(Game Box) 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Plymouth State University outscored Rhode Island College 39-21 in the second half Saturday afternoon, turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a six-point victory, 73-67, in Little East Conference women's basketball action at Foley Gymnasium.

              The victory gives PSU the sweep of the season series against the Anchorwomen.  The Panthers won their second game in three days and are now 14-7 overall and 4-6 in conference play, while RIC fell to 9-12 overall and 4-6 in the LEC.

              The Panthers used a balanced scoring attack, with six players scoring in double figures.  Junior Katie Sunderland (Londonderry, N.H.) led the way with a career-high 15 points, sinking 7-of-10 shots from the field.  Junior Laura Kent (Bellingham, Mass.) and sophomore Amanda Kania (Manchester, N.H./West) each contributed 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, junior Gretchen Fritch (South Boston, Mass.) added 11 points, and junior Kalie Judd (Peabody, Mass.) and freshman Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H./Central) chipped in with 10 points apiece.

              Freshmen Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) and Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) led the Anchorwomen with 14 points apiece, with Riley also collecting a game-high nine rebounds.  Junior LaSheena Boyd (Stratford, Conn.) contributed 10 points, six assists and three steals but committed nine turnovers.

              RIC controlled much of the first half, outscoring PSU 21-6 over a six-minute span to take a double-digit lead (24-14) with nine minutes remaining.  The Anchorwomen got the lead as high as 14 points, 39-25, with 3:28 on the clock, and led by 12 points at the intermission, 46-34. Coro had 12 of her 14 points in the first half.

              The second half was all Panthers as PSU opened the frame with runs of 10-2 and 21-4.  RIC managed only one field goal and two free throws in the first 11 minutes of the second half.  Plymouth State took the lead for good, 52-50, on a three-pointer by Sunderland with 12:40 to play, and never looked back.  The Panthers got their lead as high as 11 points (68-57) with two minutes to play before holding on for the win.

              The Anchorwomen shot 53 percent from the field in a 46-point first half but were limited to 32 percent shooting and 21 points in the second half. RIC enjoyed a 22-7 rebounding advantage in the first 20 minutes but PSU had a 21-14 margin on the boards in the second half.

              Both teams are back in action with conference games at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, PSU visiting rival Keene State and RIC hosting UMass Dartmouth. 

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