PHOENIX –    For the fifth time in ten games, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team held its opponent under 50 points, building a 22-point lead after three quarters and easing to a 64-40 non-conference victory over Worcester State University Wednesday afternoon at the Arizona Shootout at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Eastern's (7-3) sixth straight victory and tenth win in the last 11 games against Worcester State (3-7) gives the Warriors their second three-game winning streak of the year and two wins in two days here. Eastern downed SUNY Poly, 56-45, in the first of its two tournament games Tuesday.

Led by seniors Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) and Victoria Pfohl (Trumbull), Eastern shot 51.7 percent in the first half – scoring 22 of its 34 points in the paint – in moving out to a 15-point halftime lead. The Warriors held the Lancers to one field goal in the final  four minutes of the first quarter to take a six-point lead after one quarter, then outscored their opponent, 13-4 over the final seven minutes of the first half to build its 15-point, 34-19 halftime lead.

During the 13-4 run, Ritrosky connected on three inside baskets and Pfohl contributed a layup and three-point field goal. Ritrosky also grabbed four rebounds, blocked a shot, and handed out an assist in that stretch. Ritrosky and Pfohl combined to convert seven of 11 field goals in the first half.

Ritrosky compiled her sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 12 points and game-high 11 rebounds (and blocking two shots), with senior Erin Brooks (Billerica, MA) and junior Jordyn Nappi (Southington) adding 11 points each. Junior Julia DePoi (Brookfield) followed Ritrosky with eight rebounds, helping the Warriors double Worcester's rebound total.

Worcester, which has lost four straight, got a game-high 13 points and team-high ten rebounds from 5-foot-11 inch freshman Kaitlyn Berkel, who was 6-of-9 from the floor and also blocked four of her team's eight shots.

In two tournament wins, Ritrosky averaged 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, Brooks 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds and was 8-of-14 from the floor.  The Warriors allowed an average of only 42.5 points and had a +14 rebounding advantage in Phoenix.

Eastern visits Johnson & Wales University Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference game.