DANBURY, Conn. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team fell to the Western Connecticut State University Wolves, 66-57, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup in the Stephen Feldman Arena on Saturday afternoon.
 
The teams traded blows, as the game produced eight lead changes and eight game-tying shots into the third quarter, but an 11-0 run midway through the third put the Wolves out in front for good. The Panthers fought to get the deficit back to single digits but could get no closer.
 
Freshman Kaley Goodhart (Center Conway, N.H.) led the Panthers with 12 points, while junior Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) added 11 points of her own. Sophomore Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) tallied nine points in the losing effort for the Panthers.
 
WestConn drained 15 free throws, while the Panthers attempted 19.
 
Plymouth State drops to 3-14 (0-9 LEC), while the Wolves improve to 5-13 (3-6 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 57, Western Connecticut 66
  • Plymouth State (3-14, 0-9 LEC)
  • Western Connecticut (5-13, 3-6 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Kaley Goodhart (12 pts, 4-7 fg, 3-5 3pt, 5 reb)
  • Hailey Malozzi (11 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast)
  • Ashley Stephens (9 pts, 5-8 ft, 4 reb)
  • Alessia Salzillo (8 pts, 3-6 fg, 5 reb)

How it Happened:

• WestConn opened with an early 7-0 lead four minutes into the first quarter.
• PSU found its rhythm, shutting down the Wolves defensively as WestConn was unable to knock down another field goal in the first quarter.
• The Panthers closed out the first with a 14-3 run to take a four-point lead (14-10) after one.
• WestConn went back in front, 16-14, after scoring the first six points of the second quarter.
• Plymouth State answered with seven straight of its own to go up 21-16 with 5:50 left in the second quarter.
• Back-and-forth the teams went, as it was the Wolves' turn to score 10 unanswered points, earning a 26-21 advantage with 4:19 to play until the half.
• The Panthers went on flurry to close the quarter with the final six points, ending an exciting second segment. The teams went to the locker rooms knotted at 30-30.
• Play remained a one-possession game throughout the start of the third quarter, with four different lead changes. At the 5:39 mark, WestConn knocked down three consecutive three-pointers, followed by a pair of free throws to take the largest lead for either team in the contest, 47-38.
• Plymouth State responded with back-to-back shots from distance to cut the scoreline to 47-44 with 1:52 on the clock in the third quarter.
• WestConn hit the final three-pointer of the third quarter to lead 50-44 after three quarters of play.
• The Wolves put their foot on the gas with a 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter to extend the advantage to fourteen points (60-46) with 5:49 left in regulation.
• PSU was able to whittle the deficit down to nine with two minutes to play and an old-fashioned three-point play cut the margin to 64-57 with 50 seconds on the clock, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State shot 21-of-63 (33.3%) from the floor, and 6-of-26 (23.1%) from distance.
• PSU edged the Wolves 47-43 on the boards and 16-12 on the offensive glass.
• WestConn's reserves outscored the Panthers by a 30-21 margin.
• Both teams tallied 24 points in the paint.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers face Keene State at home on Wednesday (Jan. 29). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Foley Gymnasium.

 
 
  Read Full Article