PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) scored 10 points and the Plymouth State University defense limited unbeaten Rhode Island College to just 31.6% shooting, but the Anchorwomen were able to come away with a 47-31 win over the Panthers in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at the Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
PSU was much improved defensively since the teams' first meeting on Jan. 30, when RIC shot nearly 50% from the floor and scored a season-high 73 points. The Panthers trailed by just four after the first ten minutes, 11-7, but RIC pulled away in the second quarter and was able to stay in front the rest of the way.
 
With the setback PSU dips to 1-3 (1-3 LEC), while Rhode Island College moves to 5-0 (5-0 LEC).
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 31, Rhode Island College 47
  • Plymouth State (1-3, 1-3 LEC)
  • Rhode Island College (5-0, 5-0 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Alessia Salzillo (10 pts, 2 stl)
  • Jessica Ruiz (6 pts, 3 reb)
  • Sabrina Vlahovic (8 reb, 2 asst)
• Rhode Island College
  • Sophia Guerrier (13 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl)
  • Marina Rufo (3 pts, 10 reb, 2 stl)

How it Happened:

• RIC got out to a 5-0 lead before jumpers by freshman Jessica Ruiz (Lynn, Mass.) and Salzillo cut the margin to 5-4 after the first 3:19.
• The Anchorwomen extended the lead back to five, but Salzillo connected from beyond the arc to make it 9-7 with 2:12 left in the quarter.
• The hosts used a 9-0 spurt over the first six minutes of the second to pull away and RIC led 23-11 at the half.
• The lead expanded to 16 (31-15) early in the third before PSU started to claw back. Freshman Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) got inside and moments later junior Mary Grzanna (Sunapee, N.H.) added an interior bucket to whittle the margin to 31-21 with 2:55 left in the quarter.
• RIC scored on a layup in the final seconds to hold a 36-23 advantage heading into the fourth.
• The Anchorwomen maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final period to stay unbeaten.

By the Numbers:

• Salzillo has finished in double-figures each of her last three games. Over that span she has knocked down nine three-pointers, is shooting 47.4% from distance and is averaging 14.0 points per game.
• The Panthers came away with 11 steals in the contest.
• Relying on its interior strength, RIC held a 54-29 advantage on the glass and outscored PSU in the paint by a 26-10 margin.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State faces Keene State twice next week, starting with a Monday (Feb. 15) clash at Spaulding Gymnasium (6:00 p.m.). PSU hosts the Owls on Saturday (Feb. 20) at noon.