Potent Warriors too strong for Panthers

              PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Amanda Pierlioni (Plainville, Conn.) and junior Piper Chapman (Portsmouth, R.I.) each posted double-doubles Saturday afternoon, combining for 42 points and 25 rebounds as Eastern Connecticut State University defeated Plymouth State University, 97-75, in Little East Conference women's basketball action at Foley Gymnasium.

              Pierlioni finished with 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds while Chapman wound up with a game-high 22 points and 10 boards in the assault.  They were two of five Warrior players who reached double figures in scoring, as sophomore Jessica Blodgett (Niantic, Conn.) provided 13 points, five rebounds and six assists off the bench, senior Jessica Moriarty (East Haven, Conn.) added 12 points and sophomore Lauren Kelleher (Dartmouth, Mass.) chipped in with 11.

              Eastern stopped a two-game skid and improved to 13-6 overall and 7-2 in conference play, a game behind LEC co-leaders Western Connecticut and Southern Maine. PSU, which snapped a losing streak in its last outing at Johnson State on Thursday, dropped to 8-11 overall and 1-8 in the LEC.

              Junior Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H./Central) topped the home team with 17 points, while freshman Kellie Walsh (Londonderry, N.H.) scored 12 points and junior Michaela Galvin (Windham, N.H./Salem) chipped in with 11.  Freshman Sammie Walker (Manchester, N.H./Central) contributed seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.

              A player from each team is now within striking distance of reaching 1,000 points for her career; Moriarty now has 996 points for the Warriors and Doucet has 989 for the Panthers.

              The Warriors took control of Saturday's game midway through the first half and never looked back.  PSU was within six points (24-18) with 10:30 to play in the first half, but a 12-3 burst pushed the margin up to 15 points with seven minutes remaining.  It was a 27-point margin at halftime (62-35), and PSU didn't get closer than 20 points during the second half.

              Both teams play non-conference games in their next outings, PSU visiting Lesley College on Tuesday and Eastern Conn. hosting Salem State on Thursday. 

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