PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball wrapped up its 2024-25 campaign on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 64-49, in a Little East Conference (LEC) bout in Foley Gymnasium.
It was Senior Day for the Panthers, as three players were recognized for their contributions to the Plymouth State women's basketball program;
Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.),
Alli Ingalls (Hampstead, N.H.) and
Sabrina Vlahovic (New Hope, Pa.).
Salzillo played well in her final game for Plymouth State, leading the Panthers with 12 points. Sophomore
Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) registered nine points, while junior
Elli Cox (Deerfield, N.H.) recorded eight points and ten rebounds in the losing effort for the Panthers.
Plymouth State ends the year at 5-20 (1-15 LEC), while the Warriors improve to 11-14 (10-6 LEC) on the season.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 49, Eastern Connecticut 64
- Plymouth State (5-20, 1-15 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (11-14, 10-6 LEC)
Top Performers:
- Plymouth State
- Alessia Salzillo (12 pts, 4-9 fg, 2-3 3pt, 2-2 ft, 5 reb, 5 ast, 8 stl)
- Elli Cox (8 pts, 3-4 fg, 10 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl)
- Ashley Stephens (9 pts, 4-9 fg)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers opened on an early 6-3 lead midway through the first quarter.
- Eastern Connecticut tied things up at 7-a-piece with 1:59 remaining in the first.
- Junior Sophie George (Meredith, N.H.) knocked down a three-pointer in the Panthers' final possession of the first quarter to give Plymouth State a 12-9 lead through one.
- The teams were knotted up at 17-17 with 7:16 to go until halftime.
- The Warriors exploded on an 11-2 run to take a 28-19 advantage with 1:37 on the clock in the second quarter.
- Plymouth State tallied the final five points of the quarter to cut the deficit to four points (28-24) as the teams headed into the locker room.
- Eastern Connecticut extended the margin to eight points (34-26) two minutes into the third quarter.
- The Panthers continued to keep pace, tallying seven unanswered points to put the game at 34-33 midway through the third quarter.
- Eastern Connecticut put home a jump shot from the right elbow with under 30 seconds on the clock in the third quarter to take a 41-38 lead into the final ten minutes of play.
- Plymouth State brought the press, but the Warriors were able to get through it as the team pulled away in the fourth quarter to close out its tenth conference win of the season.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers shot 18-of-59 (30.5%) from the floor.
- Eastern went 8-of-19 (42.1%) from distance and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
- The Warriors outrebounded the PSU, 44-33 overall, with a 15-11 margin on the offensive glass.
- PSU moved the ball well, recording 13 assists on its 18 field goals.
- Bench points went to the Panthers by a margin of 18-2.
- Plymouth State tallied 12 steals in the contest.
- The Warriors have won two out of the last three matchups.
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