DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by a 23-point day with seven three-pointers from junior
Amaris Mills, the UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team overwhelmed Western Connecticut, 71-49, in their final matchup of the 2023-24 regular season. The win saw the #21 Corsairs finish their regular season at 22-3 overall and 14-2 in the LEC, matching the 2017-18 squad for the best regular-season record in program history. UMD has earned a first-round bye and the #2 seed in the Little East Conference Tournament. Meanwhile, the Wolves drop to 7-18 overall and 3-13 in conference play at the end of their season.
The Corsairs were paced by Mills, who posted 23 points and nine rebounds, shooting 8 for 15 (53.3%) from the field and a smoldering hot 7 for 10 (70.0%) from three-point range. Senior
Kaylin Zalewski poured in 13 points along with three rebounds, three assists and four steals. Senior
Teja Andrews posted an 11-point, 10 rebound double-double. 14 (57.1%) from the floor and 2 for 2 (100.0%) from deep. As a unit defensively, the Corsairs limited USM to a 28.8% day from the floor.
Western Connecticut, paced throughout by Gabrielle Franks, saw the senior center score 14 points and haul in 9 rebounds. Senior Nicole Vivian and junior Francesca Foster each added 10 points for the Wolves.
After the opening quarter of play, UMass Dartmouth entered the second quarter with n 11-7 lead. The Corsairs were able to pull away in the second quarter, winning the frame by a margin of 26-9. Mills nailed four of her seven threes in the third quarter alone. Mills' fourth three-pointer put UMass Dartmouth up by 19 points with 1:40 left in the first half. The Corsairs went into the break with a 37-16 lead.
In the third quarter, UMass Dartmouth was able to build onto their lead. They led by as much as 27 points at the 4:58 mark of the quarter. After WestConn made a dent in their deficit to end the third, the Corsairs went right back up by 27 points again in the fourth quarter, as they cruised to a 77-49 win in their final regular season game of the 2023-24 season.
The Corsairs were ranked #21 in the latest WBCA Poll, and have secured the second seed for the Little East Conference Tournament. UMass Dartmouth will host the winner of the #3 and #6 seeds in the LEC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday, February 22 at 5:30pm in the Tripp Athletic Center.
