WATERVILLE, Maine – Graduate student Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) was named to the All-Tournament Team as Plymouth State University held off Thomas College, 53-52, in the consolation game of the Gene DeLorenzo Tip Off Tournament hosted by Colby College at Wadsworth Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Panthers entered the fourth quarter nursing a 42-38 lead. Vlahovic's layup, followed by a three-pointer from freshman Kaley Goodhart (Center Conway, N.H.) pushed the lead to six with 6:37 left, but the Terriers pulled to within one, 49-48, with 3:37 remaining. Vlahovic and senior Raven Premont (Barre, Vt.) made key buckets in the paint as Plymouth State clung to a 53-50 lead in the final minute. Thomas cut the deficit to one and had two chances at a go-ahead bucket, but Vlahovic corralled a rebound as PSU held on for the win.
 
Plymouth State evens out at 2-2, while the Terriers fall to 0-5.
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 53, Thomas 52
  • Plymouth State (2-2)
  • Thomas (0-5)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Kaley Goodhart (12 pts, 5-10 fg, 2 stl)
  • Sabrina Vlahovic (8 pts, 3-5 fg, 6 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl)
  • Ashley Stephens (8 pts, 2 stl, 1 blk)
  • Hailey Malozzi (7 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast)

How it Happened:

• Thomas held a 7-2 lead with 3:45 left in the first quarter, but junior Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) got to the basket, then added a pair of free throws and Goodhart's late layup capped a 6-0 spurt as PSU pulled into the lead, 8-7, after one.
• The Panthers hit four of five from the field to start the second and a layup from junior Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) made it a 21-13 lead midway through the frame.
• Thomas nailed a three in the final seconds to cut the deficit to 26-22 at the break.
• The Terriers pulled to within one, 26-25, to start the third but sophomore Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) hit a jumper to keep PSU in front. Thomas continued to rally, though, tying the game at 31-31 before going in front after hitting from beyond the arc.
• PSU pulled even with 3:30 in the frame and a bucket in the final seconds put the Panthers ahead, 42-38, heading to the fourth.
• Thomas cut it to one with the first three points of the quarter, but Vlahovic got to the basket and Goodhart's triple made it 47-41.
• The Terriers wouldn't go away, again making it a one-point game, 49-48, with 3:37 on the clock but a Vlahovic steal and layup helped PSU retain the lead. Thomas again sliced the margin to one, 53-52, with less than a minute to go and the Terriers had two shots to take the lead late but both shots came up empty and Vlahovic secured the rebound as PSU ran out the clock.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State finished 18-of-52 (34.6%) from the field and hit four triples.
• Thomas went 18-of-58 (31.0%) and connected seven times from behind the arc, but only once in the second half.
• The Terriers held a 37-31 advantage on the boards.
• The Panthers outscored Thomas, 24-18, in the paint.
• Plymouth State leads the head-to-head series, 5-2, and has won each of the last three meetings.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to Colby-Sawyer for a 6:00 p.m. contest on Wednesday (Nov. 20).

 
 
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