PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Top-seeded Rhode Island College was clicking on all cylinders as the Anchorwomen toppled fourth-seeded Plymouth State University, 72-20, in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball tournament at the Murray Center on Wednesday evening.
RIC was tremendous from the opening tip-off. Looking everything like the tournament's unbeaten top seed, the Anchorwomen played stifling defense and nailed 5-of-7 three-pointers in the opening quarter, setting an early tone and never looking back.
Plymouth State ends the season with a 1-4 mark, while RIC improves to 10-0 and advances to the conference title game for the second straight year. The Anchorwomen will host third-seeded Keene State College in the finals on Saturday (Mar. 6) after the Owls upset second-seeded University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 63-60, in the night's other semifinal.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 20, Rhode Island College 72
- Plymouth State (1-4)
- Rhode Island College (10-0)
Top Performers:
- Plymouth State
- Rhode Island College
- Brooke Young (14 pts, 4-5 3pt, 3 stl)
- Marina Rufo (10 pts, 10 reb)
How it Happened:
- After RIC hit a three-pointer for the game's first points, sophomore Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) answered from beyond the arc to square the game after two minutes of action.
- The Anchorwomen turned up the defensive intensity over the next six-and-a-half minutes while shooting lights out. With the help of three more three-pointers, the hosts used a 16-0 run to surge ahead 19-3.
- Salzillo and sophomore Bella Earle (South Hadley, Mass.) both connected from inside in the final minute of the opening period, but the Panthers trailed 22-7 after one.
- The RIC defense continued to limit scoring chances for the Panthers through the second quarter, as free throws from Salzillo and sophomore Halie Hurd (Washington, N.H.) accounted for the only PSU points until freshman Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) scored on a put-back in the final minute. The hosts went into the locker room holding a 41-12 advantage.
- Plymouth State was unable to shift the momentum in the second half. The Anchorwomen pushed the lead to 56-16 after the third quarter, then coasted to the win.
By the Numbers:
- Sophomore Autumn Nelson (Weare, N.H.) and classmate Sarah Sweet (Narragansett, R.I.) tied for the Panthers' team lead with five rebounds apiece.
- RIC shot over 60% from the field in the opening quarter to set the early tone. The Anchorwomen finished the night 26-of-50 (52.0%), while limiting PSU to 6-of-52 (11.5%) from the floor.
- Plymouth State was playing for the first time in 18 days.
- In a stop-and-start season due to COVID-19, Plymouth State played the Anchormen in three of the team's five games.
Up Next:
- PSU's COVID-shortened season comes to an end.
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