WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Junior
Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) scored 21 points for the second straight game, but Eastern Connecticut State University hit a game-tying three-pointer late in regulation, then eked out a 53-47 win over Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball game at Geissler Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Malozzi, who dropped a career-high 21 points in Thursday's narrow setback to UMass Boston, was at it again, finishing 10-of-18 from the floor and snagging six rebounds and adding three steals to match her career best offensive performance. Plymouth State erased a ten-point halftime deficit and Malozzi scored twice during a 6-0 spurt in the fourth quarter as PSU took a 42-36 lead with four minutes left in regulation, but the hosts knocked down a pair of three-pointers, including one with 31 seconds left on the clock, to force overtime.
The lead traded hands four times in the first two minutes of the extra session, but the hosts notched back-to-back baskets for a 48-45 lead with 1:37 to go. Graduate student
Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) made it a one-point game with 90 seconds left, but that would prove to be the Panthers' final points as ECSU knocked down clutch free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
Plymouth State slips to 3-12 (0-7 LEC), while the Warriors go to 7-9 (6-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 47, Eastern Connecticut 53
- Plymouth State (3-12, 0-7 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (7-9, 6-1 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- In a low-scoring opening quarter, the Warriors built an 8-3 lead through the first seven minutes.
- Sophomore Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) got to the rim and hit a free throw and graduate student Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.) laid it in to cut the deficit to 11-8 after one.
- Malozzi scored to open the second quarter, but ECSU used a 7-0 spurt to push the margin to 18-10 midway through the frame.
- The Warriors closed the quarter on a 10-3 surge to take a 28-18 lead into the locker room.
- Plymouth State kept within striking distance to start the third, as Stephens' jumper made it 33-26 with 6:07 left in the quarter.
- The Panthers ended the stanza with a flurry, as Malozzi hit a pair of baskets and junior Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) buried a triple in the final seconds to pull within 34-33 heading into the fourth.
- Eastern Connecticut got to the basket to start the final period, but Malozzi knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 36-36 and spark the Panthers. Vlahovic's layup gave PSU the lead and Malozzi added back-to-back buckets for a 42-36 lead with four minutes to play.
- The Warriors hit a three to make it a one-possession game with 3:47 to go, then added a game-tying triple with 31 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime.
- Junior Elli Cox (Deerfield, N.H.) sank a free throw to give the Panthers a one-point edge in the extra session. The teams traded baskets, with Malozzi's layup with 3:39 left in the extra session matching her career high of 21 points and giving PSU a 45-44 lead.
- ECSU answered back, though, scoring on back-to-back possessions for a three-point lead, 48-45, with 1:37 left.
- Salzillo got to the basket to pull within one, but the Warriors scored and hit their free throws to hold on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm. PSU shot 30.3% for the game (20-of-66) and went 2-of-21 from distance, while Eastern Connecticut shot at just a 29.9% clip, though the hosts did knock down five three-pointers.
- ECSU owned a narrow 49-41 advantage on the boards.
- Plymouth State moved the ball well, picking up 13 assists on 20 made baskets.
- PSU's reserves outscored their counterparts by a 9-5 margin.
- The Panthers scored 32 points in the paint.
- Plymouth State had knocked off the Warriors on the road in their last meeting, though Eastern Connecticut has a decided upper hand in the all-time series.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Southern Maine for another league game on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at 5:30 p.m.
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