Panthers to host UMass Boston for Senior Day on Saturday 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) led the Plymouth State University women's basketball team with a 15-point effort, but Castleton University was too strong for the Panthers, notching a 57-38 win in a Little East Conference (LEC) game at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

            The Spartans' defense held PSU scoreless over the first nine minutes and the visitors held a 23-14 lead at the half. Castleton used a 27-point third quarter to put the game out of reach, though the Panthers tried to fight back in the fourth quarter.

            Plymouth State falls to 4-20 and 0-15 in the Little East, while Castleton improves to 15-9 and 10-5 in league play.

            The Basics:

            Plymouth State 38, Castleton 57

            Plymouth State (4-20, 0-15 LEC)

            Castleton (15-9, 10-5 LEC)

            How it Happened.

• Castleton relied on its size down low to grab four early offensive rebounds and senior Alexis Quenneville (Orwell, Vt.) drained a straight-on three to give the guests an 8-0 lead after the first 2:30.
• The Spartans extended the lead to 13-0, before senior Alex Ricard (Manchester, N.H.) found Salzillo on a baseline cut to get the Panthers on the board, 13-2, with a minute left in the frame
• Freshman Bella Earle (South Hadley, Mass.) sank a pair of three-pointers and Ricard hit from inside as the Panthers pulled to with 19-11 midway through the second.
• Salzillo hit from long range to trim the margin to five, 19-14, but the scored the final four points, all from the line, to take a 23-14 lead at the half.
• Quenneville hit twice from long range to open the third quarter, but Ricard drilled a midrange jumper and Earle knocked down a pair of free throws at the other end.
• The Spartans used a 11-1 run to open up a 40-19 lead and Castleton led, 50-25, entering the final quarter.
• PSU had its best offensive quarter to close the game, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

            Inside the Numbers:

• Salzillo added six rebounds and seven steals to her 15 points.
• Earle chipped in with nine points off the bench, while Ricard added eight points and six boards.
• Quenneville led all scorers with a game-high 20 points, while knocking down 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
• The Spartans also got double-digit efforts from freshman Elise Magro (Rutland, Vt.) and junior Brooke Raiche (Ira, Vt.), who added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
• Castleton went 11-of-22 from downtown.

            Up Next:

• Both teams are set to wrap up the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 22).
• The Panthers host UMass Boston for the annual Senior Day game at 1:00 p.m., while Castleton entertains Eastern Connecticut at the same time.

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