PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team pulled past Western Connecticut State University, 62-52, in a Little East Conference (LEC) showdown in Foley Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
 
The Panthers, after trailing throughout most of the first half, outscored WestConn 40-24 in the second half.
 
Senior Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass.) led all scorers with 19 points, while freshman Genna Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) nearly recorded her first double-double, tallying 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior Elli Cox (Deerfield, N.H) and junior Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) each achieved double-digit scoring with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Plymouth State improves to 9-10 (2-8 LEC), while WestConn drops to 8-12 (3-8 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 62, WestConn 52
  • Plymouth State (9-10, 2-8 LEC)
  • UMaine Farmington (8-12, 3-8 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Hailey Malozzi (19 pts, 8-11 fg, 2-4 3pt, 6 reb)
  • Elli Cox (14 pts, 5-7 fg, 4-4 ft, 6 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl)
  • Genna Bolduc (13 pts, 4-9 fg, 3-8 3pt, 8 reb, 3 blk, 3 stl)
  • Ashley Stephens (10 pts, 4-9 fg, 5 reb, 3 stl)

How it Happened:

• The teams traded buckets in a low-scoring first quarter as the Wolves carried a slight edge (10-8) through the first ten minutes of play.
• A 7-2 flurry extended the WestConn lead to 17-12 with 6:08 on the clock in the second quarter.
• Plymouth State pulled to within a single point, 21-20, but the Wolves closed out the half with another 7-2 run to take a 28-22 lead into the locker room.
• The Panthers pounced into the third quarter, scoring the first 14 points to go in front 36-28 midway through the frame.
• WestConn scored its first basket of the third quarter at the 4:31 mark as part of an 11-4 run to tie things at 40-40.
• Plymouth State built four-point lead in the final minute of the third, but WestConn's buzzer-beating jumper made it 44-42 entering the fourth.
• The Wolves tied the game at 44-44 early in the fourth, but PSU used a 12-0 surge, capped by a Bolduc three-pointer, to take control and the Panthers would lead by double-digits the rest of the way.

By the Numbers:

• PSU shot 22-of-53 from the floor (41.5%).
• WestConn outrebounded the Panthers by a 37-34 margin, with an 18-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Plymouth State moved the ball exceptionally well, registering 18 assists on 22 made field goals.
• The Panther defense forced 26 turnovers, tallying 25 points off the giveaways.
• Points in the paint went to Plymouth State, 28-20.
• PSU has won four of the last six meetings between the two teams.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State travels to in-state rival Keene State on Wednesday (Feb. 4) for a 5:30 p.m. start.

 
 
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