WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior forward Anna Barry (Andover) posted her fourth double-double in the last five games as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team won its fourth straight game with an 86-44 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University Friday night at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
 
After winning its last three games in a stretch of four straight road games and playing only its second home game since early December, Eastern (10-8, 7-2 LEC) scored the final ten points of the first quarter, then got a steal and breakaway layup by Barry to open the second quarter and move out to a 15-point, 26-11 lead. The lead never dropped below 13 after that.
 
By winning, Eastern remained 2 ½ games behind LEC leader Rhode Island College, which downed Keene State College, 61-53, Friday night. Plymouth (1-10, 0-6 LEC) dropped its ninth straight game this year and 20^th in a row to Eastern over the last ten years. The Warriors remained unbeaten (4-0) this year against teams located in or near the basement of the LEC.
 
Senior guard Jenna Serrantino (Cromwell) complemented Barry's 15-point, ten-rebound 22-minute effort with 18 points and six rebounds. She was 6-of-9 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the foul line. Eastern shot over 50 percent from the floor (50.8) for the first time in 15 games. Senior guard Danielle O'Brien (Rockland, MA) converted both of her three-point attempts in the first half and totalled a season-high three in the game for nine points, making her 5-of-9 from distance in the last two games.
 
Ranked first in the LEC in three-point field goal defense and first in free-throw percentage, Eastern limited Plymouth to 23.1 percent from distance (29.3 percent overall) and connected on 17 of 21 free throws. The LEC's third-ranked team in rebounding margin, Eastern outrebounded the Panthers by 18, with 12 of 14 players grabbing at least one. Senior forward Aiyana Ward (Waterbury) totaled six points, six rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes off the bench, contributing a pair of free throws and an offensive rebound and putback during the 10- scoring stretch that ended the first quarter.
 
Seven first-year players saw action for Eastern and contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 58 minutes.
 
Junior guard Alessia Salzillo led Plymouth with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals and season scoring leader Sabrina Vlahovic had ten points, eight rebounds and there assists.
 
Eastern hosts Castleton University in an LEC game Monday at 5 p.m.