Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – With the first basket of the second quarter, junior Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) delivered a one-point lead to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and the Corsairs wouldn't look back, extending its lasting advantage to as much as 25 points in a 69-47 win at Rhode Island College on Wednesday.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 69, Rhode Island College 47
Records: UMass Dartmouth (19-3, 9-2 LEC) | Rhode Island College (5-16, 2-9 LEC)
How it Happened
The Corsairs struggled in the first quarter, going just 6-of-18 (33 percent) from the field to keep the door open for the Anchorwomen. RIC's Victoria Demers (Sutton, Mass.) hit a 3-pointer at the midway mark to give the hosts a one-point lead, and Jessa Rubera (Newton, Mass.) notched another long-distance basket to extend the advantage to three before the end of the frame.
Kutil then delivered the first four points of the second quarter, regaining the lead for UMass Dartmouth for good. Moments after Kutil's baskets, Jordyn Gauvin (Fall River, Mass.) knotted the score at 20, but Corsair junior Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) responded with a 3-pointer and a pair of foul shots within 30 seconds. The UMass Dartmouth edge climbed to seven just before the final buzzer of the half as Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) capped a 5-0 streak with two free throws.
Out of the break, the Corsairs quickly squashed any comeback chance for the Anchorwomen. Over four minutes passed without a RIC basket, during which UMass Dartmouth expounded on a 12-0 run for a 19-point advantage. For the remainder of the outing, the visitors would maintain a 15-plus point lead, burgeoned by a 21-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter and 10 second-half points by senior Rachel McCarron (Groton, Mass.).
Inside the Numbers
- UMass Dartmouth, currently ranked No. 3 in the Northeast Regional Rankings, is now the first Corsair team to record eight-straight wins at any point during any season in the program's 43-year history.
- During the Corsairs' dominant third quarter, UMass Dartmouth connected on 9-of-14 (64 percent) chances from the field while holding the Anchorwomen to just two field goals. On the game, UMass Dartmouth shot 46 percent (27-of-58).
- Kutil led all players with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting while grabbing seven boards, followed by Examond's double-double outing of 15 points and 10 boards including a game-high six assists.
- Houlihan made both of her tries from the field and both of her foul shot attempts, adding four assists, two steals and a pair of rebounds.
- The Corsairs turned out their strongest 3-point performance since the last time they met RIC, shooting 37 percent (3-of-8).
- Rubera was the high point-scorer for the Anchorwomen, finishing with 16 points, while Gauvin added 12.
Up Next
The Corsairs host league-leader Eastern Connecticut on Saturday for Senior Day, with tip-off slated for 1 p.m. at the Tripp Athletic Center. UMass Dartmouth will honor Rachel McCarron and Megan Ronaghan prior to game time.
