WBB: Wilcox, Panthers knock off UMass Boston

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Bri Wilcox (Londonderry, N.H.) poured in a game-high 21 points to lead Plymouth State University over the University of Massachusetts Boston, 52-48, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

Wilcox was hot from the opening tip, scoring ten points in the first quarter as the Panthers used a 14-1 run to start the game. The hosts recovered, ultimately pulling ahead midway through the second, but PSU answered back as a three-pointer from graduate student Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, N.H.) gave the Panthers a one-point edge, 37-36, heading to the fourth quarter.

UMB tied the game in the first minute, but Wilcox connected from distance to spark a 9-2 run and the Panthers would lead by seven for most of the remainder of the game. The Beacons tried to rally late, hitting a three to pull within 51-48 with five seconds on the clock, but Wilcox sealed the win at the free throw line to account for the final score.

Plymouth State improves to 7-5 (3-2 LEC), while the Beacons dip to 3-11 and 1-6 in the Little East.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 52, UMass Boston 48
  • Plymouth State (7-5, 3-2 LEC)
  • UMass Boston (3-11, 1-6 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Bri Wilcox (21 pts, 8-14 fg, 2-4 3pt, 6 reb, 4 stl)
• Ashley Stephens (11 pts, 4-8 fg, 7 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk)
• Lea Crompton (7 pts, 5 ast)

How it Happened:

• The Panthers opened the game on a tear, racing out to a 14-1 lead. PSU was able to get to the basket regularly, scoring its first 12 points on layups, with Wilcox leading the charge with eight early points.
• UMass Boston used a 9-0 run to pull within 14-10, but Wilcox sank a pair of free throws for a 16-10 lead at the end of the first.
• The Beacons carried the momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first nine points of the frame to go in front, 19-16, with six minutes before the half.
• Plymouth State stayed within striking distance, though, and the Panthers rode a 13-3 surge to go ahead 29-22. The Beacons hit from downtown just before the buzzer to make it 29-25 at the half.
• Wilcox hit from beyond the arc to open the third quarter, but the hosts answered with nine straight to regain the lead, 34-32.
• Crompton's three as time expired gave the Panthers a 37-36 advantage heading into the fourth.
• PSU opened the final stanza with a 9-1 spurt and the Panthers maintained the seven-point lead into the final minutes.
• UMass Boston hit twice from the charity stripe, but freshman Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) answered from the free throw line to make it 51-45 with less than ten seconds remaining. The hosts nailed a deep three to make it a one-possession game, but PSU inbounded, and Wilcox sank a free throw to account for the final score.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State went 19-of-48 (39.6%) from the field while the Beacons shot 21.4% (15-of-70).
• UMass Boston held a 49-35 advantage on the glass, including a 28-9 edge in offensive rebounds.
• The Panthers assisted on 15 of their 19 field goals.
• PSU scored 20 points of UMass Boston turnovers and outscored the hosts in the paint by a 30-14 margin.
• Plymouth State is 41-31 against the Beacons dating back to the 1987-88 season. The Beacons had won each of the last 11 meetings.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State plays at home for the first time since November when the Panthers host Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Jan. 13) for a 1:00 p.m. contest.

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