DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Backed by a game and career-high 26 points from senior captain
Melanie DeMeo, the UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team posted a 67-57 victory over Vermont State University Castleton in Little East Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Corsairs improve to 4-4 overall with a 1-1 mark in the LEC, while the Spartans fall to 3-4 on the season with an 0-2 mark in conference play.
It was a back-and-forth battle in the opening half of action, which saw the homestanding Corsairs hold a one-point (18-17) lead after the opening quarter, but the visiting Spartans gained the advantage in the second, owning a 35-32 lead at halftime.
Second half action saw another back and forth battle as the teams traded points to keep things close. Having taken and earlier lead on a jumper from sophomore guard
Elizabeth Gresian, the Corsairs regained their advantage at 5:04 as a jumper from DeMeo and a free throw shot, put the home team ahead, 39-38.
Later, trailing by a 44-43 margin, senior guard
Cristina Negron dropped in a three-pointer and a DeMeo sank one in the paint to put the Corsairs up 48-44 at the end of three quarters.
Into the final quarter of play, the Spartans wasted little time, tying the game at 48-all on a three-pointer from senior guard Stasia Epler with 9:19 remaining. DeMeo helped the Corsairs fight back, turning it into a four-point advantage (52-49) on a driving layup, but the Spartans continued to answer by closing the gap to three (56-53) on a floating jumper by senior guard Emily Adams with 4:42 to play.
Another three – her fourth of the game – by Negron, opened up a six-point lead for the home team (59-53) with 3:21 left in the contest. The Corsairs continued to capitalize in the final minutes with buckets from senior guard
Kasey Oliver, Santos and DeMeo pushing the home team into a firm lead they would not relinquish.
DeMeo paced the way, going 11-for-18 from the field, 1-for-1 from three-point range and a perfect 3-for-3 at the free throw line. She added six rebounds, four assists and three steals playing all 40 minutes for the Corsairs. Negron added 14 points, including a 4-for-5 effort from beyond the arc with two boards and a steal. Graduate student guard
Yasmine Santos poured in 12 points with four boards and an assist, while Gresian had two points, two steals and a team-best eight rebounds.
The Corsairs are now idle for the holiday break, but return to action on December 29th at the Babson Pearson Memorial Tournament. UMD will face UC Santa Cruz at 3pm on the 29th, followed by a 3pm meeting against the University of Hartford on December 30.
