PSU Women's Basketball squeaks by UMass Dartmouth

The PSU women's basketball team won yet again by defeating UMass Dartmouth by a score of 67-66 on Saturday, December 5 at Foley Gymnasium. The victory extended PSU's winning streak to an impressive seven games as they have now started the year out with an undefeated 7-0 record. This is the first time since the 2001-2002 season that a PSU women's basketball team has started out 7-0. If PSU can knock off Lyndon State in their next game, it will be the first time this decade that PSU has started out 8-0.With the loss, UMass Dartmouth fell to 2-5 overall on the season and the loss also extended their losing streak to four in a row. UMD's last victory came on November 22 against Connecticut College. PSU senior Laura Kent kept PSU's winning streak intact as she made the go-ahead layup with three seconds left in the game on an assist from fellow senior Kalie Judd. Judd would make sure that UMD would not get a chance to win the game as she blocked UMD's final shot as time expired. PSU would carry a five point lead into halftime at 32-27 and would open up a 13 point lead in the early goings of the second half, but UMD would fight back to turn the game into a nail-biter. UMD had the lead in the final minute of the game until Judd knocked down a clutch three-point shot for PSU with 30 seconds remaining to give PSU a one point lead at 65-64. UMD would regain the lead with 10 seconds left when senior Kaylin Nelson made a layup. Though that lead would prove to be too little as PSU got the 'W' behind the late game heroics of Judd and Kent. PSU junior Amanda Kania led all scorers on the day as she posted 22 points coupled with eight rebounds. Sophomore Alicia Doucet added 10 points and 10 rebounds while Kent scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Judd would score eight points and have five rebounds on the day but her biggest shot proved to be her go-ahead three point shot in the final minute of the game.PSU coach Lauren Lavigne credits the hard work her teams has put in over the years to their current 7-0 start, "The work ethic of this team has been tremendous...what they have done in the pre-season, during the season and more importantly the time and commitment this team has showed over the last four years to become the team we are and will become," said Lavigne, "Our seniors have lead on and off the court.  This is a close knit group who believe in each other."The late game heroics by Kent had her coach impressed after the game, "I was proud of our team's fortitude in the end. They pulled together and executed.  Laura Kent has always been an unsung hero and versus UMass Dartmouth she did for us what she always does." As aforementioned, PSU will look to extend their record to 8-0 against Lyndon State on Thursday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. at home at Foley Gymnasium. If PSU pulls off the victory, it will be the best start in school history. No other PSU women's basketball team has ever started out 8-0.