WBB: Wilcox, Crompton lead Panthers to key win over UMass Boston

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Bri Wilcox (Londonderry, N.H.) and graduate student Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, N.H.) combined for 38 points to lead Plymouth State University to a key Little East Conference (LEC) win over the University of Massachusetts Boston, 57-54, in women's basketball action at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Plymouth State entered the fourth quarter down by eight, 45-37, but the Panthers' defense limited UMB to just 15.8% shooting over the final ten minutes. PSU opened the frame on an 8-0 run to knot the score at 45-45 with eight minutes to play. The score remained deadlocked at 49-49 with just over four minutes remaining, but Crompton slashed through the defense to the rim and senior Lauren Keller (Fort Morgan, Colo.) hit a jumper in the paint to give the Panthers the lead for good.

Nursing a four-point lead, 55-51, in the final minute, Wilcox chased down an important offensive rebound to extend the possession. UMass Boston hit a three to make it 56-54 with 37 seconds left and the Beacons forced a turnover to get the ball back with 19 seconds left on the clock. The Panthers' defense got a huge stop, though, and Wilcox sealed the win with a free throw.

Prior to tip-off, Plymouth State honored its senior class during a pregame ceremony; Keller, Crompton, Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) and Natalie Harris (Barrington, N.H.).

Plymouth State jumps to 10-12 (6-8 LEC), matching the most conference wins since the 2008-09 season. The win, coupled with a VTSU Castleton loss against Eastern Connecticut State, gives PSU a two-game lead over the Spartans for the final playoff spot with two games to play. The Beacons slide to 4-18 (2-13 LEC).

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 57, UMass Boston 54
  • Plymouth State (10-12, 6-8 LEC)
  • UMass Boston (4-18, 2-13 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Bri Wilcox (22 pts, 9-14 fg, 15 reb, 3 stl, 2 ast)
• Lea Crompton (16 pts, 5-9 fg, 2 ast)
• Lauren Keller (7 pts, 3-5 fg, 6 reb)

How it Happened:

• After a slow start through the first two minutes, both teams found their offensive grooves. The Beacons jumped ahead, 7-2, after four minutes of action, but Crompton drilled a corner from the left wing and Keller's jumper tied the game.
• The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes. The visitors drained a three, then converted an old-fashioned three-point play to go up 17-12 with 2:47 left, but PSU answered back.
• Wilcox got to the basket on a backdoor cut and sophomore Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) knocked down a jumper, then hit from distance to give PSU a 19-17 lead after one.
• Wilcox pushed the lead to four, 21-17, with a bucket to open the second, but UMass Boston used an 8-0 run over the next five minutes to leapfrog in front, 25-21. PSU rallied to tie before the Beacons regained a 31-26 advantage.
• Wilcox came up with a steal at midcourt and raced in for a layup to cut the Panthers' deficit to 31-28 at the half.
• The Beacons hit from beyond the arc to open the third and the visitors maintained a narrow lead. A late three-point play gave UMB a 45-37 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, its largest advantage of the game.
• Keller buried a clutch three-pointer on the first possession of the frame and PSU scored the next five points, with sophomore Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) converting from inside and knocking down the free throw to tie the game with eight minutes to play.
• The score remained deadlocked at 49-49 with 4:25 on the clock, until Crompton slashed to the hoop to give PSU a lead it would not relinquish.
• Keller hit from the interior and Crompton added a pair of free throws to push the lead to 55-49 with just over two minutes to go.
• UMass Boston attempted a late rally, drilling a step-back three to trim the deficit to 56-54 with 37 seconds left on the clock. UMB forced a turnover to get the ball back with 14 seconds to play, but Plymouth State came up with a huge defensive stand. Wilcox hauled in the defensive rebound, then hit one-of-two from the line to seal the win.

By the Numbers:

• Wilcox finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds for her first career double-double. Her 15 boards were a career high.
• Crompton nailed 5-of-6 from the charity stripe as part of her 16-point effort.
• The Panthers outrebounded UMB by a 44-39 margin.
• Plymouth State shot 21-of-53 (39.6%) from the floor and knocked down 11-of-17 free throws.
• PSU held a 26-24 edge in points in the paint.
• The Beacons' bench outscored PSU's reserves by a 33-12 margin.
• The game saw five lead changes and eight ties.
• PSU's ten wins match the most since the 2018-19 season.
• Plymouth State swept the season series against the Beacons for the first time since 2016-17.

Up Next:

• The Panthers visit Southern Maine in the penultimate game of the regular season on Wednesday (Feb. 14), with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

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