Women's Basketball Nipped By UMass Dartmouth, 70-50

N. Dartmouth, MA --- UMass Dartmouth sophomore Megan Ronaghan (N. Attleboro, MA) underscored four in double-figure scoring with 22 points off a 10-for-16 effort from the field to pace the Corsairs to a 70-50 victory over Worcester State in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at the Tripp Athletic Center.

In the victory, UMD moves to 6-1 overall while the Lancers slip to 4-3 in the loss.  

Other standouts for the Corsairs included senior Erin Fahey (Salem, MA) and junior Beth Castantini (Newburyport, MA) who both notched 10 points each as Fahey corralled a game-best 10 rebounds.

Senior Kelsey Garrity (Somerville, MA) also chipped in with 11 points, eight assists and four boards.

Senior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA/Wachusett) registered her second double-double of the campaign with 12 points and 10 boards while junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

Senior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) and classmate Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) both contributed nine points apiece for the Lancers.

UMass Dartmouth shot exactly 50 percent for the contest (27-for-54) and the hosts dominated the paint (36-14). UMD also parlayed 19 Lancer miscues into 32 points, courtesy of 12 swipes as a team with Ronaghan recording five on defense.

Despite being outrebounded, 37-34, the Lancers actually led in offensive caroms (14-9) and held the 13-7 margin in second chance opportunities. WSU was limited to shoot a meager 31 percent for the contest (18-for-58) and only sank 10 of their 33 bids from the field in the second half alone (30 percent).

Worcester State's bench also outscored their counterparts by a 17-13 margin.

With a three point game just 7½ minutes into opening frame (15-12), the Corsairs utilized a 9-4 run over the next five minutes to open up a 24-16 lead.

Following a trifecta by Frankian which made the score 27-21, UMass Dartmouth used the opportunity of several WSU miscues and missed shots to close out the period with a 12-2 spurt and the 35-24 edge at the intermission.

Early in the second period, the Lancers got back into the game by trailing 39-35 at the 17:08 mark on the back of a triple by Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty), but the rally was short-lived. The hosts held the visitors scoreless over the next nine minutes in a 17-0 skein to take over the 56-35 advantage with 9:11 remaining in regulation.

UMass Dartmouth maintained their double-digit lead as the Blue and Gold never threatened.

Both squads will play again on Saturday. Worcester State hosts Mount Saint Vincent at WPI in a 5:30 tip-off while the Corsairs open Little East Conference play in a 1 PM road meeting with Plymouth State.