December 10, 2022
WBB: Eastern Connecticut too strong for Panthers
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team was defeated by Eastern Connecticut State University, 71-47, in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors started the game fast, opening up a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter. Plymouth State started to claw back, cutting the deficit to six points close to halftime, but the Warriors' scoring wore down the Panthers and the hosts ran off with the conference win.
Freshman Sophie George (Meredith, N.H.) continued to lead the Panthers with 14 points, while senior Jalen Cook (Monkton, Vt.) added 12 points of her own. Freshman Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) added five points in the losing effort.
Plymouth State falls to 4-5 (0-3 LEC), while the Warriors improve to 7-3 and 3-0 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 47, Eastern Connecticut 71
- Plymouth State (4-5, 0-3 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (7-3, 3-0 LEC)
Top Performers:
- Sophie George (14 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast)
- Jalen Cook (12 pts, 4-8 3pt, 1 blk)
- Raegan Peck (5 pts, 2-5 fg, 1-3 3pt)
How it Happened:
- The Warriors opened with an 11-2 run over the first 4:45 of the opening quarter.
- Eastern Connecticut extended the lead to 21-5 behind another 10-0 run with 2:12 left in the first.
- Back-to-back threes from Cook closed out the first quarter asl PSU cut the deficit to 23-11.
- Plymouth State cut the margin in half, pulling to within 32-26, at the 2:39 mark of the second quarter.
- Eastern Connecticut knocked down four free throws to head into halftime with a 36-26 lead.
- The Warriors extended the advantage to 51-32 with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter.
- Plymouth State chipped away with a 7-2 spurt, but still trailed 57-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
- Eastern Connecticut closed out the victory in a low-scoring fourth quarter.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers went 17-of-58 (29.3%) from the floor and 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three.
- Eastern Connecticut outrebounded the Panthers, 54-28, including 24-12 on the offensive glass.
- Plymouth State's perimeter defense was strong, holding the Warriors to 0-for-14 from beyond the arc.
- PSU assisted on 9-of-17 field goals.
- Eastern Connecticut has controlled the series with 21 straight head-to-head victories.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State closes out the fall semester portion of its schedule next Saturday (Dec. 17) against UMass Dartmouth at Foley Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 1:00 p.m.
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