Box Score PLYMOUTH, N.H. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth freshman Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) scored a career-high 21 points to power the Corsairs to an 83-46 victory at Plymouth State University this afternoon in a NCAA Division III women's basketball contest at Foley Gymnasium. This afternoon's contest marked the Little East Conference opener for both teams.
UMass Dartmouth (7-1) shot 45.7 percent (32-for-70) from the floor, including 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from long range, to post its largest margin of victory this season. The Corsairs controlled the boards (48-36, +12) and converted 24 Panther turnovers into 32 points.
The visitors featured a well-balanced attack as 11 players cracked the scoring column, led by Kutil. Kutil was 9-for-12 from the floor, including a three-pointer, to lead four student-athletes in double digits in scoring. Sophomore Megan Ronaghan (North Attleboro, Mass.) posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Beth Castantini (Newburyport, Mass.) and senior Kelsey Garrity (Somerville, Mass.) netted 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the opening three minutes, 20 seconds of action with Plymouth State (3-3) holding its lone lead of the game at 3-2. Kutil came off the bench to ignite the UMass Dartmouth offensive attack, scoring 11 points during a 16-5 run that gave the Corsairs an advantage they would never relinquish. Kutil capped the surge with a lay-up to provide the visitors with their first double-digit lead (18-8).
The Panthers responded with a 7-0 spurt, capped by a sophomore Lindsy Poulin (Goffstown, N.H.) lay-up, to trim their deficit to one possession. UMass Dartmouth answered with a 13-2 burst of its own to build a 14-point advantage (34-20) before heading into the break with a 37-22 advantage.
The Corsairs stormed out of the locker room with a 17-4 run to balloon its lead to 30 points (56-26). Castantini sparked the surge with five points, while Ronaghan chipped in with four. Garrity and sophomore Rachel McCarron (Groton, Mass.) each knocked down a triple during the decisive run.
Plymouth State was never able to challenge UMass Dartmouth thereafter as the visitors never let their lead dip below 26 points. A lay-up by freshman Jessica Pye (Milford, Mass.) gave the Corsairs' their largest lead of the afternoon, 83-44, with just three ticks left on the clock.
Sophomore Savannah Miller (Smithtown, N.Y.) was the lone Panther to reach double figures in scoring with 10 points. Senior Tiffany Lewis (Hillsboro, N.H.) pulled in a team-best 10 rebounds, while senior Kelley Collins (Groveton, N.H.) and sophomore Madison Beatrice (Newton, Mass.) joined Miller with a pair of assists.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, when the Corsairs travel to Johnson & Wales (RI) to close out the first semester of action.
