellow rookie Aly Towle recorded 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals on the night. Lauren Kranyak also chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds to the winning effort.

For the Sharks, Liz Connor (Milton, Mass.) tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals, while freshman teammate Olivia LaCroix (Manchester, N.H.) netted 17 points on the night.

The Sharks return to action this weekend when they travel to Vermont for the Castleton Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, November 18th. The Scots host New England College in the first game of their Winter Classic on the same date.