PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Hailey Malozzi (Maynard, Mass) recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but the Plymouth State University women's basketball team fell to the Vermont State University Spartans, 83-65, in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
 
The Panthers kept pace for most of the evening, but a 13-0 run in the final quarter of play sealed the game as the Spartans went 9-of-12 from distance and knocked down 22 free throws in the contest.
 
Freshman Alex White (Derry, N.H.) added 13 points in the losing effort for the Panthers.
 
Plymouth State falls to 10-14 (3-12 LEC), while VTSU Castleton improves to 7-17 (3-12 LEC).  With the setback, the Panthers are eliminated from postseason contention.
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 65, VTSU Castleton 83
  • Plymouth State (10-14, 3-12 LEC)
  • VTSU Castleton (7-17, 3-12 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Hailey Malozzi (16 pts, 7-11 fg, 11 reb, 4 ast)
  • Alex White (13 pts, 4-7 fg, 5-5 ft)
  • Genna Bolduc (9 pts, 3-8 3pt)

How it Happened:

• The Spartans opened with five straight points over the first two minutes of play.
• Plymouth State used a 7-0 spurt to overtake Castleton, 10-8, with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter.
• PSU kept a narrow 14-11 lead through the end of the first.
• The Spartans started the second quarter dialed in from distance, knocking down four three-pointers during a 14-4 run to build a 25-18 advantage with 7:19 until halftime.
• The Spartans did not miss in the second quarter, scoring 32 points in the frame to take a 43-33 lead into the locker room.
• Plymouth State started to chip away out of the break, closing the gap to 48-45 midway through the third quarter.
• VTSU Castleton closed out the third on an 8-2 run to take a 56-47 lead into the fourth.
• The Spartans started to pull away in the fourth, scoring 13 unanswered points midway through the frame to extend the margin to 20 and seal the win.

By the Numbers:

• PSU shot 24-of-64 (37.5%) from the floor and 4-of-16 (25.0%) from distance.
• The Spartans edged the Panthers on the boards, 40-38.
• Bench points were in Plymouth State's favor, 17-15.
• Points in the paint went to the Panthers, 38-30.
• Castleton holds a narrow 22-17 edge in the series. It was the first season sweep for either team in four seasons.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State visits Eastern Connecticut State for the regular season finale at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 21).

 
 
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