PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team fell to the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 74-50, in Little East Conference (LEC) action at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Jessica Ruiz (Lynn, Mass.) led the Panthers with 18 points, while classmate Lauren Keller (Fort Morgan, Colo.) scored 12 points of her own, her second consecutive game in double figures.
 
The Warriors outscored Plymouth State 31-10 in the second quarter generating a twenty-seven-point advantage at halftime. Plymouth State ran with its counterparts in the final two quarters of action, but the first half lead deemed too much to come back from.
 
Plymouth State falls to 1-7 (0-3 LEC) on the season, while the Eastern Connecticut improves to 6-4 and 3-0 in LEC play.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 50, Eastern Connecticut 74
  • Plymouth State (1-7, 0-3 LEC)
  • Eastern Connecticut (6-4, 3-0 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Jessica Ruiz (18 pts, 5 reb, 8-13 fg)
• Lauren Keller (12 pts, 2 reb, 4-9 fg)
• Sabrina Vlahovic (7 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl)

How it Happened:

• The Warriors took an opening 11-2 run in the first quarter with 5:00 on the clock.
• PSU cut the lead to two (11-9) with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter.
• A successful three-point play at the end of the first left the score at 18-12 to the Warriors.
• Eastern Connecticut held the Panthers to only ten second quarter points, taking a 49-22 lead into halftime.
• The Panthers played a tough second half, outscoring their opponents 28-25, but the second quarter deficit was too much to come back from.

By the Numbers:

• The Panthers went 19-of-58 (32.8%) from the floor and 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the line.
• The Warriors outrebounded the Panthers, 43-35.
• The Panthers scored 24 of their 50 points in the paint.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers return to action in the New Year to face LEC opponent University of Southern Maine at home on Jan. 5. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.