WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Despite a team-high 13 points from senior guard Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.), the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball squad fell victim to Little East Conference archrival Eastern Connecticut State University, dropping a 53-43 decision on Wednesday night at Geissler Gymnasium. 

Junior forward Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) added a game-high 12 rebounds, while senior center Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) chipped in with eight points and eight boards for the Wolves.

Three players tallied double figures in scoring for the Warriors. Nevaeh Clark led the way with a game-high 22. Cara McGettigan and Taylor Salato followed up with 10 each. McGettigan also earned a double-double as she snagged 12 off the glass.

It was a close battle in the early going as both teams played to an 11-11 tie to end the opening quarter. The hosts captured a 17-11 lead with a spurt in the second stanza. McGettigan rounded out the run with a midrange jumper. WestConn answered with a flurry of its own to grab and 18-17 advantage when Franks tickled the twine. However, the hosts struck right back and regained the lead, taking a 27-22 lead into the locker room courtesy of a Clark stroke from outside the paint.

Eastern widened the gap to 14 in the third when Clark connected on a three-pointer. The Wolves closed the margin to 47-41 with 4:40 remaining in the fourth when junior guard Francesca Foster (Mystic, Conn.) tallied an uassisted layup. But the visitors would not get any closer as Eastern would hold them off. 

With the loss, WestConn dropped to 6-15 overall and 2-10 in league play, while the Warriors improved to 9-12 and 7-5. The Wolves will seek to snap the skid when they host LEC foe Southern Maine on Saturday at 1 p.m.