Women's Basketball drops season opener to Plymouth State, 71-61

(Concord, N.H.) The 2016-17 Rivier University Women's Basketball season tipped off this evening as the team competed against in-state foe Plymouth State University in the annual Boys and Girls Club Classic hosted by New Hampshire Technical Institute. The Raiders were not able to top the Panthers as PSU took the contest, 71-61.

Rivier (0-1) was led by senior Caitlyn Perry (Nashua, N.H.) who finished the evening with a team high 18 points and six rebounds. Classmate Savanna Butterfield (Londonderry, N.H.) also collected six rebounds and had 13 points while senior Rebecca DeBaldo (Pelham, N.H.) added 10 points in the loss. Freshman Keara Sheehan (Chelmsford, Mass.) knocked down her only three-point attempt in her collegiate debut and senior Caitlin Bulger (Quincy, Mass.) pulled down four rebounds.

Plymouth State (1-0) saw senior DeAsia 'Ace' Lawrence (Middletown, Conn.) register a game high 21 points as she was the only Panther to net double-digit points. Sophomore Kailyn Aguiar (Acushnet, Mass.) added nine points in a reserve role and classmate Cassidy Emerson (Concord, N.H.) chipped in with eight points. Senior Savanah Miller (Smithtown, N.Y.) led the team with six rebounds and five assists.

Up next for Rivier will be Coast Guard Academy on Friday evening in the UMASS-Dartmouth Invitational Tournament. Plymouth State will enjoy a week between games as they are set to travel to Castleton University next Tuesday (11/22) evening.