SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Through its first ten games, the third quarter has, by-and-large, been the most productive one for the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team.
 
Friday, in the first round of the Naismith Classic against nationally-ranked host Springfield College, however, it proved to be the Warriors' undoing.
 
Despite playing shorthanded without a starter and three key reserves, Eastern (6-5) trailed by only six entering the third quarter and by only seven four minutes into the session before the roof caved in. Springfield (11-0) ended the quarter on a 24-6 run – reeling off 15 straight points at one point – to turn the game into a rout on the way to an 82-54 non-conference victory at Blake Arena.
 
Eastern faces Union College Saturday at 4 p.m. in its second tournament game.
 
In all, Springfield outscored Eastern, 31-12, in the third quarter. The Warriors missed ten of 15 shots and had seven turnovers over those ten minutes while the Pride sank over half of their shots (12-of-22) and was 5-of-8 from distance with only three turnovers.
 
In the third, Springfield got points from seven different players, with sophomore guard Jaelen Daubon contributing eight of her game total of ten points in that quarter. She was 3-of-4 from the floor and sank two of three three-pointers.
 
Eastern was out-rebounded for only the third time this year but it was by a whopping total of 17 and the team's final shooting percentage of 31.7 was its second-worst mark of the year.
 
Senior guard Jenna Serrantino (Cromwell) led Eastern with a career-high 19 points but was the Warriors' only double-figure scorer. Senior forward Aiyana Ward (Waterbury) had seven points and matched her season average with seven rebounds. Team scoring leader Julie Keckler (Trumbull) had nine points in a team-high 32 minutes but missed 12 of 15 field goals attempts.
 
Six-foot forward Sam Hourihan led the Pride with 20 points and eight rebounds. She hit half of her 18 shots, had three assists and blocked two shots
 
Eastern was playing its first game since routing Plymouth State University on the road Dec. 11 for its third straight Little East Conference victory. Ranked 17^th nationally in one poll and 25^th in another, Springfield has won its 11 games this year by an average of over 25 points, with its closest competition coming in a five-point road win at Williams College Nov. 23.
 
Eastern and Union will be meeting for the first time in program history. Like Eastern, the Dutchwomen (2-5) did not compete last year and are coming off a 10-14 campaign in 2019-20. They are led by senior guard Amber Raisner (11.9/4.9), and junior forwards Megan Lee (10.0/5.7) and Olivia Pachla (6.6/6.9 and 13 blocked shots).