PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior forward Sara Macary (Naugatuck, Conn.) poured in a game-high 25 points as the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team battled at Rhode Island College on Wednesday evening. However, the Wolves were outlasted at the Murray Center by the Anchorwomen, 78-65. The visitors trailed by just three points with under six minutes to go before the hosts surged to seize the victory.

With the loss, WestConn moved to 9-15 overall and 4-11 in Little East Conference play, while RIC improved to 19-5 and 13-2. The Wolves wrap up the regular season slate on Saturday when they host UMass Dartmouth in yet another league tilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Sophomore forward Fatmata Barrie (Staten Island, N.Y.) and senior forward Leana Heitmann (E. Syracuse, N.Y.) joined Macary in double figures with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Barrie also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to earn the double-double. 

Abby Wager paced the Anchorwomen with 18 points, while Meagan Schuermann chipped in with 17. 

Trailing by just two points, the Wolves continued to play tough in the second quarter. They captured a 30-29 lead shortly before halftime Barrie stole the ball and found rookie guard Niyama Adadevoh (Amherst, Mass.) for a layup. It was a similar story in the third quarter as the Anchorwomen could not shake the Wolves. Macary connected on the back end of a pair from the stripe to slice the deficit to 50-45 heading into the fourth. 

RIC quickly built up an 11-point cushion but WestConn wouldn't go down without a fight. Barrie buried two shots from the line, shrinking the gap to 59-56 with 5:51 remaining. However, the hosts erupted with an 18-4 run down the stretch to eventually earn the win.