Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Junior Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) sunk a career-high 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting while swiping all four of her team's blocks on defense, generating enough spark for UMass Dartmouth to hold on for a 64-61 victory over Roger Williams on Tuesday evening.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 64, Roger Williams 61
Records: UMass Dartmouth (4-0) | Roger Williams (0-2)
How it Happened
Kutil had the hot hand early, scoring 10 of her points in the opening quarter to help the Corsairs command the pace. UMass Dartmouth outscored the Hawks 16-6 in the paint in the first 15 minutes, but RWU's eight-point deficit heading into the second quarter would be the furthest the Corsairs would extend on the game.
RWU chipped away in the closing minutes of the first half, ending on a 7-0 run capped by a 3-point basket from Emma Klis (East Northport, N.Y.), tying the contest at 35 at the break. The Hawks' momentum continued into the third quarter, as back-to-back Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.) layups put the visitors up six. UMass Dartmouth gained a small lead back with two traditional three-point plays by Kutil, but the game would remain even heading into the fourth, all square at 53.
With 8:45 minutes left, freshman Kayla McMahon's (Hanover, Mass.) first points of the season came via a 3-pointer, effectively switching the tides enough for UMass Dartmouth to keep a narrow advantage until the end. With less than three minutes remaining, junior Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) made a steal at half-court and converted the fast-break layup, putting the Corsairs up four. After a Lowerre foul shot, the Hawks generated two quality chances from beyond the arc in the waning seconds, but couldn't connect to force extra minutes.
Inside the Numbers
- Kutil went 7-of-7 from the foul line and added nine boards, all while bettering her previous career high of 21 points, which she had previously totaled twice.
- UMass Dartmouth muscled its way to outdo RWU 40-20 on points in the paint on the game, securing 21 points off turnovers while the Hawks could muster only 10 off the Corsairs' mishaps.
- Sophomore Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) joined Kutil in the Corsairs' post efforts, tallying 14 points with seven boards for her third-straight double-digit scoring game.
- The Corsairs start the season 4-0 for the third-straight year.
- Three Hawks surpassed double-digit point totals, led by Lowerre's 17, and saw two grab 10 boards on the night.
Up Next
UMass Dartmouth is at home again on Tuesday, hosting Bridgewater State at 7 p.m., while Roger Williams continues its four-game road trip at Rhode Island College on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m.
