Providence, R.I.-Junior guard Stephanie Prusko (Lincoln, RI) matched her career-high of 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting as the Rhode Island College women's basketball team knocked off Plymouth State, 69-43, at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon in the Little East Conference opener for both squads.
 
Both the Rhode Island College men's and women's basketball teams were playing for Prostate Cancer Awareness on Saturday at The Murray Center. A number of different activities took place throughout the games to promote awareness and raise funds to support prostate cancer research locally and in New Hampshire. Similar activities will take place when the Anchormen and Anchorwomen visit the Panthers later in the season.
 
Behind an outstanding effort on the glass and a solid shooting effort from both the field and the free throw line, Rhode Island College (4-2, 1-0 LEC) pulled away from Plymouth State (1-5, 0-1 LEC) down the stretch en route to the victory, despite trailing at several points throughout the first half.
 
As the two teams traded baskets and exchanged leads for much of the first frame, the Panthers went ahead by one, 19-18, with 6:27 on the clock after sophomore guard Kristen Hrubowchak (Litchfield, NH) buried a pair of free throws. However, the Anchorwomen answered back with a furious, 19-6, run to close out the first half with a 37-26 lead. Rhode Island College carried the momentum into the second half, outscoring the Panthers, 32-17, through the final 20 minutes to seal the victory.
 
Senior forward Courtney Burns (Rockland, MA) corralled a game-high eight rebounds to go along with six points for the Anchorwomen, who outrebounded Plymouth State, 49-27, and hauled in 21 offensive rebounds as a team. Freshman forward Vandell Andrade (Providence, RI) added 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Cara Paladino (Arlington, MA) chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds to pace RIC on the boards in the win.
 
Rhode Island College shot 42 percent (24-for-57) from the floor and 77 percent (20-for-26) from the free throw line, but shot just 14 percent (1-for-7) from long range. Meanwhile, the Panthers shot just 30 percent (15-for-50) from the field and 63 percent (12-for-19) from the charity stripe, but also struggled from outside as they went just 1-for-11 from downtown.
 
Plymouth State was led by freshman guard Taylor Perry (Simsbury, CT), who finished with a game-high 16 points to go along with a pair of steals and two rebounds. Freshman forward Bry Bennett (Lancaster, NH) recorded 10 points, six rebounds and two steals, while sophomore forward Tiffany Lewis (Hillsboro, NH) contributed with five points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists in the loss.
 
Freshman point guard Danielle LeBlanc (Warwick, RI) finished with eight points, three assists and three steals for RIC, while senior forward Alexia Vega (North Providence, RI) tallied eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Salve Regina on Tuesday, Dec. 4 (5:30 p.m.)