Tyler sparks Panthers with 12 points off the bench

            BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Maysen Tyler (Bridge City, Texas) came off the bench to lead Plymouth State University with 12 points, but the Panthers came out on the short end of a 62-44 decision against the University of Massachusetts Boston in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on Thursday night.

            PSU came out strong, building a 12-5 lead through the late stages of the first quarter, but UMB rallied with a 16-2 run to surge in front midway through the second. The Panthers kept the game in reach, trailing 47-37 heading into the final ten minutes, but the Beacons' defense clamped down as the hosts extended the lead late.

           With the setback PSU drops to 6-8 (1-6 LEC) in LEC action, while UMass Boston improves to 12-3 and 5-1 in conference play.

            The Final Score:

            Plymouth State 44, UMass Boston 62

            Records:

            Plymouth State (6-8, 1-6 LEC)

            UMass Boston (12-3, 5-1 LEC)

            How it Happened:

            * The teams got off to a slow start, as senior Debra Morrill (Concord, N.H.) had a free throw for the game's only point for nearly three minutes.

            * With the score tied at 5-5, junior Brittany Roche (Londonderry, N.H.) drained a straight-on three and sophomore Elizabeth McLaughlin (Melvin Village, N.H.) sank two free throws made it 10-5 with 2:37 left in the opening quarter.

            * Senior Cassidy Emerson (Concord, N.H.) drilled a jumper to push the lead to 12-5, but the Beacons closed out the quarter with a pair of baskets to make it 12-9 after one.

            * UMass Boston carried the momentum into the start of the second quarter, using a 12-2 spurt to go ahead, 21-14, midway through the frame.

            * Tyler stopped the run with two points from the charity stripe, but sophomore Tahjai Mazyck (Hamden, Conn.) scored a pair and the hosts extended to a 29-18 lead.

            * Tyler drained a jumper in the final seconds to make it 29-20 at the half.

            * McLaughlin heated up to open the third quarter, hitting a jumper and three, but UMB answered and a bucket by junior Alecia Quinones (Stoughton, Mass.) made it a 15-point game, 40-25, four minutes in.

            * Junior Chenysse Hill (Lynn, Mass.) and Tyler combined to score 10-straight points as the Panthers whittled the lead down to five, 40-35, but sophomore Joie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) finished an old-fashioned three-point play and the Beacons held a 47-37 lead heading into the fourth.

            * Mazyck laid it in as UMB extended to a 55-39 lead with seven minutes to play, and Plymouth State was unable to get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

            Inside the Numbers:

            * Tyler finished with a team-high 12 points, while McLaughlin added nine.

            * Senior Jess Conant (Canton, Maine) chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds and Emerson led the Panthers on the glass with eight boards.

            * Grassi posted a game-high 15 points for the Beacons, with sophomore Jalani Jackson (Brockton, Mass.) adding 11. Mazyck contributed eight points and nine boards.

            * UMB held a slight edge on the glass, 37-32, while the Panthers' reserves outscored their counterparts by a 15-13 margin.

            * PSU leads the all-time series, 48-24 margin, but the Beacons have won nine of the last 11 meetings.

            Straight from the Coach's Mouth:

            "Rebounding and second chance points hurt us," said head coach Allison Flynn. "We need to take care of the ball in crucial moments."

            Up Next:

            * The Panthers head to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday (Jan. 12) for another Little East game, with tip-off set for 1:00 p.m.

            * UMass Boston is also back in league play on Saturday (Jan. 12) when the Beacons host Rhode Island College at 1:00 p.m.

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