Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's basketball team had five chances to either take the lead or force overtime inside the closing minute of regulation, but were unable to convert down the stretch as Johnson & Wales (RI) escaped with a 61-58 victory this evening at the Wildcat Center.
Freshman Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) gave the Corsairs (7-2) their final advantage of the game, when she knocked down a jumper with four minutes, 32 seconds left in the second stanza to break the seventh tie (50-50) of the contest. Freshman Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) drained a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to hand the Wildcats (4-3) a lead they would never relinquish.
Freshman Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, Mass.) extended Johnson & Wales' advantage to four points (58-54) with a layup, tallying the hosts final field goal of the evening. Both teams exchanged two-point possessions before Kutil whittle the visitors' deficit to two points on a catch and score from sophomore Megan Ronaghan (North Attleboro, Mass.).
The Wildcats had multiple opportunities to salt away the contest from the charity stripe, but Johnson & Wales only sank one of its six attempts from the line. However, UMass Dartmouth was unable to capitalize on its final three possessions, including three shots inside the final seven seconds to force an extra session.
Ronaghan produced a double-double with game-highs in points (21) and rebounds (13) to lead the Corsairs. Kutil also reached double figures in scoring with 14 points, on 6-for-9 from the floor, while senior guard Kelsey Garrity (Somerville, Mass.) dished out 10 assists to go along with eight points, four rebounds, and four steals.
Sophomore Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Thompson each registered 13 points to pace the Wildcats. Pederzani also reached double figures in the scoring column with 10 points. Whitehead collected a team-best eight boards.
UMass Dartmouth struggled to find its rhythm all night, shooting 36.4 percent (24-for-66) from the floor, 20 percent (3-for-15) from long range, and 63.6 percent (7-for-11) from the foul line. The Corsairs forced four more turnovers than they committed (18-14), but lost the rebounding battle (43-41).
UMass Dartmouth scored the final five points of the first half to trim its deficit to two (29-27) at the break. However, Johnson & Wales charged out of the locker room with the opening eight points, jumpstarted by a pair of trifectas, to take its largest lead of the contest (10, 37-27).
Unfazed, the Corsairs decided to pound the ball inside and Ronaghan responded with the next five points. The Wildcats tried to stem the tide with a basket, but the visitors continued to apply pressure inside the low blocks as Kutil converted a traditional three-point play and a jumper. Garrity capped the 12-2 run with a layup to forge a 39-all tie with less than 12 minutes remaining on the scoreboard. Two minutes later, Garrity dropped in a layup to give UMass Dartmouth its first advantage since 14-13.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, when the Corsairs travel to No. 11 Williams College.
