Purchase, NY
(Nov. 13, 2018) – Rival Western Connecticut State University used a first-quarter surge to get past Purchase in the Panther season opener Tuesday night.
Every effort the Panthers made, the Colonials answered back with a run of their own, as the visitors earned a 103-63 win in the non-conference matchup.
Western (1-1) went on a 10-0 run to open the first quarter. The Colonials kept the momentum going, shooting 39 percent overall (11-28) and 27 percent (4-15) from 3-point range to finish the stanza with a 27-12 advantage over Purchase (0-1).
The small break in between quarters seemed to energize Purchase as the Panthers outscored the visitors 24-23. Despite an impressive showing by the home team that included a 56 (10-18) field goal percentage, the Panthers still trailed Western at the half, 50-36.
Senior guard
Amber Jones (Bronx, NY) led the Panthers in the opening half with 10 points and four rebounds. Freshman forward
Shadai Plowden (Yonkers, NY) was close behind with nine points, while junior guard
Savannah Lopez (Monroe, NY) collected a team-best five rebounds.
In the third quarter, Western shot 44 percent overall (10-23) and impressive 50 percent (6-12) from beyond the arc to bring its lead to 77-58. The Colonials saw their best defensive effort in the final stanza as the visitors held PC to just five points in 10 minutes. Western earned its first win of the season with the 103-63 victory.
Western's Imani Baptiste led all scorers with 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Teammate Frances Snyder netted another 18 points for the visitors, while Jancy Sherwood came off the Colonial bench to record 12 points and five boards.
Purchase was led by Jones and junior forward
Arta Krasniqi (Bronx, NY) who tied with a 16 points apiece. Plowden also finished in double-digit scoring with 13 points, while senior center
Nyasia Harris (South Fallsburg, NY) led the defensive effort with a team-best nine rebounds.
Purchase is back at home again this Thursday (Nov. 15). The Panthers are set to host non-conference City College of NY at 7 p.m.