Providence, RI-Senior guard Jessica  Moriarty (East Haven, CT) scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team stayed undefeated with a 71-47 Little East Conference victory over Rhode Island College at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.

RIC (6-2, 0-1 LEC) held a 29-27 lead at the half, but were outscored, 44-18, in the final stanza by the Warriors (6-0, 1-0 LEC).

In addition to Moriarty, three other EastConn players scored in double figures. Sophomore forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford, CT) had 14 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block, while classmate guard Jessica Blodgett (Niantic, CT) contributed 12 points and three assists. Senior forward Amanda Pierlioni (Planiville, CT) scored 11 points and grabbed seven caroms.

RIC junior forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, RI) posted a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a losing effort.

Remarkably, the Anchorwomen jumped out to a 16-2 lead over the first 7:17 of the game. Sophomore forward Courtney Burns (Rockland, MA) and junior guard Stephanie Coro (North Providence, RI) each scored six points, while the Warriors turned the ball over eight times, during the run.

The veteran Eastern Connecticut squad calmly chipped away at the host's advantage. Trailing by eight, 27-19, with just 2:33 remaining in the stanza, Blodgett scored six of the team's next eight points to tie the contest, 27-all, with 32 seconds left. RIC sophomore guard Ashley O'Dell (Lincoln, RI) sank a layup as time expired to send the Anchorwomen into the half up by a basket.

Eastern shot 42 percent (10-for-24) from the field, 43 percent (three-for-seven) from downtown and committed 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Anchorwomen shot 38 percent (12-for-32) from the field and 50 percent (four-for-eight) from three-point land.

The second half, however, was all Warriors. With 18:39 left in the game, a pair of Carter free throws gave the visitors their first lead since the opening minute, 31-29. A Riley layup brought RIC within one point, 36-35, at 15:19, before Eastern Connecticut erupted on a 24-5 run to put the game out of reach. Moriarty's eight points and senior guard Brittany Whiteley's (Windsor Locks, CT) five points led a total team effort during the offensive outburst.

The Warrior advantage swelled to a game-high 27 points, 70-43, at 1:40 as the Anchorwomen never threatened over the final 10 minutes.

For the game, Eastern Connecticut shot 48 percent (23-for-48) from the field, 50 percent (six-for-12) from three-point land and held a 16-rebound advantage, 44-28. The Warriors only turned the ball over seven times in the second half.

RIC finished at 31 percent (18-for-59) from the field and 36 percent (five-for-14) from downtown. Eastern Connecticut took 15 more free throws (19-for-25) than the Anchorwomen (six-for-10) on the day.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will play at Salve Regina on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

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