DARTMOUTH, Mass. – A dominant second quarter helped the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's basketball team defeat the visiting Worcester State Lancers 64-49 Monday evening in a non-conference matchup at the Tripp Center.
Both teams started off slowly, combining for just nine field goals in the first quarter before UMass Dartmouth stepped on the gas in the second quarter. Junior Leah Douty (Framingham, Mass.) opened up the stanza with a traditional three-point play, and after Worcester State responded with a bucket, the Corsairs shut the visitors out for the remainder of the half. Douty finished with nine of her 11 points on the quarter, capping an 18-0 UMass Dartmouth run with a deep two at the buzzer to send her team into half with a 32-12 lead.
Despite Worcester State outscoring the Corsairs by five on the second half, UMass Dartmouth's advantage at the break proved too big a hole for the Lancers. Worcester State's Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) recorded all 10 of her points in the final two quarters, and the Lancers completed 53 percent (7-of-13) from the field in the fourth quarter. The visitors cut their deficit to just 13 before the final buzzer, but Nakira Examond's (New Bedford, Mass.) 12 points on the half were enough to keep the Lancers at bay.
Led by Examond's 13 points on the night, four Corsairs reached double-figures. Along with Douty, senior Adi Alicea-Cordero (Dorchester, Mass.) notched a career-high 11 points and junior Alicia Kutil (Franklin, Mass.) finished with 10 points.
Along with Langford, Worcester State's Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.) rounded out her stat line with 10 points, a game-high nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.
UMass Dartmouth has now won five of the last six against the Lancers dating back to 2011. All-time, Worcester State holds the series advantage at 27-14.
UMass Dartmouth (11-2) is back to Little East Conference play on Wednesday, traveling to defending conference champs Eastern Connecticut for at 5:30 p.m. start. The Lancers (6-8) will host the No. 1 team in the nation, Tufts University, on Wednesday at noon.
Release Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information