WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team connected on 12 of 14 free throws in the final minute to pull away from Western Connecticut State University, 58-46, in a Little East Conference game Thursday evening at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

With its sixth win in its last seven games, Eastern (12-6, 6-2 LEC) remains one game behind conference leader Massachusetts Dartmouth. Western (11-6, 3-5 LEC)  falls into a two-way tie for sixth place in the conference with its third loss in the last four games.

The Warriors broke the fourth and final tie when senior guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) sank one of two free throw with 7:39 left. With Eastern still leading by one minutes later, sophomore guards Jordyn Nappi (Southington) and Julia DePoi (Brookfield) each converted two free throws to make it 42-37 with three minutes remaining.

Limited to 18 points and trailing by six at halftime, Eastern scored half of its 40 second-half points from the stripe, cashing in on the majority of its 25 attempts. Eastern outscored Western 22-7 from the foul line in the game. Eastern and Western rank 1-2 in the LEC in three-point field goal defense, so it came as little surprise when the teams combined to miss 24 of 25 attempts from three-point range, Western hitting only 1-of-16 from long range en route to a 30.6 field goal percentage.

DePoi, Nappi and Forsman were 18-for-20 from the foul line. Forsman led Eastern with 12 points and no turnovers in 35 minutes, with DePoi and junior forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) both finishing with ten points and nine rebounds. Nappi came off the bench for eight points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes.

Sophomore guard Colleen Cosker of Western led all players with 17 points and she also added six rebounds. Sophomore guard Emily Dobson came off the bench for nine points and eight rebounds. Western senior 5-foot-11 inch guard Caroline Brasa  – ranked third in the LEC in scoring – was held to four points (1-for-12 from the floor) and five rebounds in 30 minutes.

Eastern visits Plymouth State University Saturday at 1 p.m.