Box Score WILLMANTIC, Conn. – The Eastern Connecticut State University men's and women's basketball teams defeated Newbury College Saturday in their season-openers to move into Sunday's championship games of the Eastern Tip-Off Tournament at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
The Eastern women advanced to the final for the 31st time in 35 years looking for their 18th championship with a 96-20 victory in the first game of the day, while the men got double-digit scoring from four players and 17 rebounds from sophomore Hugh Lindo (Enfield) in a 78-50 victory in the first of two men's first-round games. The men will be appearing in their 30th final in 34 years, looking for their ninth championship (first in five years).
Framingham State University will oppose the Eastern women in the Sunday final at 3 p.m. after posting a 55-37 victory over Wesleyan University, while Colby College knocked off 2013 champion Purchase College in overtime, 73-70, to advance against Eastern in the men's title game Sunday at 7 p.m.
Junior Taylor Foster forced overtime for Purchase by scoring in the paint with 18 seconds left and the Panthers led by a point with two minutes left in overtime. Junior Luke Westman sank two free throws to put Colby ahead for good, 68-67, with 1:49 left, however, and senior Shane Rogers later sank two more to make it 70-67 with 13.4 seconds remaining. The teams combined to hit 12 of 13 free throws in overtime.
Colby's depth wore down Purchase, with four White Mules subs combining for 24 points and 12 rebounds in 67 minutes. Purchase's starters accounted for all but 29 minutes, with three bench players managing only one rebound and no points.
The Eastern men limited Newbury to 21.7 percent first-half shooting, racing to a 20-7 lead on the way to a 40-17 halftime lead. Lindo grabbed 15 rebounds in the first half and junior guards Trachone Preston (Enfield) and Kevin Leumene (Stamford) combined to outscore the Nighthawks, 19-17 over the first 20 minutes.
The Wesleyan women shot just 22.6 percent from the floor and never led by more than a point against Framingham State. The Rams took the early momentum with an important run of seven straight points on a jumper and inside basket from sophomore Sarah Palace and senior Nicole Bostic's only three-point field goal (on her only attempt) to move out to an 18-11 lead. Framingham shot just under 46 percent from the floor in taking a 28-21 lead into the half. Sophomore Brenna Diggins totaled nine points in the first half for Wesleyan but the rest of her teammates combined for only 12.
Senior Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) led Eastern with 21 points and 16 rebounds in just 17 minutes in the Warriors' victory over Newbury, with sophomore Julia DePoi (Brookfield) tying her career high with 17 points, junior Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) adding 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
Eastern Connecticut State University
Tip-Off Basketball Tournament
Women's Tournament
Saturday's Results
Framingham State U. 55, Wesleyan U. 37
Eastern Conn. 96, Newbury College 20
Sunday's Schedule
Third-place Game
Newbury College vs. Wesleyan U., 1 p.m.
Championship Game
Eastern Conn. vs. Framingham State U., 3 p.m.
Men's Tournament
Saturday's Results
Eastern Conn. 78, Newbury College 50
Colby College 73, Purchase College 70, ot
Sunday's Schedule
Third-place Game
Newbury College vs. Purchase College, 5 p.m.
Championship Game
Eastern Conn. vs. Colby College, 7 p.m.
