Third-Quarter Surge Not Enough Against Roger Williams

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's basketball team outscored Roger Williams, 25-10, in the third quarter, but the Hawks turned around with a 30-19 fourth to hand the Corsairs an 80-71 loss Tuesday night at the Tripp Athletic Center.

The Corsairs drop to 5-2, while the Hawks stay perfect with a 3-0 record.

Four players scored in double figures for the Corsairs led by the sophomore's off the bench. Teja Andrews finished with 17 points and five rebounds, while Jemima Joseph notched her first-career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Senior Jordan Moretti tallied 14 points and five assists, and senior Caroline Wilson had 10 points.

Four players scored in double figures for Roger Williams. Senior Karli Opalka had a monster game with 14 points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Hawks went ahead, 8-0, before Wilson got the first points for the Corsairs at the 6:07 mark of the first. Baskets by Moretti, Andrews, and an and-1 from Joseph cut it to a 16-13 deficit with 1:15 to go. Roger Williams then broke away with 4-0, quarter-closing run, to take a 20-13 lead after the quarter.

Roger Williams kept the pressure on in the second with a 14-4 run to open the quarter and take a 34-17 lead with 5:37 until halftime. A 3-pointer by Donovan and an and-1 from Andrews sparked a 10-0 run, but the Hawks scored the final six points of the quarter to make it a 40-27 lead at the end of two.

The third is when the Corsairs turned things around. With Roger Williams on top, 50-35, with 5:07 on the clock, three straight paint buckets by 5th-year senior Lauren Empey, Joseph and Andrews lit a 17-0 run to close the quarter and take a 52-50 lead. 12 of those points came in the paint, with a 3-pointer and two free throws from Andrews.

Roger Williams started the fourth on a 10-0 run to go ahead, 60-52, with 8:24 to go. An and-1 by Moretti, a pair of triples from Wilson, and a jumper by Joseph cut it to a 64-63 game with 3:53 on the clock as the Corsairs gained momentum late. Moretti then capitalized on a 4-point play and Donovan sunk two at the line to make it 73-71 with 1:52 to go. The Hawks then took control and put the game away late.

UMass Dartmouth is home on Tuesday, Nov. 30, against Bridgewater State at 7 p.m.