Box Score Perry, Caron pace Panthers in non-conference setback
NEWTON, Mass. – Junior Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) posted her fifth double-double of the season to lead Lasell College past Plymouth State University, 60-37, in non-conference women's basketball action Thursday night.
Stopera was one of three Lasers in double-figures, finishing with 14 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from long range, to go with 10 rebounds. Sophomore Sherilyn Small (Springfield, Mass.) added 10 points and six rebounds, while senior Justine Ryan (Norwood, Mass.) came off the bench to score 10 points. Junior guard Deanna Barrett (Berlin, Conn.) stuffed the stat sheet with five points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal.
The Panthers two leading scorers both came off the bench, as junior Taylor Perry (Simsbury, Conn.) and freshman Elisabeth Caron (Londonderry, N.H.) scored nine and seven points respectively. Sophomore Lindsy Poulin (Goffstown, N.H.) added five points and six rebounds, while classmate Savannah Miller (Smithtown, N.Y.) chipped in with four points, six rebounds, four steals and a block.
The Lasers jumped out to a 12-0 lead as Plymouth struggled to find its shot early on. The Panthers got on the board with 12:21 remaining in the first half when Caron corralled a loose ball under the Lasell basket and laid it in. Sophomore Ace Lawrence (Middletown, Conn.) connected on a three-pointer from the left baseline and classmate Rosalie Edmonds (Goffstown, N.H.) hit a free throw to bring PSU within 12-6 at the midway point of the half, but freshman Breanna Cashman (Norwich, N.Y.) stopped the Panther run with a three-pointer.
The Lasell lead stayed between nine and 11 points until Stopera closed the half with a long-ball for a 30-16 lead at the break. The Lasers used good inside-outside ball movement to get a number of clean looks in the half, recording assists on nine of their 12 made baskets.
The teams traded points over the first few minutes of the second half, with Poulin accounting for both PSU buckets. Stopera hit a three with 17:00 remaining to spark a 17-5 run over seven minutes, pushing the Lasers lead to 51-25. Perry stopped the run by scoring on a driving layup while being fouled. She made the ensuing free throw, then connected on a three-pointer from the left baseline on the next PSU possession, but Lasell would stop the run with a three of its own and PSU could not get back into the game over the final five minutes.
With the win, the Lasers (6-13, 1-5 GNAC) snap a five-game slide.
Plymouth State (6-14, 0-9 LEC) returns home to square off with Western Connecticut State University in an LEC match-up Saturday (1:00 p.m.) at Foley Gymnasium. Lasell remains at home to face Johnson & Wales in a GNAC game Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
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