PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior guard Sarah Coughlin (North Attleboro, Mass.) scored a career-high 20 points Saturday afternoon as Rhode Island College surged past Plymouth State University, 73-57, in collegiate women¹s basketball action at The Murray Center.

              The Anchorwomen won their third consecutive game to raise their record to 12-8 overall and 5-5 in the Little East Conference. The Panthers drop to 9-12 overall and 2-8 in the LEC.

              RIC came out of the gates on fire, building a game-high 17-point lead, 27-10, with 9:11 left in the first half. The Anchorwomen kept the Panthers at bay for the remainder of the first stanza, holding an 11-point advantage, 37-26, at halftime. Coughlin totaled 13 first-half points on the strength of 3-for-4 shooting from downtown.

              Plymouth State whittled away at the deficit and went on a 5-0 run with 10:34 left in the game to cut the Rhode Island lead down to seven points, 48-41, but the Anchorwomen turned on the jets in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Panthers, 25-16, to seal the win. Both clubs turned in stellar performances from the free thrown line, shooting an 80-percent clip (RIC: 24-for-30; PSU: 16-for-20).

              Five RIC players scored in double figures, led by Coughlin¹s 20-point, eight-assist and five-steal performance. She has reached double figures in scoring in five of the past six games. Junior Michelle McNamee (Cranston, R.I.) contributed 13 points, and sophomore Alice Mullen (Saunderstown, R.I.), senior Sherri Heard (Coventry, R.I.) and junior Tyla Martin (Cumberland, R.I.) chipped in with 11 points apiece.

              The Panthers were led by sophomore Laura Kent (Bellingham, Mass.), who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.  Junior Kayla Morin (Pascoag, R.I.) logged 14 points and sophomore Karly Gray (Southampton, Mass.) chipped in with nine points. Despite outrebounding RIC, 41-33, Plymouth State was plagued by 29 turnovers.

              In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will play at UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Panthers will host Keene State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the annual Spirit Night contest.

(Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information)

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