Hartford, Conn. – In a tale of two halves, the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors shot 51.7 percent from the field in the second to overcome a 39-36 deficit at halftime and win over the Trinity College Bantams, 79-71, at Ray Oosting Gymnasium this evening.  Trinity, playing its home opener, shot a blistering 66.7 percent from the field (16-24) in the opening stanza, but was victimized by 17 turnovers and falls to 1-2 with its second setback in a row.  Eastern Connecticut improves to 3-1 with its second straight victory.

Trinity scored 11 of the final 18 points of the first half, as senior forward Shantel Hanniford (Nantucket, Mass.) and junior swing player Taylor Higgins (Merrick, N.Y.) scored 12 points apiece in the opening 20 minutes including five by Higgins in the final three minutes before the break.  Junior guard Kristina Forsman (Newington, Conn.) had 10 points to lead Eastern Connecticut in the opening half.

Trinity extended its lead early in the second half to 46-38 on a driving lefty lay-up by senior guard Abigail Hancock (Casco, Maine), but the Warriors answered with a 7-0 run and took a 47-46 lead on a trey by Forsman with 13 minutes left to play.  Trinity senior guard Moriah Sweeney (Ramsey, N.J.) gave the lead right back to the home team at 49-47 on a traditional three-point play, and a jumper by Warrior sophomore forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, Mass.) and a free throw by each team made the score 50-50 nearing the midpoint of the second half. 

Back-to-back buckets by sophomore forward Erin Brooks (Billerica, Mass.) and rookie guard Jordyn Nappi (Southington, Conn.) put the Warriors up, 54-50, and Eastern Connecticut led the rest of the way.  Trinity stayed within at least six points almost to the end, but a layup by Forsman and a free throw by junior guard Taylor McBride (Willimantic, Conn.) put the Warriors ahead, 76-67 with 1:24 on the clock and Eastern Connecticut made all three of its free throw attempts in the final minute to put the game away.

Hanniford finished with a game-high 21 points, making eight of ten shots from the field, and added seven rebounds and three assists, while senior Taylor Murtaugh (Bronx, N.Y.) had 17 points, making eight of nine from the field and scoring 10 points after halftime, and three assists, and Higgins added 16 points and six assists.  Ritrosky paced Eastern Connecticut with 20 points and seven boards, while Forsman totaled 17 points and seven assists, and sophomore guard Brianna Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) notched 15 points.