COURTESY PHOTO BRIANNA STEVENS
The Plymouth State women’s basketball team was able to hold off Green Mountain College this past Monday to secure themselves there second win of the season. They escaped with a four-point lead to end the game but Green Mountain, with 30 seconds left, pulled within one three-pointer and the ball in their possession. Grabbing this win puts the Panthers 2-0 for the beginning of the season. “I feel really great about how we all played our last two games. Unlike previous years, I truly feel as if we came together,” senior Cassidy Emerson (Concord NH) had to comment on her team’s performance. “I know that my teammates have my back which helps me both on and off the court. On our team this year we are all very close and support one another which is a very important factor to have on a team, especially if we want to have a successful season.”
Green Mountain came out hot right in the beginning scoring a jumper and a three to follow. Plymouth would then put a halt to their control and score nine in a row to give them a point lead. The Panthers would then go on a 6-0 run to cap the first quarter and give them the 15-11 advantage. Plymouth would pick up where they left off on a hot streak of baskets and open the quarter with a 10-1 run. Jess Conant (Canton ME) would add to the lead with less than three minutes to go and increase their lead to 14 points. Green Mountain would be able to cut the lead to only eight before heading into the half and keeping them in this game.
Once again, Plymouth came out in flames to add another big run on the board but a few Plymouth turnovers and missed shots made for Green Mountains comeback with a 14-point run and going unanswered by Plymouth. Emerson was able to put a stop to the scoring run by putting up a pair of free throws. With that we went into the final quarter, Plymouth hanging onto a four-point lead. Chenysse Hill (Lynn MA) help to extend the lead and for the first half of the quarter, PSU kept at least a five-point lead the entire time. But with 1:51 on the clock, Green Mountain made a lay-up and that’s how we got to 54-50. A free throw by Plymouth and a jumper outside the paint was all that would happen in over a minute and we found ourselves with 30 seconds left. That’s when Green Mountain turned the ball over, giving the game up and clinching the win for Plymouth.
COURTESY PHOTO BRIANNA STEVENS
“In our last game we started off strong, but the third quarter gave us some trouble. We had a pretty big lead but allowed them to come back… however, we never gave up and kept our energy up the entire game in order to come out on top. This team works so hard from the first buzzer to the last and picks one another up to keep moving forward,” Emerson said about the hiccup in the third quarter. Regardless, Plymouth was able to come together and play a solid defense to continue their wins. It helped with Green Mountain’s 22 turnovers, five more than Plymouth. PSU also passed the ball and used the outside more with 14 assists and grabbing the ball of the backboard 40 times.
The women’s team is back on the court this Saturday as they travel to Northern Vermont University Lyndon. Tipoff is for 3 p.m.
Final words from Emerson: “I think our overall goal is to win and get better every single day both at practice and in games. My personal goal is to have the best season PSU has had since I have been here. I truly believe with the work ethic we have this year and with a great freshman class, we can be very successful as we move forward."