WATERVILLE, Maine – Freshmen Alex White (Derry, N.H.) and Macy Swormstedt (Laconia, N.H.) combined for 25 points as Plymouth State University cruised past Elms College, 70-53, to close out the Terrier Tip-Off Classic hosted by Thomas College at Larry Mahaney Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Plymouth State relied on a suffocating defense – limiting the Blazers to just 18.9% shooting (7-of-37) in the first half – to build a 34-20 lead at the break. Staked to a comfortable margin, the Panthers coasted through the second half to finish the weekend unbeaten.
 
White led the PSU offense with 13 points (4-of-5 fg) and four rebounds, while Swormstedt added 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Junior Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) was also in double figures, chipping in 10 points, four rebounds, and three blocks in the win.
 
Plymouth State improves to 2-0, while Elms drops to 0-2.
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 70, Elms 53
  • Plymouth State (2-0)
  • Elms (0-2)

Top Performers:

• Alex White (13 pts, 4-5 fg, 3-3 3pt, 4 reb)
• Macy Swormstedt (12 pts, 4-7 fg, 3-4 3pt, 3 reb, 3 ast)
• Ashley Stephens (10 pts, 3-6 fg, 4 reb, 3 blk)
• Elli Cox (8 pts, 4-5 fg, 6 reb, 4 ast)

How it Happened:

• Elms jumped out to a 6-0 lead three minutes into the first quarter. Plymouth State closed the frame with a flurry, as senior Raegan Peck (Dudley, Mass.) drained a triple to spark a 7-1 run, and a layup by senior Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) gave PSU an 18-12 lead after one.
• White and Swormstedt hit back-to-back triples to extend the lead to double digits, 26-16, midway through the second as part of a 14-4 surge. The Panthers carried a 34-20 advantage into the halftime break.
• Elms connected three times from distance to start the third quarter, cutting the deficit to seven (36-29), but another Swormstedt triple restored the double-digit margin.
• Sophomore Kaley Goodhart (Center Conway, N.H.) sank two free throws to make it 51-39 heading into the fourth.
• Plymouth State stayed comfortably in front the rest of the way. White hit from deep to push the lead to 68-52, and freshman Gabriella Gullifa (Windham, N.H.) gave PSU its largest lead, 70-52, in the final minute as the Panthers rolled to the win.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State went 22-of-52 (42.3%) from the field and knocked down eight three-pointers, while converting 18-of-24 (75.0%) from the free throw line.
• The PSU defense limited Elms to 17-of-66 (25.8%) shooting.
• Plymouth State held a 47-38 advantage on the boards.
• The Panthers' reserves contributed 38 points, and PSU held a 26-20 edge in points in the paint.
• It was just the second meeting between the two teams. PSU also won the previous matchup, 77-71, during the 2012-13 season.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers head to VTSU Johnson on Tuesday (Nov. 11) for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

 
 
  Read Full Article