Box Score BABSON PARK, Mass. – For the second-straight day, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth sophomore Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) rattled off a career-high, registering 27 points including 14 in the fourth quarter as the Corsairs wrapped up a 70-62 comeback victory at Babson on Friday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 70, Babson 62
Records: UMass Dartmouth (9-2) | Babson (9-2)
How it Happened
The teams traded baskets until midway through the first quarter, until junior Rybecca Gonzalez (Providence, R.I.) connected beyond the arc to cap a 7-0 Corsair run in a minute and 10 seconds. UMass Dartmouth maintained a small advantage until just before half, when Babson's Emily Bonifacic (Allendale, N.J.) notched a pair of free throws to put the Beavers' back in front. The hosts held a 32-29 lead at the break.
At 2:43 in the third quarter, junior Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) put the Corsairs back up for good with two foul shots. Examond then more than doubled her point total for the game in the final 10 minutes to seal the victory, going a perfect 7-of-7 as part of her team's 11-of-18 (61 percent) performance in the fourth to complete the comeback effort.
Inside the Numbers
- With the victory, UMass Dartmouth hands Babson its first loss since Nov. 20, snapping the Beavers' eight-game win streak.
- With a 51-39 advantage on the boards, the Corsairs became the first squad to out-rebound the Beavers on the season thus far.
- On the full 40 minutes, Examond connected on 12-of-16 from the floor, snagging eight rebounds including seven on the offensive end. Additionally, she recorded a block and three steals in 25 minutes.
- Kutil completed UMass Dartmouth's dominance in the paint, posting her second double-double on the season with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
- Junior Leah Douty (Framingham, Mass.) rounded out the Corsairs in double-figures, finishing with 12 points and a game-high two 3-pointers. Classmate Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) dictated the offense with a game-high six assists.
- UMass Dartmouth is now 4-2 all-time against Babson, as the teams met for the first time since 2003 on Friday.
Up Next
UMass Dartmouth makes its return to Little East Conference play next Saturday, as the Corsairs seek their third-straight win and will host Western Connecticut for a 1 p.m. start.
