PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) posted her second double-double of the season and poured in a career-high 21 points, but the University of Massachusetts Boston held off Plymouth State University, 65-58, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Thursday evening.
Malozzi scored the Panthers' first points and drained three of her four attempts from the field in the opening frame as PSU held a 14-12 advantage after one. She knocked down a triple late in the second quarter, but a pair of Beacons' free throws in the final three seconds game UMass Boston a 31-28 edge at the break.
The visitors led by eight, 43-35, with three minutes left in the third, but a pair of Malozzi free throws sparked a rally as the game was deadlocked at 47-47 heading into the fourth. Junior
Sophie George (Meredith, N.H.) would connect from downtown to give PSU a 53-51 lead early in the final stanza, but UMass Boston countered with six straight points and the Panthers would trail the rest of the way.
Malozzi finished an efficient 7-of-14 from the field to net her career-high 21 points and added 12 rebounds for the double-double.
Plymouth State slips to 3-11 (0-6 LEC), while the Beacons improve to 6-10 (3-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 58, UMass Boston 65
- Plymouth State (3-11, 0-6 LEC)
- UMass Boston (6-10, 3-4 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- It was a back-and-forth battle from the get to with both teams trading scores before junior Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) nailed a three-pointer and Malozzi's offensive rebound and putback gave PSU a 7-4 lead.
- The Beacons attempted to pull away, but a Malozzi sank a three and senior Alli Ingalls (Hampstead, N.H.) drained a pair of free throws and a layup to give PSU a 14-12 lead after the first quarter.
- The second quarter stayed fairly even throughout. George hit from deep to tie the game at 25-25 with 3:16 on the clock, but the visitors scored six of the last nine points to take a 31-28 advantage into halftime.
- UMass Boston extended its lead with a 5-0 spurt before sophomore Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) laid one in and Peck fired from distance to keep the Panthers within reach.
- Trailing by eight, 43-35, Malozzi knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to start a 10-0 surge. Malozzi scored seven points during the run, which also saw a triple from freshman Kaley Goodhart (Center Conway, N.H.), but UMB pulled even to make the score 47-47 heading to the fourth.
- Peck and George both hit from downtown as PSU nursed a 53-51 lead with 8:23 left to play, but the visitors answered with a 6-0 spurt to grab the lead for good. Malozzi's free throw made it a two-point game with 2:26 to go, but the Beacons closed with an 8-3 run to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State shot at a 34.5% clip from distance, while holding UMass Boston to just 18.2% from beyond the arc.
- The Beacons controlled the interior, outscoring PSU by a 34-12 margin in the paint.
- The game featured eight lead changes and ten ties.
- Malozzi's 21 points were the second-most for a Panthers this season. It marked the third time a player has reached the 20-point threshold this winter.
- PSU holds a 42-32 advantage in the all-time series and swept the Beacons in a pair of close games last winter.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hits the road to face Eastern Connecticut State in league action on Saturday (Jan. 18) at 3:00 p.m.
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