Women's Basketball Edges UMass Dartmouth, 57-56

DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Senior forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) sank a layup with 29 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 57-56 victory over UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday evening at the Tripp Center.

The Bears improve to 5-1 with the non-conference win, while the Corsairs slip to 5-1 with their first setback of the season.

In the final minute of play, junior Colleen Kane (Arlington, Mass.) converted one of two free throws to give the Corsairs a one point advantage, 56-55.  Out of a timeout, BSU freshman guard Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.) had two chances to give the visitors the lead but both shots were off target.  Following the second miss, Boutilette pulled down her fourth offensive board of the game and put home the go-ahead bucket.

On the ensuing possession, UMass Dartmouth was unable to get a shot off and turned the ball over with just one second left on the clock.

Boutilette finished with ten points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench in her first game back since suffering a season-ending injury last December.  She now has 941 career points.

Junior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) recorded her first career double-double as she finished with 11 points on 5 of 11 shooting and grabbed ten rebounds. Sophomore forward Jennie Lindland (Edgartown, Mass.) added 10 points, three steals and two blocked shots.

For the Corsairs, junior Beth Castantini (Newburyport, Mass.) registered a game-high 14 points to go along with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Senior Kelsey Garrity (Somerville, Mass.) delivered a well-rounded performance with seven points, seven assists, five boards and four steals. Sophomore Megan Ronaghan (North Attleboro, Mass.) poured in eight points on 4-of-8 shooting and reeled in seven rebounds, while senior Erin Fahey (Salem, Mass.) recorded 10 points and six caroms.

To open the contest, Castantini scored five of UMass Dartmouth's first eight points to give the Corsairs the early 8-2 lead. The Bears utilized an 11-4 run over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game. Facing a 17-16 deficit, a Fahey jumper sparked a 10-2 run, which was capped off by back-to-back three-pointers from junior Bri Hochwater (Attleboro, Mass.). The Bears came roaring back with an 11-2 run of their own highlighted by five points from Lindland to retake the lead, 30-28, with 1:29 left in the stanza. A three-ball from Castantini and a jumper from junior Colleen Kane (Arlington, Mass.) in the final minute and a half would send the Corsairs into halftime with a 33-31 advantage.

In the second half, Bridgewater State got up by as many as eight points on two occasions including a 51-43 lead with 7:27 remaining following a layup by freshman center Christina Jaros (Plymouth, Mass.).  

The Bears, however, were held scoreless for nearly five minutes allowing the Corsairs to knot the game at 51-51 with 3:08 remaining on a pair of free throws by Kane.  The two teams would exchange baskets until the final minute of play.

The Bears dominated the paint, outscoring UMass Dartmouth 37-22, while the Corsairs held a slight advantage in assists (12-10) and points off of turnovers (18-16). Both teams struggled with their long-distance shooting.  The Bears went 2-for-13 (15%) from behind the arc, while the Corsairs connected on 4 of 24 (17%) three-point attempts.

UMass Dartmouth returns to action at 4 pm on Thursday, Dec. 4, when the Corsairs host non-conference opponent Worcester State. Bridgewater State will host nationally ranked Amherst College on Saturday at 2 pm.  The Jeffs (4-0) are ranked fourth in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and second in the most recent D3hoops.com Poll.