HENNIKER, N.H. – Sophomore
Macy Swormstedt (Laconia, N.H.) scored a career-high 23 points to lead Plymouth State University to a 53-48 win over New England College in non-conference women's basketball action at Bridges Gymnasium on Monday night.
The Panthers maintained a slim 22-20 advantage at halftime before taking control with a dominant third quarter. PSU shot nearly 60% in the frame, outscoring the Pilgrims, 21-6, to carry a 43-26 lead into the fourth quarter.
NEC chipped away, cutting the deficit to 49-41 on a three-pointer with four minutes remaining, but Plymouth State responded to restore its double-digit lead. A free throw from freshman
Sydney Gerossie (Derry, N.H.) made it 52-41 with less than two minutes to play. The hosts scored the next seven points to pull within 52-48 with 30 seconds left before Swormstedt's free throw sealed the win.
Plymouth State improves to 1-1, while the Pilgrims fall to 1-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 53, NEC 48
- Plymouth State (1-1)
- NEC (1-1)
How it Happened:
- Stephens made a free throw before the opening tip after the Pilgrims were charged with a protocol violation.
- NEC took an 8-3 lead midway through the first quarter, but Swormstedt sparked a 10-3 run with a basket to close the frame. Swormstedt's layup in the final 30 seconds capped the spurt, giving the Panthers a 13-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
- Junior Torle Adumene (Manchester, N.H.) hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 17-11 3:26 into the second quarter.
- The Pilgrims responded with a 9-2 burst to take a 20-19 lead, but sophomore Genna Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Panthers a 22-20 halftime lead.
- Plymouth State opened the third quarter with a flurry as sophomore Alex White (Derry, N.H.) and Swormstedt combined for six points in just over a minute, leading to a quick NEC timeout.
- Senior Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.) got a steal and basket to push the lead to 36-24 midway through the third quarter.
- Junior Kaley Goodhart (Center Conway, N.H.) connected on a pair of free throws in the final minute of the quarter to give the Panthers a 43-26 lead.
- Swormstedt's layup and jumper pushed the margin to a game-high 19 points (45-26) less than a minute into the fourth quarter, but NEC slowly chipped away. The Pilgrims went on a 15-4 run over the next five minutes to cut the deficit to 49-41 with four minutes left to play.
- Stephens hit a jumper to restore the double-digit lead, and Gerossie's free throw made it 52-41 with 1:44 left to play.
- NEC attempted to rally, scoring seven straight points to get within 52-48 with 31 seconds remaining, but Swormstedt hit a free throw to seal the win.
By the Numbers:
- Swormstedt went 10-for-14 from the field for her career-high 23 points. She added five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- Bolduc hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
- White posted six points, six rebounds and two steals.
- Stephens chipped in five points and a game-high 10 rebounds, with two steals and a block.
- Plymouth State outscored the Pilgrims in the paint, 22-14.
- The Panthers turned 14 NEC turnovers into 21 points.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 17-5, and has won four of the last five meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Thomas College on Wednesday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m.
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