Panthers' second half comeback falls short

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Jordyn Nappi (Southington, Conn.) posted a double-double with a game-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while classmate Lexis Foster (Groton, Conn.) had eight blocked shots to lead Eastern Connecticut State University past Plymouth State University, 60-47, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday.

            The Panthers were led by senior Kayla Wyland (Melrose, Mass.) who posted a team-high  14 points (7-of-12) while pulling down seven rebounds.  Classmate Savannah Miller (Smithtown, N.Y.) added a complete game with eight points, six rebounds and four steals in the setback. 

            ECSU relied on a strong defensive effort in the first half to build up a 32-12 halftime lead.  PSU came out of the intermission with a strong third quarter, connecting on nearly 50% of its shots (8-of-17), to cut the deficit to 41-29 heading into the final quarter.  The Panthers were able to whittle the lead down to seven points, 48-41, over the first four minutes of the final quarter, but the Warriors wouldn't allow them to get any closer as the visitors held on for their ninth-straight LEC win.

THE BASICS

  Foley Gymnasium, Plymouth, N.H. – Sat., Feb. 4, 2017

  Plymouth State 47, Eastern Connecticut 60

  Records:

  Plymouth State 5-14 (2-8 LEC); Eastern Connecticut 14-6 (9-1 LEC)

PSU LEADERS

  * Wyland … team-high 14 points (7-of-12), seven rebounds, four blocks, two assists

  * Miller … eight points, six rebounds, four steals

  * Senior Annaliese Schmidt (Newmarket, N.H.) … five points, team-high 10 rebounds

  * Senior DeAsia 'Ace' Lawrence (Middletown, Conn.) … six points, four rebounds

BY THE NUMBERS

  * PSU held a 46-43 edge on the boards, but was outscored 24-20 in the paint.

  * ECSU finished the game 21-of-55 (38.2%) from the floor, while the Panthers were limited to 26.5% shooting (18-of-68).

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

  * After a layup from Miller, the Warriors used an 11-0 run to take control.

  * Wyland stopped the streak with a pair of inside baskets, sandwiched around two ECSU free throws, to make it 17-6 with a minute to play in the quarter.

  * Senior Maddy Beatrice (Newton, Mass.) connected twice from the charity stripe to make it a 19-8 deficit after one.

Second Quarter:

  * Both teams struggled from the field in the second quarter.  ECSU extended its lead with some free throws, before a Warriors' layup stopped a stretch of over five minutes without a basket.

  * Sophomore Kailyn Aguiar (Acushnet, Mass.) had a pair of buckets for PSU to make it a 30-12 deficit before two ECSU free throws closed the half.

Third Quarter:

  * A Nappi three-pointer gave the visitors their largest lead, 37-14, after the opening three minutes of the third quarter.

  * Miller connected for the Panthers, leading to a 15-2 PSU run.  Wyland and Miller combined for 10 points in the stretch, which cut the ECSU lead down to 39-29 with 1:32 left in the quarter.

  * Nappi added a layup to make it 41-29 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter:

  * The teams traded baskets over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. 

  * Lawrence connected from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 48-41 with just over six minutes to play.

  * The Warriors pushed the lead back to double-digits moments later and were able to hold on for the win.

NEXT UP

  * The Panthers are back on the court on Wednesday when they travel to Keene State College for a 5:30 p.m. LEC contest.

  * ECSU is also back in league-action Wednesday when they host rival Western Connecticut with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

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