Bethany Plasski, Trish Gardner lead Greyhound women's basketball past American International, 51-44, in NE-10 defensive struggle

February 7, 2009

Assumption 50, American International 43

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- Senior guard/captains BETHANY PLASSKI (Fall River, MA/Durfee) and TRISH GARDNER (North Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth) led Assumption College women's basketball past American International College, 51-44, in a key Northeast-10 Conference game SATURDAY at the Butova Gym.

The Greyhounds down 42-40 with 3:44 remaining in the game outscored the Yellow Jackets, 11-2, down-the-stretch to win the defensive struggle.

The Greyhounds with their second win this season over American International are now 13-9 overall and 11-6 in the conference tied with Bentley College for fourth-place. Franklin Pierce (13-4) which lost to Bentley (70-53) is first, Stonehill (12-5) which lost to Southern New Hampshire (61-58) is second followed by American International College (12-6) in third place.

The Greyhounds led 22-21 at the half breaking away from a 16-16 deadlock. Sophomore forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) scored on an inside move and freshman forward KELLY MEREDITH (Franklin, MA/Franklin) followed with layup to make it 20-16. Junior guard JEANETTE JOHNATHAN (Central Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) then his a three-pointer for A.I.C. before the Greyhounds sophomore forward MOLLY GRIFFITHS (Walpole, MA/Ursuline Academy) and A.I.C. freshman guard RHEA PASCAL (Pickering, ONT/Notre Dame) traded hoops to account for a one point Greyhound advantage.

As the game came down-the-stretch, a layin by Gardner with 4:04 remaining tied the game at 40-40 before American International sophomore guard LAECHIA CONLEY (Urbanville, IA/Hoover) drilled a jumper to give the Jackets their final lead, 42-40, of the contest at 3:44.

Junior guard LESLIE LUPIEN (Pomfret Center, CT/Woodstock Academy) then tied the game at 42-42 with a wing jumper and after a missed three-pointer by the Jackets, Gardner did a coast-to-coast for a layin, Lupien hit a jumper, Gardner a pair of free throws to make it a six point game, 48-42 with 51 seconds to go.

After sophomore guard SASHA LOWERY (Paterson, NJ/Sports Business) hit a jumper for the Yellow Jackets, Plasski made three of-four free throws to ice it.

Plasski finished with 14 points to lead all scorers while Parker added 10 points and eight rebounds. Lupien added nine points, eight rebounds, while Gardner had seven points and six assists. Junior forward STACY BOISVERT (Agawam, MA/Agawam) led the Jackets with a double double 11 points, 11 rebounds, while Conley finished with 12 points, eight rebounds.

The Greyhounds are in action against Northeast-10 Conference rival New Haven TUESDAY in the Laska Gym at 5:30 p.m

Click here for ASSUMPTION-AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL box score