Box Score
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Teams with near-identical overall records a year ago and which were selected to finish in the middle of the pack in the Little East Conference women's basketball race this season battled on close to even terms for nearly 25 minutes before the University of Massachusetts Boston outscored Eastern Connecticut State University by 23 points over the final 15 minutes on the way to a 74-57 victory Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
 
Neither team came out firing in their return to action, but the Warriors (4-7, 1-1 LEC) – back in action after a three-week layoff -- opened up with a strong quarter defensively. Jordis Tautalatasi did the scoring early on for the Beacons, but after just over 3 minutes, the game's leading scorer Liv Cassesse (Wallingford) responded for Eastern. The Warriors were able to limit UMass Boston to just 13 points on 6-17 shooting in the opening 10 minutes, allowing none of the Beacons' attempted 5 three-pointers. Marissa Nudd (Colchester) combined with Cassesse for 7 rebounds throughout the quarter.
 
After finding themselves down by 2 through the first, the Beacons (7-4, 1-2 LEC) – playing their third game in five days -- benefited from 3-4 three-point shooting from 5-9 guard Madison Hagget, combined with a layup, for 11 of their 23 points in the second. For the Warriors, Cassesse was the only one to hit multiple field goals, but Alyssa Paquette (Claremont, NH) hit all four of her free throws, an area they exceled in throughout the game. Eastern went 10-11 from the line, while the Beacons made 2-4, both from Ashleigh Lagor.
 
Coming out of the break, the Warriors were down by 5, and a powerful three-point play from Nudd got Eastern within one possession. From this point, the Beacons went on a 10-2 run over the course of just north of three minutes and never looked back. Paquette cut the UMass Boston lead to single digits about halfway through the quarter, but despite shooting poorly from behind the arc (1-7), the Beacons hit 10 field goals in the third, the only team to hit double digit field goals in a single quarter today.
 
Entering the final quarter, the Warriors again found themselves with limited chances offensively. The Beacons had 3 of their 16 steals of the game through Tautalatasi (2) and Haggett (1) in the fourth. Eastern managed just 4 all game, three coming from Cassesse and one from Paquette. Pressure was heavy on both sides of the court, as Eastern turned the ball over 28 times and the Beacons had 15. With the UMass Boston lead opening up to as big as 19 at times, they were able to close out their first conference win of the season before hosting Western Connecticut on Tuesday.
 
UMass Boston had 5 players hit double digits in the points category, while Tautalatasi (14 points) led all players with 7 assists and 4 steals. Nudd led the floor in rebounding with 11, 4 on the offensive end. Bench points favored UMass Boston as the visitors outscored the Warriors 27-5. Aniya Jenkins (Windham) was able to score her first 2 points for the Warriors with her first collegiate shot that came with the clock winding down.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Tuesday at home against UMass Dartmouth for a 5 p.m. start. The Corsairs (4-7, 1-1 LEC) are coming off a 74-51 non-conference loss against visiting Bates College Saturday. With the beginning of the new year, the Little East Conference is in full swing. The Warriors will travel to New Hampshire for a matchup against Plymouth State University just two days after hosting the Corsairs, then face Keene State College on Saturday.