Women’s Basketball: Eastern Rallies from Early Deficit, Clinches LEC's Sixth Seed

2/21/2026 5:06:00 PM | By: Alyssa French-Graham

Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Connecticut. — Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball erased an early 12-0 first quarter deficit to defeat Plymouth State University in its final home and regular season contest at the Geissler Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Snapping a five-game losing streak, the Warriors outpaced the Panthers behind three players in double figures, with Marissa Nudd (25), Maddie Topa (20), and Liv Cassesse (16) leading the charge in the comeback effort.

The win caps Eastern's season at 9-16 overall and 6-10 in Little East Conference play, securing the sixth seed in the LEC playoffs and sending the Warriors into a first-round game, Wednesday, at third-seeded Keene State College at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Plymouth State finishes at 10-15 overall and 3-13 in league action.

Game Information:

Score: Eastern Connecticut State University 75, Plymouth State University 61
Records: Eastern (9-16) (LEC 6-10), Plymouth State (10-15) (LEC 3-13)
Location: Willimantic, Connecticut | (Geissler Gymnasium)

Key Moments:
First Quarter

Plymouth State opened the contest with a dominating 12-0 run, kicked off by Hailey Malozzi's fast-break conversion and a Macy Swormstedt three-pointer. Led by Swormstedt, the Panthers dominated both ends, the rookie guard gathering seven points in three minutes along with a pair of rebound-putbacks to cement the Plymouth twelve-point lead, finished neatly with a Genna Bolduc three-pointer.
Eastern's Marissa Nudd (Colchester) finally broke the Warriors' drought with a driving layup, but Plymouth continued to pile up points behind the foul line against Nudd's lone attempt.
A Maddie Topa (New Hartford) three swung momentum, briefly sparking a Warriors run, highlighted by points from Juliana Conte (Wakefield, MA), with a three-pointer- paired baskets at the line, and two back-to-back plays by Nudd, finished with a Trinity Angel (Killingly) buzzer to put the Warriors back within reach, closing out, 21-19, Plymouth.

Second Quarter

Rookie guard Conte kept the Warriors' spark alive with heavy defense complemented by a jumper to edge the Panthers, while Topa secured her third three-pointer of the half, going 3/3 at 11 points to tie it up at 29-29, the Panthers' momentum slowing considerably behind turnovers and Eastern defensive pressure.
Midway through the highly contested quarter, Nudd gave the Warriors their first lead of the game off a transition three. Though the lead was short-lived as both teams capitalized their trips to the basket, Plymouth putting up eight more points behind Ashley Stephens and Swormstedt to Eastern's seven off of Nudd and Topa, closing the half 37-36, Plymouth still in front.

Third Quarter

Plymouth came out strong behind Swormstedt, whose 12th point of the game extended the lead before Liv Cassesse (Wallingford) knocked down her first three of the night off a Topa assist, igniting a 9-0 Warriors run. Cassesse added points on the perimeter while Isabella Romero (Peabody, MA) and Topa controlled the paint.
The Warriors pushed their advantage 58-49 heading into the final quarter, and with just two minutes remaining in the third, Nevaeh King (Brockton, MA) disrupted the Panthers on both ends, coming up with a steal and finishing in transition. Cassesse followed with a banked three, while Topa and Nudd converted inside to solidify the nine-point edge.

Fourth Quarter

Heading into the fourth, Eastern quickly extended its already lengthened lead as Cassesse and Nudd went on a 6-0 run against the Panthers, pulling away as the visitors raced against the clock to get back into reach.
As Plymouth attempted to respond with perimeter shots and drives in the paint by Stephens and Swormstedt, the Warriors sealed the action with a deafening three from Topa, followed by Cassesse's presence at the line, securing the Warriors' 75-61 victory over the Panthers.

Stats:

Eastern Conn. St.: 29-70 FG (41.4%), 8-23 3PT (34.8%), 9-15 FT (60.0%)
Plymouth: 21-57 FG (36.8%), 7-25 3PT (28.0%), 12-15 FT (80.0%)
Rebounds: Eastern 38, Plymouth 40
Assists: Eastern 19, Plymouth 10
Turnovers: Eastern 14, Plymouth 24
Points in the Paint: Eastern 24, Plymouth 22
Second-Chance Points: Eastern 9, Plymouth 18
Fast Break Points: Eastern 0, Plymouth 0
Points off Turnovers: Eastern 28, Plymouth 17
Bench Points: Eastern 9, Plymouth 10

Game Notes:

Nudd led the Warriors with 25 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Topa added 20 points and eight rebounds. Cassesse finished with 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
With the win, Eastern finishes the regular season at 9-16 overall and 6-10 in conference play, while Plymouth ends at 10-15 overall and 3-13 in league action.

Up Next:
Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball, as the No.6 seed in the Little East Conference playoffs, will travel to face No.3 seed Keene State College in a first-round match up on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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