Panthers post fifth straight win; LEC opener Saturday

              SALEM, Mass. – Junior Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H.) scored 18 of her game-high 28 points in the second half Thursday evening to lead Plymouth State University to a 67-60 victory over Salem State University in non-conference women's basketball action at James Twohig Gymnasium.

              Senior Amanda Kania (Manchester, N.H./West) added 11 points and freshman Sammie Walker (Manchester, N.H./Central) chipped in with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds as the Panthers won their fifth straight game and improved the 5-1 on the season.

              The Panthers trailed by seven (45-38) in the second half before going on a 14-3 run to take control, 52-48 with 6:42 remaining.  Salem State battled back to knot the game at 52, and the teams tied two more times in the following four minutes. Plymouth State finally took the lead for good, 58-56 when Colleen O'Hara (Otego, N.Y.) hit a pair of free throws and a lay-up in less than a minute. Salem State had a chance to tie the game after Tara Driscoll (Swampscott, Mass.) hit a jumper to cut the deficit to 60-58, but a pair of crucial turnovers in the final minute hurt the Lady Vikings' chances.

              Doucet struggled from the floor, shooting just 6-of-18 from the field, but connected on 15-of-17 from the free throw line.  Plymouth State won despite shooting just 30.2 percent (19-of-63) from the field.

              Salem State, 1-3, was led by Amy Barry (Manchester, N.H.), who had a team-high 16 points, including four three-pointers. Maggie Wallace (Lowell, Mass.) added 13, but the Lady Vikings shot just 31 percent from the field, and 21 percent (6-of-29) from the three-point line.

              The Lady Vikings return to action next Wednesday night when they visit Southern Maine. Plymouth State hosts UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday at Foley Gymnasium in the Little East Conference opener (1:00 p.m.). 

 (Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information) 

-- 30 –