Leading by ten points at halftime, Eastern (5-4) limited Clark (3-5) to one field goal over 11 minutes in a 26-2 run -- 20 of the points coming in succession -- that ballooned a nine-point, 34-25 lead to 60-27 with just under eight minutes left.

Scoreless on three three-point field goal tries in the first half, DePoi was perfect on four second-half attempts as the Warriors outscored Clark 43-13 over the final 20 minutes. Eastern connected on half of its field goals in the second half, going 6-for-10 from three-point range in the stanza. Clark shot just 19.4 percent from the floor in the second half and was 0-for-12 from beyond the three-point mark in the game.

DePoi scored 14 of her game-high 16 points after the break (all coming in a stretch of 4+ minutes). Junior forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) recorded her third double-double in the last four contests with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior point guard Taylor McBride (Willimantic) chipped in four points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals with only one turnover in 22 minutes.

In her second start of the season, senior forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) contributed ten points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes. Junior Erin Brooks (Billerica, MA) and sophomore Lexis Foster (Groton) each had five rebounds off the bench, helping the Warriors to a 51-33 advantage on the glass (17-8 in offensive rebounds).

Trailing by three points midway through the first half, Eastern outscored the Cougars, 20-5, over seven minutes, to seize the momentum for good and move out to a 12-point, 29-17 lead three minutes before the end of the first half.

With Eastern down by three in the opening minutes, junior guard Danielle Rodriguez (Willimantic) came off the bench to sink a corner jumper and with Eastern pressing, then hit an inside basket off a steal and assist from senior guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) to push the Warriors into the lead for good, 13-12. After Ritrosky swished two free throws, McBride sandwiched two assists around sinking both ends of a one-and-one to power the decisive run. Eastern's defense, which forced 17 turnovers, allowed the hosts to score only one hoop from the floor over the final 8:20 of the first half in closing with an 18-7 scoring run.

Moments after Forsman and Rodriquez unloaded three-point field goals to extend the Warriors' lead to 37, 70-33 with 3:39 left, Eastern's regulars gave way to the team's five freshmen.

Eastern hosts Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference game Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m.