LAS VEGAS – Sophomore forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) scored two inside baskets after pulling down two of her career-tying 18 rebounds less than a minute apart to send the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team to a 67-60 victory over Gwynedd  Mercy University Sunday afternoon at the Centenniel Hills Community Center.

At right: In a battle of freshmen post players, Lexis Foster of Eastern works agaiinst Charlotte Kucowsk of Gwynedd Mercy. (Photo courtesy of Chris Panter)

Following a three-week layoff, Eastern (6-3) never trailed in the game, with freshman Jordyn Nappi's (Southington) fourth three-pointer of the game breaking the only tie of the second half and putting the Warriors up for good, 54-51, with six minutes left.

With Eastern leading by one, 54-53, Gwynedd Mercy (3-6) missed shots onconsecutive possessions. Junior guard Danielle Rodriguez (Willimantic) blocked the Griffins' second attempt and freshman post Lexis Foster (Groton) grabbed the rebound. Ritrosky rebounded Eastern's missed shot on the other end of the floor and put it back to make it 56-53, then controlled a defensive rebound  and scored again in the paint to push the Eastern lead to five, 58-53, with 4:17 left.  

Junior guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) missed 12 of 14 shots from the floor but was 4-for-4 from the foul line  in the final 39 seconds to allow the Warriors to preserve their slim lead.

The Griffins feature eight player standing 5-foot-10 inches or taller and had averaged 83 points in its last two wins, but were outrebounded by 16 and shot just 33.3 percent from the floor against Eastern. Brooks, Ritrosky and Nappi combined to convert more than half (15 of 29) of their field goals.

Ritrosky totaled 18 rebounds for the second consecutive game to improve her season average to 10.2, with sophomore post Erin Brooks (Billerica, MA) equaling her career high with ten boards. Sophomore guard Brianna Leonard (Amherst, MA) returned from injury to grab nine rebounds and score nine points in 24 minutes in her first appearance since Nov. 26 Brooks led all players in the game with a career-high 14 points – becoming the sixth different player to top the team in points this year -- Ritrosky, Nappi and Forsman all chipping in 12.

Eastern faces Marywood College Monday at 7 p.m. EST at Las Vegas.