true Eastern Connecticut State 67, Gwynedd Mercy 602013 Vegas HooplaBOX SCORELAS VEGAS -- Gwynedd Mercy fell to the hands of Eastern Connecticut State, 67-60, in the first day of the Vegas Hoopla.
Senior
Lauren Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and junior
Natasha Matthews (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) each had 13 points respectively to lead the Griffins (3-6).
Erin Brooks led four players in double figures for the Warriors (6-3), out of the Little East Conference, with a game-high 14 points.
Early on, the teams looked to shake off some jetlag and possible rust, as the scoring was even at 10-10 at the midway point of the first half. Brianna Leonard's three-point play capped a 13-5 ECSU run for an eight-point lead with just under five in the stanza. A later three-pointer from senior
Jordan Dominic (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) cut the deficit to 30-26 at the break.
In the second, seemingly every Gwynedd run was countered with a scoring spurt from the Warriors. With 6:45 to go, Smith was able to tie the game for the first time since early in the first by hitting a pair of free throws for a 51-51 contest. But the game got away from Griffins as the team only had one field goal in the final 3:51. ECSU was able to go 4-of-7 at the line down the stretch to help build a double-figure lead. A three at the buzzer from Smith helped account for the final score.
Leonard had nine points while teammates Jill Ritrosky, Jordyn Nappi, and Kristina Forman netted 12 apiece. Ritrosky pulled down 18 rebounds as ESCU out-boarded the Griffins, 53-37.
The Griffins will close out their trip out west as they take on Vassar tomorrow at 5 p.m. (EST).
