Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Little East Conference offensive leader Eastern Connecticut State University was held under 50 points for the second time this year by LEC defensive leader Rhode Island College as the Anchorwomen moved within a half-game of the conference-leading Warriors with a 61-49 victory Wednesday evening at the Murray Center.
Rhode Island (19-4, 11-3 LEC) completes its first sweep of Eastern (18-4, 11-2 LEC) in five years by handing the Warriors their first loss in seven games and first road loss this year after 12 victories. Eastern is 14-2 in its last 16 games, both losses coming to Rhode Island, which is now 10-1 at home. Despite the loss, the Warriors are guaranteed of no worse than a first-round tournament bye with two wins in their final three LEC regular-season games.
Eastern trailed by as many as 12 in the third quarter but held RIC without a field goal for nearly six minutes in pulling to within three after three quarters. Down by four points with four minutes left, Eastern was outscored, 10-2, the rest of the way, missing four straight shots and five of its final six.
Protecting its four-point lead with four minutes left, RIC scored the next seven points on a three-pointer from freshman guard Maci Dorantes, bank shot in the lane by senior guard Jordyn Gauvin after a pair of Eastern misses and a pair of free throws by Gauvin following the Warriors' missed three-pointer to up the lead to 11, 58-47, with 1:16 left.
Conference scoring leader Mya Villard (Cromwell) of Eastern led all players with 22 points (9-of-17 FG) and six-foot forward Anna Barry (Andover) recorded her fifth double-double in six games and tenth of the year with 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, also dishing out four assists. Sophomore guard Danielle O'Brien (Rockland, MA) managed only one (missed) shot but chipped in six assists and five rebounds.
Little East rebounding leader Fataya Larry, RIC's 5-foot-8 inch senior, led all players with 12 rebounds to go along with eight points. Six-foot sophomore center Willcia McBorrough of RIC added nine rebounds and six points. McBorrough remained in the game after picking up her fourth personal foul with 4.8 seconds left in the third quarter and Larry survived her fourth personal foul two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Looking to secure the regular-season title and a first-round tournament bye (accorded the top two finishers), Eastern hosts Plymouth State University Saturday and Keene State College next Wednesday before closing out the regular season Feb. 22 at Castleton University. Earlier this year, Eastern defeated Plymouth by 27 and Keene State by 18, both on the road, and Castleton by 12 at Geissler Gym.
