DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by terrific team defense, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's basketball rallied back and took a 70-65 win over Smith College on Sunday for the 2023 Lafrance Hospitality Women's Basketball Tournament Championship. Smith came into the game as the #4 team in the country according to the WBCA's preseason poll. The Corsairs couldn't have asked for a better start to their 2023-24 season, improving to 4-0 with a massive win in their home tournament. The Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season, moving them to 3-1. 
 
UMass Dartmouth senior Teja Andrews was named the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament's Most Outstanding Player for her tremendous play on both sides of the ball this weekend. Junior Amaris Mills represented the Corsairs on the All-Tournament Team, while Smith College senior Ally Yamada represented the Pioneers on the All-Tournament Team. Four players reached double-figures for the Corsairs, including a game-high 20 from Mills and 17 from Andrews.  
 
It was a close game throughout the opening half as the Pioneers owned a seven-point advantage (19-12) after the first quarter of play. Smith College held a lead the entire quarter, with UMD only able to pull it within three following a deep ball from senior Kaylin Zalewski. A couple mid-range jumpers from Yamada and a layup from freshman Hannah Martin helped the Pioneers extend their lead to seven at the end of the quarter.

The Corsairs began their climb back in the second quarter, cutting the lead down to one when senior Jaelyn Lavigne nailed a three. A layup from senior Carly Whiteside at the 4:31 mark gave UMass Dartmouth its first lead of the day. A timely three pointer from Smith College sophomore Selam Maher separated the Pioneers once more, as they held a 33-28 lead over UMD going into the halftime break.  
 
Entering the third quarter at a five-point deficit, UMass Dartmouth kept it close, but the Pioneers seemed to have an answer for every Corsairs' score. UMass Dartmouth took a time out down by seven at the 2:25 mark in the quarter. Mills and sophomore Tyah Pettaway took over after the time out. Pettaway scored a mid-range bucket and a layup to cut the lead down to three. Mills scored a layup of her own to cut the lead to one, before hitting a huge three ball with nine seconds left on the clock that made the Tripp Center erupt as the Corsairs took a 48-46 lead going into the final quarter of action.  
 
UMD rolled with the momentum they built at the end of the third, exploding for a 13-3 run that gave the Corsairs a 12-point lead with seven minutes remaining. That run featured two steals by Andrews and scoring from Pettaway, Mills and Andrews. Smith's All-Tournament selection Yamada made multiple big shots from beyond the arc that fought the Pioneers back into it. Yamada's third three ball of the quarter cut the UMass Dartmouth lead back down to two at 67-65 with 0:51 on the clock. The Corsairs were able to hang on to their lead thanks to clutch free-throw shooting from Pettaway and Zalewski. The Corsairs were victorious, 70-65 over the #4 ranked team in the country.
 
UMass Dartmouth was paced by Mills' 20 points off the bench on 4 of 5 shooting from long range. Andrews added 17 points and seven rebounds, shooting 7 of 12 from the field and had two steals when it mattered most. Lavigne went a perfect 3 for 3 from long range on her way to scoring 11 and dishing five assists. Whiteside continues to be a handful for opposing teams in the interior. She hauled in 12 boards and contested a ton of Smith College layups.   
 
Smith College was paced by 18 points and five assists on 3 of 6 from deep from Yamada. Senior Jessie Ruffner recorded five points and 10 boards. Maher, graduate Sofia Rosa and junior Jane Loo scored nine points each for the Pioneers.   
  
The Corsairs won the 2023 Lafrance Hospitality Women's Basketball Tournament with a big win over a nationally ranked opponent, as they roll on to a 4-0 start to the season. UMass Dartmouth returns to the court on Tuesday, November 21 when they host Roger Williams University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30PM in the Tripp Athletic Center.