Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. –Johnson & Wales clawed back to force overtime on Tuesday evening, pulling out on top with an 81-72 victory over UMass Dartmouth in non-conference action. With the loss, the Corsairs fall to 7-2 on the season, while the Wildcats remain unbeaten, rising to 6-0.
Junior Megan Ronaghan (North Attleboro, Mass.) led the way for the Corsairs on the evening, registering 25 points and 14 boards en route to her second double-double of the year. Sophomore Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) orchestrated the Corsairs' offense, dishing out a team-high seven assists while also contributing a season-high 12 points.
The Wildcats were paced by junior Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who set a career-high in points (32) and a season high in rebounds (16). Whitehead nailed a 3-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 66 and force overtime. Sophomore Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, Mass.) filled out the box score with 18 points, seven boards, three blocks, and three steals, while Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) added 14 points, eight assists and six boards.
Johnson & Wales secured the game with consistent shooting from the charity stripe, converting on a perfect 14-of-14 on the evening with 13 foul shots coming in the second half and overtime period. Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field (JWU 39.5 percent, UMD 36.5 percent), with the Corsairs holding the advantage in rebounding, 56-42.
The closely contested game saw 13 lead changes, with the largest lead for either team reaching only nine points.
The Corsairs will be back in action in the next calendar year, when they take on Salem State at home on Jan. 4 with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
