DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves led the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 36-30, at halftime but were outscored, 26-9, in the third quarter in a 72-61 setback in Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball action this evening at Feldman Arena.  WestConn falls to 5-16 overall and 3-9 in the LEC with its third consecutive loss, while the Warriors improve to 8-13 overall and 7-5 in the league while snapping a four-game losing streak.  Senior forward Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) paced the Wolves with 17 points.  WestConn visits conference rival Southern Maine next on Saturday at noon.  Eastern Connecticut plays at Castleton the same day at 3 p.m.

WestConn trailed, 11-3, early but Virtue scored three buckets in the final 3:02 to help the home squad pull to within four points at 20-16 after one quarter.  Freshman center Nia Rencher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) gave the Wolves a 21-20 lead 1:13 into the second frame on a conventional three-point play, but Eastern Connecticut answered with back-to-back three-pointers. Rencher converted another basket plus the foul shot with 6:43 left in the first half to start a 9-0 WestConn run over the next 4:14.  Gabriella Kufour made a three-pointer for the Warriors at the 2:29 mark of the second quarter, before rookies Gianna Castellano (East Haven, Conn.) and Xiomara Soto (Danbury, Conn.) scored three points apiece in the closing minutes before halftime to put the home team up by six at the break.

Eastern Connecticut senior forward Taylor Salato scored 10 of her team's first 15 points in the third frame and rookie guard Liv Cassesse (Wallingford, Conn.) tied the contest for the first time in the second half on a steal and layup at the 4:42 mark of the third.  Virtue scored four of WestConn's nine points in the third quarter, but the Warriors went on a 15-0 run heading into the fourth and led, 56-45.  The visitors led by as many as 19 points early in the final stanza and did not relinquish its double-digit lead over the final 10 minutes.  Junior guard Malaysia Dingle (Brockton, Mass.) scored six of her eight points in the final frame for the Wolves.

Rencher had 13 points and Castellano finished with 10 points to give WestConn a trio of double-digit scorers,.  Senior center Tyonna Morgan (West Haven, Conn.) paced WestConn on the boards with eight rebounds and blocked a shot, while Dingle collected five rebounds and five assists, Rencher had four rebounds and three blocks, and Castellano dished three assists.  Marissa Nudd paced Eastern Connecticut in scoring with 18 points to go with 10 rebounds.  Salato had 16 points and 13 boards, Cassesse notched 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Kya Mayo added 14 points for the visitors who made nine of 22 shots from long range and outrebounded the Wolves, 55-34.  WestConn was 4-for-34 from beyond the arc.