PROVIDENCE, R.I. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth sophomore Bri Hochwarter (Attleboro, Mass.) scored 14 of her team-high 15 points in the first half to lead the Corsairs to a 49-45 Little East Conference women's basketball victory over Rhode Island College this evening inside The Murray Center.
UMass Dartmouth (18-7) earned at least a share of the conference's regular-season title with a 10-3 mark. The Corsairs can clinch the top seed and home court advantage throughout the upcoming Little East Conference Championship tournament with a win over Keene State College (15-9, 7-6) on Saturday.
UMass Dartmouth withstood its second worst shooting performance of the season, connecting on 27.8 percent (15-for-54) of its attempts. The Corsairs limited Rhode Island College to 28.4 percent (19-for-67) from the floor, including just 5.6 percent (1-for-18) from behind the three-point arc. The visitors used a decisive 54-43 advantage on the boards, to overcome a season-high 26 turnovers.
UMass Dartmouth placed two players in double figures in scoring, led by Hochwarter. She came off the bench to shoot 5-for-7 from the field, 4-for-6 from long distance, and 1-for-2 from the foul line in 25 minutes of action. Sophomore Megan Ronaghan (North Attleboro, Mass.) netted 11 points and pulled in seven rebounds. Senior Erin Fahey (Salem, Mass.) hauled in a team-high 12 boards, while junior Beth Castantini (Newburyport, Mass.) collected 10 carooms.
Junior Devin Hill (Danielson, Conn.) posted a double-double, consisting of 12 points and 15 rebounds, to power Rhode Island College (6-18, 4-9). Freshman Jess Korzec (West Brookfield, Mass.) registered nine points, while junior Michelle Lagrotteria (Niantic, Conn.) pulled in five boards.
The Anchorwomen scored the opening six points of the contest, but the Corsairs responded with a 13-4 run to take the lead for good. Ronaghan converted a traditional three-point play during the surge, while Hochwarter and sophomore Rachel McCarron (Groton, Mass.) capped the surge with back-to-back triples.
UMass Dartmouth continued to utilize its long distance shooting to help the visitors extend their advantage to eight points, the largest first half margin. Rhode Island College trimmed its deficit to two points, but Hochwarter drained consecutive three-pointers to push the Corsairs' advantage to 30-22 with less than three minutes left in the frame. UMass Dartmouth entered the locker room leading 33-25.
The Corsairs started the second stanza with a 7-4 run, stretching their lead to a game-high 11 points (40-29).
However, the visitors were able to work through a lengthy cold spell from the field-converting just two field goals over the final 16:56 of regulation-to maintain a one possession advantage. The Anchorwomen, who shot 31 percent (9-for-29) from the field and committed 11 turnovers after the break, eventually whittled their deficit to three points, 48-45, with 31 ticks left on the clock. Hochwarter sealed the conference contest with a 1-for-2 showing from the charity stripe to provide the final production of the evening.