BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior Kayla
Morin (Pascoag, R.I.) and junior Kalie
Judd (Peabody, Mass.) combined for 17 points
Saturday afternoon, including three key free throws in the final
two minutes, to lead the Plymouth State University Panthers to a
53-47 victory over Westfield State College in the championship game
of the sixth annual Babson Invitational Tournament presented by
Irving Oil.
Morin was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Judd
joined her on the All-Tournament Team along with Westfield State
senior Andrea Wasuk (Lenox, Mass.), Babson freshman Nicole Wurdeman
(Rowley, Mass.), and Connecticut College Jacquelyn DeFeo
(Stratford, Conn.).
Judd and junior Laura Kent (Bellingham, Mass.)
each finished with 11 points in the win for Plymouth State, while
Morin followed up her spectacular 33-point effort on Friday with
six points, two assists, and two steals. The Panthers also received
a huge game from sophomore Amanda Kania
(Manchester, N.H.), who recorded a double-double with 13 points and
10 rebounds while also adding a game-high four steals.
Wasuk earned a spot on the All-Tournament team with a strong
performance in defeat for Westfield State, finishing with 12
points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore Cassy Jouannet
(Conway, Mass.) added 10 points and seven boards, while senior
Katie Sylvain (Hadley, Mass.) chipped in with seven points, five
rebounds, and three assists.
After taking a slim 26-24 lead into the break, Plymouth State
surged ahead and led by as many as eight with 7:38 left in the
game. However, Westfield State answered with an 8-0 run fueled by
six points from Wasuk to tie the contest at 45-45 with 5:24 left in
regulation.
Following two free throws by Kent that put Plymouth State back in
front, 47-45, Wasuk converted a lay-up with 2:48 remaining to once
again even the score - the 10th tie of the afternoon.
Kania then put the Panthers in front to stay with a steal and a
jumper with 1:37 on the clock, and Judd hit one of two moments
later to make it a 50-47 game. Morin would tack on two free throws
with 18 seconds left and Kania added one of two to give Plymouth
State the 53-47 victory.
PSU, which won its own tournament to start last season, is off to a
3-0 start for the second year in a row. The Panthers will be
back on the court on Tuesday in a non-conference game at Castleton
(5:30 p.m.)
All-Tournament
Team
Kayla Morin, Sr., Plymouth State University - Most
Valuable Player
Kalie Judd, Jr., Plymouth State University
Jacquelyn Defeo, Jr., Connecticut College
Nicole Wurdeman, Fy., Babson College
Andrew Wasuk, Sr., Westfield State College
(Courtesy of Babson Sports Information)
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