PROVIDENCE,  R.I. – Dethroning Massachusetts Boston senior All-America Shannon Thompson as the 2012 Little East Conference Offensive Player-of-the-year may be a tall task, but Eastern Connecticut State University senior middle hitter  Katie Wilson (Pittsburg, CA) is making things interesting.

Wilson, last week's LEC Offensive Player-of-the-Week,  had a career-high 29 kills to lead the Warriors to a thrilling four-set triumph over Rhode Island College Tuesday night at the Murray Center.

The four sets were decided by a total of ten points, Eastern (9-11, 1-3 LEC) emerging with three straight victories after dropping the opener. Scores were 22-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-22.

Eastern has beaten Rhode Island (8-12, 1-3 LEC) the last four times the programs have met, twice in sweeps in 2011 and twice in four sets this season.

In four conference matches this season, Wilson is averaging 4.46 kills with a .261 attack percentage. She has a .978 serving percentage, is averaging 3.00 digs and has totaled eight blocks. Her 66.5 points (kills, aces and blocks) in 13 conference sets are 29 more than her nearest teammate.

Rhode Island edged the Warriors in the first set of the night, 25-22, and quickly jumped out to an early lead in the second set. However, despite leading by as many as seven, RIC watched a 13-6 advantage disappear as Eastern came back to take a 22-21 lead and eventually took the set, 25-23.

After falling behind early in the third set, the Anchorwomen stormed back to take an 18-14 lead. Yet, after surging back to force a 25-25 tie, Eastern Connecticut recorded the final two points of the set to come out on top, 27-25.

In a back and forth set that featured seven ties and four lead changes, the Warriors eventually edged the Anchorwomen, 25-22, in the fourth and final set to pull out their first LEC victory of the season.

Wilson led the charge for the visitors with 29 kills, ten digs and two blocks, while hitting .436 along the way. Junior outside hitter Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) recorded 13 kills, while sophomore setters Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls) and Allie Henry (Middletown) each handed out 22 assists.

Senior setter Jessica Ho dished out 47 assists in the loss, while senior outside hitter Breanna Boyer tallied 11 kills, nine digs, and two aces. Freshman right side hitter Lauren Palazzini and freshman middle hitter Adriana Ambari each registered 11 kills, while freshman libero Jasmyn Starr chipped in with a match-high 17 digs to go along with four aces.

Eastern faces the University of Southern Maine in a conference match Saturday at 11 a.m. before squaring off against the University of New England at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at New England.