NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Visiting Salve Regina University built a 12-point lead and held off a late rally to defeat the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's women's basketball team, 61-57,  in a non-conference game at the Tripp Athletic Center Thursday evening.

The Seahawks took a 31-23 halftime lead, and then extended it before UMass Dartmouth rallied. A pair of layups by senior forward Kaylin Nelson (New Bedford, Mass.) and a layup and two free throws by freshman center Colleen Moriarty (Canton, Mass.) allowed the Corsairs to score eight consecutive points and reduce a 58-47 SRU advantage to 58-55 with 56 seconds left.

On their next possession, SRU freshman guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) was called for a foul, but Moriarty missed both free throws. Junior forward Olivia Browning (Trumbull, Conn.) then made one of two free throws for the Seahawks, and UMD's freshman guard Jessica Howlett (North Quincy, Mass.) connected on a jumper to make it 59-57 with 27 seconds to play. Junior guard Kimberly Horan (Webster, Mass.) then hit a pair of free throws for SRU, and the Corsairs could not score again before time expired.

The Seahawks started quickly, racing to an 11-2 lead and then building a 28-13 advantage on a jumper by junior guard Meghan Averill (Newfields, N.H.) with 5:01 remaining in the first half. A layup by Moriarty and a layup and a free throw by senior guard Madison Malloy (Cranston, R.I.) cut the lead to 28-18. Averill hit a three-pointer for the Seahawks, but a layup by Moriarty and a three-pointer by junior guard Lynley DeAmato (Melrose, Mass.) cut the lead to 31-23 at the halftime break.

"Another slow start did us in," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Amanda Van Voorhis. "We switched up our defense, took some chances, and cut into their lead, but it was a little too late. We have to be better at starting fast and finishing strong."

Moriarty had 16 points for the Corsairs, and junior forward Tashauna Ashmeade (Hyannis, Mass.) added 13. Junior Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) of SRU was the game's high scorer with 24 points, while sophomore center Lindsay Shorey (Ashland, Mass.) had 11. Browning had 20 rebounds for the Seahawks, and Nelson 15 for UMD, as SRU out rebounded the Corsairs, 54-43.

The Corsairs dropped to 2-4 with the defeat, while the Seahawks improved to 4-1 with the victory. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they begin their Little East Conference schedule by visiting Plymouth State Saturday afternoon. Salve Regina will visit MCLA Saturday.

Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth sports information