Providence, R.I.-Junior forward Devin Hill (Danielson, CT) scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while freshman guard Jess Korzec (West Brookfield, MA) scored 17 and swiped four steals, as the Rhode Island College women's basketball team rode a strong defensive effort to top Little East Conference foe Plymouth State, 70-28, at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (6-8, 0-5 LEC) opened a quick, 8-2, advantage when sophomore forward Kayla Wyland (Melrose, MA) converted a layup in the paint after just 2:44 of play. The Anchorwomen (3-11, 2-3 LEC) stormed back and a jumper by Korzec with 11:31 remaining put the Anchorwomen up by six, 14-8. A Hill jumper later in the half gave the Anchorwomen an 11-point lead and stifling defense down the stretch enabled them to go into the break with a 30-17 lead.
The second half was one of defensive intensity for the Anchorwomen who quickly pushed their lead to 26 points, 43-17, with 15:16 remaining in the half. RIC continued the defensive intensity with a pair of free throws from freshman forward Rybecca Gonzalez (Pawtucket, RI) that put the Anchorwomen up 33, 52-19, with 10:15 left in the stanza. The Anchorwomen continued their incredible defense, pushing their lead to as large as 44 points before finishing with a 70-28, 42-point victory.
The 28 points allowed by the Anchorwomen was the least amount of points allowed since the 2011-12 squad held UMass Dartmouth to 23 points on January 17, 2012.
Hill scored her 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field. Korzec tallied her 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting in just 25 minutes of action. The Anchorwomen shot 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the field, 12.5 percent (1-for-8) from long range and 68.0 percent (17-for-25) from the charity stripe for the game.
Senior forward Kelley Collins (Groveton, NH) tallied nine points and nine boards in the loss. The Panthers shot 25.0 percent from the floor (11-for-44) and 42.9 percent from the free throw line (6-for-14) and struggled mightily from behind the arc, going 0-for-15 for the game.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at home against Western Connecticut on Tuesday, January 20 (7 p.m.).