Points in paint lift UMass Dartmouth over Salve Regina

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Eleven second-half points by sophomore Nakira Examond (New Bedford, Mass.) proved to be the difference-maker, as UMass Dartmouth rebounded from a slow first half to down Salve Regina 71-62 in the opening game of the 2016 Fairfield Inn & Suites Tournament at the Tripp Center.

The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 71, Salve Regina 62
Records: UMass Dartmouth (2-0) | Salve Regina (0-2)

How it Happened
The Corsairs jumped out to an eight-point lead in the first quarter, earning seven of its' 16 opening-stanza points from the bench. A 9-0 run spanning three minutes with points from five different players opened up a 16-10 lead for the hosts until the Seahawks put together a run of their own in the second. A 3-point bucket from Kerri Beland (Attleboro, Mass.) with 1:48 left put the visitors ahead for the first time, and Beland hit a buzzer-beater from just inside half court to cut the Corsairs' lead to 35-32 at the break.

Examond and the Corsairs revived themselves early in the second half, forcing and taking advantage of seven Seahawk turnovers to churn out 11 points. Back-to-back layups by sophomore Kailyn Milligan (Lakeville, Mass.) twice extended the UMass Dartmouth advantage to nine, and the hosts doubled the Seahawks in points in the paint on the quarter.

A fast-break layup by Adi Alicea-Cordero (Dorchester, Mass.) off a Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.) steal put the Corsair lead to its highest point yet midway through the fourth, and Examond buried two free throws with two minutes remaining to stave off any Salve Regina comeback.

Inside the Numbers

• UMass Dartmouth's physical presence in the paint overwhelmed Salve Regina on the game, with the Corsairs notching 52 points to the Seahawks' 24.
• Examond posted a game-high 15 points, her highest total since last Dec. 1, along with eight rebounds.
• Eleven of 14 Corsairs to see the floor registered at least two points on the contest in a well-balanced attack.
• Milligan finished with a career-high nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, and Alicea-Cordero also posted a career-high of eight points with a team-high three steals.
• Senior Rachel McCarron (Groton, Mass.) and Houlihan rounded out the Corsairs in double-digits, each finishing with 10 points, with Houlihan dishing out six assists and McCarron five.
• UMass Dartmouth is now winners of seven-straight against Salve Regina, dating back to 2011.

Up Next
In tomorrow's second day of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Tournament, Salve Regina will meet Rivier at 12 p.m. in the consolation game, while the Corsairs square off with Coast Guard in a rematch of last year's Championship game at 2 p.m.