DANBURY, Conn. --  Little East Conference field goal percentage leader Erin Brooks (Billerica, MA) was 7-of-10 from the floor in pacing four Eastern Connecticut State University players in double figures with 17 points as the Warriors took over sole possession of first place in the conference with a 68-54 women's basketball victory over Western Connecticut State University Wednesday evening at Fieldman Arena.

The win is the eighth in the last nine games for Eastern (17-5, 9-2 LEC) and gives it the regular-season series sweep of Western (15-7, 8-3 LEC) for the second straight year. The Colonials had won five straight since their last loss – a 68-53 loss at Eastern three weeks ago – and was beaten on their court for the first time after eight straight home victories.

Brooks improved her conference-leading field goal percentage to 60.7, helping Eastern shoot better than 50 percent from the floor (53.1) for the second straight game. She also led both teams with eight rebounds.

Eastern, ranked eighth in the NCAA Northeast Region poll released today, scored 11 straight points to take a quick 11-1 lead and led by 12, 24-12 after one period. Leading by 11 at halftime, the Warriors broke the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Western, 22-6, pushing their lead to 28, 60-32, late in the period.

Junior guards Julia DePoi (Brookfield) and Jordyn Nappi (Southington) and senior forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) followed Brooks in double figures. DePoi had 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals; Nappi 12 points and Ritrosky ten points, six rebounds and four assists. Seniors guard Victoria Pfohl (Trumbull) chipped in five rebounds and five assists.

Junior guard Samantha Smith led Western with 14 points and five rebounds and junior guard Emily Dobson  had 11 points.

Eastern hosts Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday at 1 p.m. in a conference game before closing out the LEC regular season with two road games.