Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior forward Mya Villard (Cromwell) and sophomore forward Anna Barry (Andover) combined for all of Eastern Connecticut State University's points in an 11-1 run in the fourth quarter as the Warriors pulled away for a 79-71 Little East Conference victory over Western Connecticut State University Wednesday evening at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
With its 11th win in its last 12 contests, Eastern (15-3, 8-1 LEC) moves back into first place in the Little East, a half-game ahead of Rhode Island College, which dropped a 72-62 road decision to UMass Dartmouth. Western (6-13, 1-9 LEC) dropped its seventh straight and fell to 2-8 this year away from home.
The Warriors led most of the game and by 12 early in the second quarter before Western limited Eastern to 21.4 percent shooting and nine points in the third quarter to pull even at 53-all entering the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Villard, Barry and sophomore point guard Julie Keckler (Trumbull) combined for all 26 of Eastern's points on 8-of-13 field goal shooting and 9-of-10 marksmanship from the line. Barry had ten points, six rebounds and four of her career-high seven blocked shots over the final ten minutes, with Keckler adding nine points (6-of-7 from the stripe), Villard seven points and sophomore guard Danielle O'Brien three assists.
When Eastern held Western scoreless from the floor in its decisive 11-1 over four minutes in the fourth quarter, Barry had six points, two blocks and a rebound, Villard five points and an assist and Keckler two assists.
Keckler led four Eastern double-digit scorers with a season-high 21 points with five rebounds and four assists; Villard had 19 points and ten rebounds, Barry 14 points, 14 rebounds and five assists (along with her seven blocked shots) and senior guard Lizzy Cretella (Cheshire) chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Senior guard Gabrielle Hurlbert had a game-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting (4-of-8 from distance) with five rebounds for Western, with sophomore guard Samantha Garcia adding 15 points (on five three-pointers) and six rebounds. Freshman guard Susana Almeida had 12 points, four assists and four steals.
Senior forward Genesis Torre, Western's second-leading scorer and rebounder, left the game with an injury midway through the first quarter and did not return. She had two points and three rebounds.
Eastern visits Massachusetts Boston in an LEC game Saturday at 1 p.m.
