Women's Basketball Victorious in OT

COURTESY PHOTO

Wednesday’s night basketball game was a nail biter for the women’s team. They traveled to rivals Keene State College for a Little East Conference match-up; not winning a season series against them in over 15 years. This win inches the Panthers closer to a .500 record for the season. 9-11, and 3-9 in the LEC.

Straight from the beginning, it was obvious that the game was going to be close, exchanging points for points. Energy was high in the gymnasium, most everyone rooting against our Panthers. But a 6-1 run by us in the final three minutes of the quarter put PSU on top 14-10 at the end. PSU came out hot and ready to increase their lead, starting off with Brittany Roche (Londonderry NH). Roche hit back to back three’s and then Debra Morrill (Concord NH) finished it off with a basket of her own. Up by seven, the panther’s tried to keep the momentum but Keene came with a pair of baskets. Plymouth would get the last word from Brooke Beaudet (Gilford NH) to wrap up the first half 26-21.

Morrill started off the second half with another lay-up to give the Panthers more of an advantage. But Keene would go on an 11-0 run to have four points up on PSU. Roche and Cassidy Emerson (Concord NH) would each get a basket apiece to tie it up and put them back in the game. Keene would grab a three though before the buzzer, entering the final quarter up 39-36. Keene would keep that energy to gain another three at the start to give them the biggest lead all game. PSU wasn’t going to give up that easy, they responded with their own 11-0 run but Keene stepped it up. They prevented the Panthers from scoring for over three minutes as they’d tied the game 48 all, less than a minute left. It’d remain that way and extra time we went to. Keene did score the first point of OT but PSU would go 6-1 from there and never look back. With 1:49 left, Keene did pull within two points but made a colossal mistake and turnover to nail their own coffin shut. The game would end 57-52, with a few free throws made in the end.

Emerson grabbed 17 boards, tying her personal best set earlier in the season. She got her fifth double-double in a row and Roche followed with 15 points, Conant with 13. PSU grabbed 10 more rebounds than their opponent and also had 10 more points coming off their bench.

The women’s team is back this Saturday hosting Western Connecticut in an LEC match. Tip-off is for 1 p.m.