DARTMOUTH, Mass. -?Powered by a career and game-high 28 points from junior guard Teja Andrews, the UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team defeated Plymouth State University, 87-75 in Little East Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The victory moves the Corsairs to 15-8 overall and 11-3 in conference play, while the Panthers are now 5-17 and 0-13 in the Little East.
In addition to her game-leading points efforts, Andrews also went a career-best 11-of-15 from the floor, adding a career-high six free throws made to the mix as UMass Dartmouth battled back for the victory.
?Plymouth State locked in with a three-point mentality to open the contest, which paid off for the Panthers as they nailed 9-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half of action. Pacing the effort was Sarah Sweet, who went 4-for-7, while Sophie George was 3-for-4.
Despite a 21-19 edge in the opening quarter, the visitors could not hold on to the lead as the Corsairs battle back in the second half. UMD used a stifling defense that saw 14 PSU turnovers, in addition to solid free throw shooting (12-for-13) that saw the Corsairs head into the intermission with a 40-36 advantage.
Third quarter action saw the home team continue to keep a solid lead, expanding the advantage to double-figures as Andrews dropped in a layup at 5:55 of the frame for the 53-41 lead. UMD continued to hold a strong margin late as Andrews nailed another bucket and a pair of free throws, but a three-pointer by Raegan Peck with 41 seconds to play cut the lead to single digits heading into the final quarter.
A Lauren Keller layup at 6:55 of the fourth pulled the visitors to within five (68-63), but Andrews countered minutes later with a bucket as junior guard
Kaylin Zalewski banked two straight three's and a layup for a 78-64 Corsairs lead with 3:30 on the clock.
Another Panthers three, this time from Sabrina Vlahovic, helped cut the margin to nine (82-73) with 38 seconds to play, but the Corsairs countered each bucket down the stretch with one of their own to hold off a comeback by Plymouth.
In addition to Andrews, the Corsairs saw graduate student Jordan Moretti drop in 15 points with five rebounds and five assists. Zalewski added 14 points with three caroms, while grad student
Jessica Carroll had 11 points and three boards. Freshman guard
Melanie DeMeo finished with six assists to go along with seven rebounds.
For Plymouth State, George posted 16 points with seven boards, adding a game-best seven assists. Keller had 13 points with five boards, while Vlahovic completed the double-double with 11 points and 11 caroms. Sweet finished with 12 points as Jalen Cook dropped in 10 points with six boards.
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UMass Dartmouth returns to action at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 15, when the Corsairs travel to Rhode Island College.?
