Bethany Plasski (20 points) leads Greyhound women's basketball past defending national champion Southern Connecticut, 84-69, to move into sole possession of first place in Northeast-10 Conference

January 19, 2008

ASSUMPTION 84, SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 69

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Junior guard/captain BETHANY PLASSKI (Fall River, MA/Durfee) scored 20 points to lead five double-figure scorers as the Assumption College women's basketball team moved into sole possession of first place in the Northeast-10 Conference defeating defending Division II national champion Southern Connecticut State University, 84-69, SATURDAY at the Laska Gym.

The Greyhounds, now 16-3 overall and winning for a team-record ninth consecutive game, are now 10-2 in the conference and coupled with Stonehill's 77-64 loss at Franklin Pierce rearranged the top of the conference standings. Stonehill, Franklin Pierce, the Greyhounds next opponent TUESDAY night, and Bentley are all tied for second place at 9-3. Southern Connecticut, ranked 17th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II national poll falls to 12-5 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

This game was decided as the Greyhounds, leading 23-17 went on a 17-2 spurt to move to a 40-19 advantage.

Plasski started the uprising hitting a lane jumper on a feed from senior forward SARA CZARNECKI (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland), then added a layin on an assist by sophomore guard LESLIE LUPIEN (Pomfret Center, CT/Woodstock Academy). Czarnecki then assisted as senior forward/captain CHARDE FLOYD (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) scored on an inside move and then Plasski made back-to-back wing jumpers as the Greyhounds led by 14 at 33-19.

A free throw by Floyd, a lane jumper by freshman guard MOLLY GRIFFITHS (Walpole, MA/Ursuline Academy), a layin by Lupien and finally two free throws by Plasski made it a 21-point game (40-19) with 2:29 left in the half.

A lane jumper by the Owls senior forward ROCHELLE JOHNSON (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) cut the gap to nine points, 44-35, with 17:11 left in the second half. A quick 10-0 run ushered it right back to 19 points.

Sophomore forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) started the run with a drive to the basket off a feed from junior point TRISH GARDNER (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth). Parker finished a fastbreak started by a Floyd defensive rebound and assist and then Gardner finished with a nifty inside move on a feed from Floyd. Two free throws by Plasski and Gardner layin off a Lupien feed made it 54-35.

Floyd finished with 15 points (1,139 for her career) (seven-for-eight shooting) and 11 rebounds (now has 1,011 in her career), her 29th career and sixth-of-the-season double-double, with five assists and two steals, while Griffiths ended with 15 points (11 in the second half). Gardner had a season high 11 points with seven assists, while Parker also had 11 points.

Plasski finished 10-for-10 at the free throw line, the fifth player in Hounds' history to make 10 or more in a game without a miss. The Greyhounds career-leader is now 65-for-76 at the line this season (.855) and 207-for-252 (.821) in her career. She also became the 20th Greyhound to reach 900 career points ( 910).

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