WBB: Wilcox, Panthers outlast NEC

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) nailed a jumper in the paint with ten seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and Plymouth State University scored the first five points of the extra frame to pull away from New England College, 78-67, in a non-conference women's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

Plymouth State held a 35-25 lead at the half, but the Pilgrims pulled even at the end of the third quarter. NEC held a three-point edge, 57-54, with four minutes left in regulation but Stephens nailed a pull up jumper and junior Bri Wilcox (Londonderry, N.H.) gave PSU the lead with a breakaway layup with less than three minutes to play.

The teams traded baskets until three straight free throws gave NEC a 62-60 lead with 20 seconds to go. Stephens drilled the turnaround jumper to pull even, and the Pilgrims were unable to get a shot off as the game went into overtime.

Stephens gave PSU the lead for good with a pair from the charity stripe and Wilcox drained a three-pointer for a quick 67-62 lead. NEC answered from distance to make it a two-point game, but Wilcox outran the defense for a breakaway layup and senior Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) got open on a back cut and laid it in to extend the margin. The Panthers went 7-of-8 from the stripe the rest of the way to seal the win, with senior Lauren Keller (Fort Morgan, Colo.) hitting 5-of-6 in the final 35 seconds.

Plymouth State improves to 4-2, while NEC evens out at 4-4.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 78, NEC 67 (OT)
  • Plymouth State (4-2)
  • NEC (4-4)

Top Performers:

• Bri Wilcox (23 pts, 9-14 fg, 2-4 3pt, 6 reb, 4 stl, 3 ast)
• Ashley Stephens (14 pts, 5-8 fg, 4-5 ft, 4 reb)
• Sabrina Vlahovic (14 pts, 6-13 fg, 6 reb)
• Raegan Peck (10 pts, 5 asts, 4 reb)

How it Happened:

• Plymouth State got out to a quick start as junior Alli Ingalls (Hampstead, N.H.) buried a three end Vlahovic's bucket gave PSU a 12-7 lead midway through the first.
• Keller hit from inside with a minute to play, but NEC closed the quarter with a 5-0 spurt to make it a one-point game, 16-15, after one.
• The visitors tied the game at 18-18 one minute into the second, but Plymouth State responded with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes.
• Wilcox gave the Panthers a double-digit advantage in the final minute of the frame as PSU went into halftime with a 35-25 lead.
• Sophomore Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) nailed a turnaround jumper for a 40-32 advantage with 5:14 left in the third, but the Pilgrims closed the quarter on a 13-5 run as the game went into the fourth quarter deadlocked at 45-45.
• The game remained tight throughout the final ten minutes of regulation. NEC went up by three, 57-54, with four minutes left in regulation but Stephens and Wilcox had back-to-back buckets as PSU leapfrogged in front.
• The lead changed hands three more times over the next two minutes until Stephens sent the game to overtime with her basket in the paint in the final ten seconds.
• Stephens hit a pair of free throws and Wilcox connected from beyond the arc as PSU got out to a good start in the extra frame. Vlahovic extended the margin to 71-65 on a back-cut after a pretty pass from graduate student Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, N.H.) and the Panthers were exceptional from the free throw line to lock up the victory.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State shot 43.3% (29-of-67) for the game and connected on 5-of-18 (27.8%) from distance.
• The Panthers hit 15-of-18 (83.3%) from the charity stripe, including 9-of-10 during overtime.
• Plymouth State came away with 15 steals and had 19 assists.
• Crompton finished with five assists and four steals.
• PSU outscored the Pilgrims, 16-8, in fast break points and 40-34 in the paint.
• The Panthers led for more than 36 minutes, while NEC was in front for less than five.
• NEC held a 44-32 advantage on the boards.
• PSU has won three-of-four and has a 15-4 edge in the series dating back to the 1987-88 season.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to WestConn for the Little East Conference (LEC) opener on Saturday (Dec. 2). Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.

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