Box Score WORCESTER, Mass. – Led by junior Megan Ronaghan's (North Attleboro, Mass.) 28 points, the UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team remained unbeaten on Thursday evening as the squad defeated Worcester State at Assumption College's Laska Gymnasium, 65-50.
With the victory, UMass Dartmouth now sits at 7-0 for the first time in 29 years. The last time the program owned such a start was Dec. 9, 1986, as the Corsairs are now seeking the first 8-0 beginning in program history.
Ronaghan connected on 12-of-19 attempts from the field to reach her highest scoring tally of the season while also recording three blocks. As a unit, the Corsairs went a perfect 13-of-13 from the foul line on the evening, with freshman Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) hitting 5-of-5 and Ronaghan and senior Beth Castantini (Newburyport, Mass.) shooting 4-for-4.
UMass Dartmouth again posted a strong start to the contest, doubling Worcester State's points in the first quarter. Ronaghan scored six-straight points to start the game, with sophomore Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) hitting a bucket to cap the 8-0 run and put the Corsairs on top in the first four minutes.
Lancer sophomore Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) scored four points within the next minute to tighten the gap, but the Corsairs went on a 11-5 bender to make the score 22-11 going into the second quarter. The next stanza featured back-and-forth play, with UMass Dartmouth holding a 36-24 advantage at halftime.
The Corsairs began the third quarter on another dominating 10-0 run until Worcester State's Kate Suprenant (Pelham, N.H.) stopped the bleeding with a jumper. After ending the third with a 59-36 deficit, the Lancers made a stand in the fourth quarter, registering 14 points to the Corsairs' six, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Castantini finished the night with 13 points and six boards, while Examond led the rebounding effort with seven boards while posting nine points. The Corsairs dominated the boards, snagging 44 rebounds to the Lancers' 31 and earning 19 second-chance points.
UMass Dartmouth will prepare for a crucial matchup on Saturday, as they travel to meet undefeated Keene State in the second Little East Conference game of the season at 1 p.m.
