Patrick Shea (19 points, 10 rebounds) keys men's hoop; Beth Plasski (17 points, 4 steals) keys women in basketball doubleheader sweep of LeMoyne

January 6, 2007

Sophomore forward PATRICK SHEA (Salem, MA/Salem) scored a career- and season-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead the Assumption College men's basketball team past LeMoyne College, 76-62, in a Northeast-10 Conference game SATURDAY at the Laska Gym.

The Greyhounds are now 7-7 overall and 5-4 in the conference. LeMoyne is 6-7 overall and 3-6 in the conference.

In the opener, sophomore guard BETH PLASSKI (Fall River, MA/Durfee) was the catalyst with 17 points, 4 steals, 3 assists leading the Greyhound women past LeMoyne, 62-50.

The Greyhound women are now 6-7 overall with three straight wins since the holiday break and 4-5 in the conference. LeMoyne falls to 6-7 overall and 2 6 in the conference.

The Dolphins led 34-30 at the half as guard MARK COVIN led the way with 10 points (5-for-6 from the floor) and five assists. LeMoyne outscored the Greyhounds 7-2 over the final 3:21 to take the lead.

The Greyhounds opened the second half with a 12-0 blitz to move to a quick 42-34 advantage. Junior forward COREY DIETHORN (Pittsburgh, MA/Sewickley Academy) opened with a baseline jumper on a feed from junior guard LEROY BYRON (Worcester, MA/North). Freshman guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) then drilled a three-pointer off a junior forward GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) offensive rebound and feed.

After Shea rejected a layup bid by Covin Bluford found Twomey on the wing for a three-pointer that had the Greyhounds in front 42-34.

Jumpers by JONATHAN JOSHUA and JASON HOLMES however made it a one-point game, 57-56, with 5:17 left. The Hounds then went on a 10-3 run to assume control once again, 67-59.

Diethorn converted a Twomey feed for a layin and conventional three pointer before Joshua scored on a take to the basket for the Dolphins. Shea scored on a tip inside before the Dolphins LAURENCE EKPERIGIN made both ends of a two-shot foul opportunity. A three-pointer by Shea and two foul tries by Byron had the Greyhounds in fron by eight with 2:07 left.

The Hounds defense limited the Dolphins to just 31.3 percent from the floor as they made just 10-of-21 second-half attempts and just 2-of-11 from three point territory. The Greyhounds also dominated the boards, 42-33, with Shea (10), Diethorn (8) and Bluford (8) leading the way. Ekperigin led LeMoyne with nine.

Diethorn finished with 16 points and Bluford 14 points. Twomey was the catalyst with nine points, six rebounds and a career-best seven assists.

In the opener the Greyhounds sped to a quick 11-point lead, 21-10, as Plasski (six points) and junior forward MEG URBAN (Portland, ME/Deering) (four points) led the way. The Dolphins however would outscore the Hounds 20-10 over the final 5:38 to narrow the gap to 31-30 at the half. Guard KATIE DUNN made three three-pointers in the run.

The Greyhounds opened the second half with runs of 11-2 and 21-6 to move to a commanding 16-point advantage (52-36) with 10:04 remaining in the game.

The Greyhounds used blistering defensive pressure in the second half to limit the visiting Dolphins to 26.1 percent shooting---just six-for-23. They controlled the boards 35-27 and caused 23 turnovers. The Hounds outscored the visitors 32-6 in the paint and 22-3 off-the-bench.

Urban (14 points), senior guard JESS PAULSON (North Providence, RI/LaSalle) (13 points, 7 assists, 4 steals) played well in support roles for the Greyhounds. Junior forward CHARDE FLOYD (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) led all rebounders with 12.

Both Greyhound team are next in action hosting Northeast-10 Conference rival Bryant University TUESDAY at the Laska Gym. The women's tapoff is at 5:30 p.m., the men at 7:30 p.m.