WBB: Panthers gain momentum into playoffs with win over Eastern Connecticut

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team defeated the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 63-55, in Little East Conference (LEC) action at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium on Saturday evening.

A playoff atmosphere was in the air as Plymouth State found itself down by as many as 13 points in the first half but came back to lead by as much as nine points in the back-and-forth clash between the two playoff-bound teams. The victory was Plymouth State's first over Eastern Connecticut in the previous 24 meetings, with the last coming in the 2011-12 season.

Three Panthers scored in double-digits, as graduate student Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, N.H.) led the charge with 14 points. Junior Bri Wilcox (Londonderry, N.H.) recorded 13 points of her own, while sophomore Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) registered 12 points in the winning effort.

Plymouth State closes out the regular season with an 11-13 record (7-9 LEC) and is locked into the sixth seed for the LEC tournament. The 11 regular season wins are the most since the 2009-10 season, while the seven conference wins are the most since 2002-03.

As the sixth seed for next week's LEC Tournament, Plymouth State will visit third-seeded Southern Maine for a first round contest on Tuesday (Feb. 20).

Eastern Connecticut falls to 11-14 (9-7 LEC) and will be the fourth seed in the tournament, hosting fifth-seeded Keene State in the other first round contest.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 63, Eastern Connecticut 55
  • Plymouth State (11-13, 7-9 LEC)
  • Eastern Connecticut (11-14, 9-7 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Lea Crompton (14 pts, 4-7 fg, 2-3, 3pt, 4-4 ft, 7 reb, 5 ast)
• Bri Wilcox (13 pts, 5-15 fg, 3 reb, 3 stl)
• Hailey Malozzi (12 pts, 5-9 fg, 2-2 3pt, 4 reb)

How it Happened:

• The Panthers started slow, as the Warriors mounted an 18-5 lead in the first seven minutes of play.
• Plymouth State was able to double its scoring in the first quarter, but still found themselves down 21-10 after the first.
• The Panthers came roaring back, scoring the first eight points of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 21-18 with 5:46 left until halftime.
• Back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the half brought the Panthers to within one point (27-26) at the break.
• Plymouth State kept its momentum, opening the third quarter on a 12-2 run to jump out in front 38-29 at the 6:03 mark.
• The Warriors knocked down eight free throws in the final three minutes of the third quarter to make it a one-possession game. The Panthers led 40-39 after three.
• Eastern Connecticut recorded the first six points of the fourth quarter to retake the lead, 45-40, with 8:28 left in the contest.
• Plymouth State would not back down, though, returning the favor with a 9-2 spurt of its own to go up 49-45 with 5:59 left.
• The Warriors pulled to within four, 55-51, but junior Alli Ingalls (Hampstead, N.H.) hit a big three and Crompton drained four free throws in the final minute as the Panthers sealed off the win.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State went 23-of-67 (34.3%) from the floor and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three.
• Rebounds were in favor of the Warriors by a narrow 41-40 margin.
• Bench points went to the Panthers, 23-8.
• Plymouth State led in points off turnovers, 20-10.
• Points in the paint were led by Plymouth State, 24-14.
• The win snapped a 23-game losing streak to the Warriors.
• The Panthers had struggled at Geissler Gymnasium, as the win was just the sixth road win in the series dating back to 1987,
• With 11 wins, head coach Curtis Arsenault recorded the most victories for a first-year head coach since now Associate Athletic Director Lauren Lavigne took over the program in 1998-99 and went 14-11.

Up Next:

• Sixth-seeded Plymouth State heads to third-seeded Southern Maine for the first round of the LEC Tournament on Tuesday (Feb. 20).

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