Worcester, MA --- Freshman Kelsey Garritty (Somerville, MA) scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to help lead UMass Dartmouth to a 62-57 triumph over Worcester State in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at Lancer Gym.
For the Corsairs (3-1), sophomore Erika Bornemann (Canton, MA) put up a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds while she also blocked three shots. Junior Colleen Moriarty (Canton, MA) netted 14 points and added nine boards as Garrity ended the evening with four assists and a pair of steals.
The Lancers (1-3) were paced by sophomore Meghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) who registered a team-high 16 points and gathered seven rebounds. Senior Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) ended the evening with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. First-year Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) chipped in with eight points and grabbed a squad-best nine boards.
UMass Dartmouth began the scoring with a 6-1 run after canning three consecutive field goals from inside the paint. After the Lancers missed their first eight shots from the field, they nailed four of their next eight along with a pair of free throws by Burns to take over a 9-8 edge at the 11:35 mark.
The two squads then treated those in attendance with back and forth stanza that would see seven lead changes and five ties over the final 10 minutes of the period as the final horn was marked by long-range three-pointer by freshman Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) for a buzzer beater to even the score at 25-25 at the break.
Worcester State began the second half off strong with on an 11-4 run four minutes into the frame with Charrette tallying five points during the streak to put the Lancers ahead, 36-29.
The Corsairs responded with 9-2 rally to knot the score 38-38 with 12:41 remaining as they were sparked by Moriarity who had six points in the skien.
Play continued at a stalemate as neither squad more than a two-point margin over the next seven minutes.
Following the lead changing hands three times and the score being equalized on four occasions, UMass Dartmouth took advantage of key Lancer turnover on inbounds pass on the baseline and converted a senior Stephanie Houtman (New Bedford, MA) three-point play for 51-48 edge with 5:28 on the clock.
In an 8-2 run, the visitors would then go 5-for-6 from the charity stripe and add a Houtman trey to balloon their lead to 59-50 with 3:14 remaining in regulation.
The Lancers play stellar defense and hold the Corsairs to just two points over the next three minutes to trail by four with eight ticks remaining on the clock (61-57) on the back of a Charette three-pointer. UMD also missed four shots from the field and connected for just two of their seven attempts from the free throw line.
But Houtman sealed the game with a key steal in front of her own net to help the Cosairs earn the hard-fought victory.
UMass Dartmouth held slight leads in rebounding (46-45), defensive rebounds (33-32) while both were even in second chance points (12-12), fast break points and offensive caroms (13-13). UMD led in points off of miscues with a 17-9 edge.
The two squads shot modestly from the field as WSU was 31 percent from the field (18-for-59) and the visitors were 33 percent overall (20-for-61). The Corsairs connected for just three of their 14 attempts from three point and the hosts made just two of their 11 tries from beyond the arc.
Exactly one-third of the Lancers offense came from the charity stripe with a 19-for-27 line in the category (70 percent). UMD shot 63 percent for the game (19-for-30).
Worcester State's next game will be next Friday (December 2nd) when the face Anna Maria in the opening round of the Wesleyan Tournament at 8 PM. UMass Dartmouth will host Bridgewater State in their next game on Tuesday (November 29th) at 7.