Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Behind a game-high 15 points from sophomore Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth recorded several milestones on Saturday, securing a season-sweep of Southern Maine for the first time in program history with a 69-41 victory. The Corsairs climb to 21 overall wins and 11 conference wins in the process, both establishing new program records, and wrap up the No. 3 seed for next week's Little East Conference tournament.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 69, Southern Maine 41
Records: UMass Dartmouth (21-4, 11-3 LEC) | Southern Maine (5-20, 4-10 LEC)
How it Happened
UMass Dartmouth jumped out to the only lead it needed moments from the opening tip, going up 6-4 when junior Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) sunk a jumper. The margin would quickly grow to nine points before Husky junior Miranda Nicely (Farmington, Maine) notched a pair of foul shots to edge Southern Maine within four before the end of the quarter. The hosts' challenge was short-lived, as the Corsairs responded by outscoring the hosts 12-5 in the second quarter, building the lead to double-digits at 2:48 before both teams went cold for the remainder of the frame.
Out of the halftime break, the Corsairs expounded upon their lead for full control, reeling off a 12-0 run to start the half. Twelve of Examond's 15 points came in the third quarter on 6-of-7 from the field. The sophomore registered the final six points of the third quarter to push the UMass Dartmouth's advantage to 29 points at the end of the third, with the Corsairs outdoing the Huskies 24-6 over the 10-minute span. The fourth was merely academic for both teams as the Corsairs would cruise to the 28-point victory.
Inside the Numbers
- UMass Dartmouth becomes the winningest team in program history, surpassing the 20-win mark for the first time. At 21-4, the Corsairs better the 2012-13 squad that finished the season at 20-8.
- 11 Little East Conference victories also sets a new UMass Dartmouth program standard, improving upon the league slate of 10-4 achieved by the 2014-15 squad.
- UMass Dartmouth's defense baffled the Husky shooters in the second and third period, as they held them to just 16 percent (5-of-30) from the field over the frames.
- Examond and Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) were the only two players to register in double-figures for the game, with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while both securing a game-high total of nine rebounds.
- UMass Dartmouth completed 33-of-70 (47 percent) of its chances from the field on the outing compared to Southern Maine's 14-of-58 (24 percent) despite not registering a single 3-pointer on the contest.
- The Corsairs returned to their usual ways in the post, outscoring Southern Maine 34-12 in the paint and outrebounding the hosts 58-30, tying their season-high total on the boards.
- Corsair sophomore Jamie Williams (Lone Tree, Colo.) scored a career high six points on 3-of-4 shooting during the fourth quarter.
Up Next
UMass Dartmouth will host its Little East Conference quarterfinal match-up on Tuesday, hosting No. 6-seed UMass Boston for a 5:30 p.m. start. The winner will advance to the semifinal round to be hosted by top-seeded Eastern Connecticut on Saturday.
