Box Score Collins leads Panthers in LEC setback
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team used a balanced attack to defeat Plymouth State University, 61-32, in Little East Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, Mass.) and senior Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield, Conn.) paced the Warrior offense with 12 points apiece. Ritrosky added nine rebounds, while McCourt pulled down seven. Sophomore Julia DePoi (Brookfield, Conn.) added seven points and eight rebounds, and senior Taylor McBride (Willimantic, Conn.) was big off the bench, stuffing the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.
Senior Kelley Collins (Groveton, N.H.) led the Panthers with her first double-double of the year, with game-highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Ace Lawrence (Middletown, Conn.) chipped in with eight points, three rebounds and two assists in the loss.
The Warriors jumped out to an early lead with an offensive-minded Ritrosky scoring six of the team's first 12 points. A layup by Collins cut the ECSU lead to 12-8 eight minutes into the game, but McCourt responded with six straight points to push the lead to 18-8. Lawrence connected on a three-pointer midway through the opening half, cutting the lead to 18-11, but the Warriors answered with a 17-4 run over the final ten minutes to close out the first half with a 35-15 lead.
Plymouth tried to chip away at the Warrior lead in the second half but could not maintain any momentum. A jumper from sophomore Lindsy Poulin (Goffstown, N.H.) pulled PSU within 17 at 40-23 with just over 11 minutes remaining, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.
With the loss Plymouth State (4-5) falls to 0-2 in the LEC. The Panthers will be on the road again Tuesday night for a non-conference match-up with Johnson State (5:30 p.m.). ECSU (6-4) evens its LEC mark at 1-1, and will visit Westfield State on Monday night.
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