PSU Women's Basketball nips RIC at the wire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior Katie Sunderland (Londonderry, N.H.) hit the game-winning shot with 10 seconds remaining Saturday afternoon to lift the Plymouth State University women's basketball team to a 62-60 victory over Rhode Island College in a Little East Conference game at The Murray Center.

Sunderland's hoop capped a very tight contest, as there were six lead changes in the final six minutes. RIC hit a three-pointer with 1:19 to play to go ahead by one point, 60-59, and Sunderland tied it at 60-60 by making one of two free throws with 1:01 remaining. Junior Laura Kent (Bellingham, Mass.) stole the ball for PSU in the final minute to set up Sunderland's game-winning shot.

The Anchorwomen had one last chance to tie it again but a shot with one second remaining was no good. PSU picked up its first conference win of the season and third straight victory of 2009, improving to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in the LEC. RIC fell to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Kent led all players in the game with 20 points and nine rebounds, making 7-of-10 shots from the field. She has scored at least 20 points in three straight games. Senior Kayla Morin (Pascoag, R.I.) added 14 points for the Panthers, and freshman Michaela Galvin (Windham, N.H./Salem) added a season-high 11 points after making three three-point shots.

Freshman Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) and junior Cassi Malec (Glocester, R.I.) led the Anchorwomen with 14 points apiece, and junior LaSheena Boyd (Stratford, Conn.) contributed 10 points. Freshman Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) was good for seven points and a team-best nine rebounds.

RIC had the lead the first 10 minutes of the game, but PSU came back and controlled the scoreboard the next 10 minutes. The Panthers had an 11-point advantage (36-25) with 3:40 to play and held a seven-point margin (38-31) at the intermission.

The home team hung within striking distance the first nine minutes of the second half before tying the game at 47-all at the midway point. It was anyone's game the rest of the way until Sunderland's game-winning shot at the end.

PSU returns home to host the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday in an LEC match-up at Foley Gymnasium (5:30 p.m.) RIC is home again on Tuesday, hosting league powerhouse Southern Maine at 5:30 p.m.

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