BRISTOL, R.I. – Powered by an 11-point performance from graduate student
Jane McCauley in the fourth quarter, the UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team edged Roger Williams University, 77-73 in non-conference action on Tuesday evening. The Corsairs – ranked #14 & #19 in the D3hoops.com and WBCA Top 25 Polls – moves to 5-0 on the season, while the Hawks slip to 2-3 overall.
Holding a 57-46 lead after three quarters of play, the visiting Corsairs faced a major challenge from Roger Williams in the fourth stanza as the homestanding Hawks saw senior forward Elizabeth Dufrane drop in seven straight points to tie the game at 68-all with 1:58 to play. The Corsairs responded as graduate student guard
Jane McCauley hit back-to-back three-pointers, giving UMass Dartmouth a 74-68 lead with just 47 seconds remaining.
Roger Williams didn't back down as junior guard Sophia Coppola sank a three-pointer of her own, forcing the Corsairs to take a timeout with 37 seconds remaining as they held onto a 74-71 lead. Taking advantage of the clock, the Corsairs drew a foul to send senior guard
Amaris Mills to the line, who banked both shots for the five-point (76-71) lead with 13 seconds to play.
The home team got a quick jumper from Dufrane, making it a three-point (76-73) game with seven seconds on the clock, but the Corsairs gained the rebound and junior guard
Melanie DeMeo sank a free throw to make it a four-point lead. UMass Dartmouth held on for the victory as fifth-year guard and captain
Jaelyn Lavigne blocked a three-point attempt by the Hawks in the final seconds.
UMass Dartmouth held a 34-33 lead through the opening half of action in the game – which was paced by a 15-point performance from graduate student guard and captain
Teja Andrews. Out of the break and into third quarter action, the Corsairs continued to own the advantage, but the homestanding Hawks refused to back down as they closed the margin to 39-37 with 7:51 to play.
The Corsairs utilized an 11-0 run to build up a 57-46 lead after the third quarter of play, but a resurgence from Roger Williams set up the dramatic finish in the final quarter.
Leading the way for the Corsairs was Andrews, who posted 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and an 8-of-11 clip from the free throw line. The captain stole the show, adding a team-high nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks and five steals. McCauley posted 17 total points, going 5-for-10 from three-point range, while Mills dropped in 12 points with eight rebounds, three assists and a block.
UMass Dartmouth is now idle for the Thanksgiving break, but returns to action on Wednesday, December 4. The Corsairs open their Little East schedule, traveling to Plymouth State University for a 5pm tip-off.
