Boston, Mass.--Freshman forward Victoria Demers (Sutton, MA) scored a career-high 17 points as the Rhode Island College women's basketball team fell to UMass Boston, 67-45, in a Little East Conference contest played at the Clark Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Demers led all scorers and shot 7-for-9 from the field to go along three rebounds, two blocks and a steal for the Anchorwomen (4-8, 1-2 LEC). Freshman guard Jordyn Gauvin (Fall River, MA) contributed nine points, six boards, three assists and two steals, while junior guard Jessa Rubera (Newton, MA) chipped in with nine points, three boards, three assists and four steals.

UMass Boston (6-7, 2-1 LEC) had four players score in double figures, led by junior guard Grace Geary's (Falmouth, MA) 13 points. Senior guard Taje Burston (Springfield, MA) notched 12 points, while junior forward Raven Kelsey (Boston, MA) narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Chantel Jordan (Brockton, MA) pitched in with 10 points. Junior guard Kathie Mathieu (Coventry, CT) filled up the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, four assists and six steals.

RIC shots 35 percent (17-for-49) from the field, six percent (1-for-17) from downtown and 53 percent (10-for-19) from the free throw line. The Beacons shot 33 percent (22-for-67) from the field, 37 percent (10-for-27) from downtown and 68 percent (13-for-19) from the free throw line.

The Anchorwomen opened the game on an 8-0 run, capped by a Demers jumper with 6:35 left in the first quarter. UMB countered with a 10-0 run to lead, 10-8, with 3:49 left in the first stanza. RIC ripped off six straight to lead, 14-10, after the first 10 minutes.

 The game was tied, 17-17, on a Gauvin three with 9:05 left in the second quarter and remained deadlocked for the next three minutes until a Beacon layup put UMB on top, 19-17. The Gauvin trey were the last points RIC would score in the half as the Beacons built a 27-17 lead at the half.

 Rhode Island College climbed to within four points in the third quarter, but the hosts responded and led by 15, 47-32, by the end of the frame. The Beacon advantage grew to as many as 29 in the fourth as UMB cruised to its second conference win of the year.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will play at Div. I Brown on Monday, Jan. 9 (noon).