Dartmouth Stumbles at UMass After Strong Start

Wednesday, December 28

Amherst, Mass.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

2-12,0-0Ivy League

UMass

10-3,0-0Atlantic 10

Dartmouth

Massachusetts

Anna Nelson ’26

Photo by: Justin Lafleur

Dartmouth Stumbles at UMass After Strong Start

12/28/2022 10:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

12 different players scored for the Big Green in a 77-58 loss

By: Kyle Relf

AMHERST, Mass. — Despite a strong start against defending Atlantic 10 champion UMass, the Dartmouth women's basketball team dropped a 77-58 decision Wednesday night at the Mullins Center.

The Big Green moved to 2-12 on the season, while the Minutewomen improved to 10-3 as both sides wrapped up their respective non-conference slates.

Dartmouth held a 17-16 edge following the first quarter thanks to opportunistic defense and points in transition. UMass built a lead with a resurgent second quarter before pulling away with a dominant third.

Grace Niekelski's 10 points led a balanced offensive contingent that landed 12 different players in the scoring column. Allie Harland, who has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in each Dartmouth's last seven games, was 2-of-2 from downtown. Freshman Anna Nelson also sank a pair of triples (2-of-3). Sam Breen's 20-point double-double was the catalyst for UMass, while Ber'Nyah Mayo added 17 points.

Dartmouth held a 6-2 edge after leading scorer Niekelski's first bucket and following a short Minutewomen run, the sophomore came up with a steal and converted on the other end with an open lane to the basket to give early momentum back to the Big Green. Harland later put Dartmouth on top by three in the final minute of the quarter with her first 3-pointer of the evening. Destiney Philoxey scored on the ensuing possession to trim the lead before the buzzer.

UMass scored on its first possession of the second quarter to grab its first lead since the 3:58 mark of the first and although Dartmouth stayed within striking distance for the remainder of the half, the Minutewomen never trailed again for the remainder of the evening. Dartmouth was held to just six points in the second quarter with Karina Mitchell, Clare Meyer and Mia Curtis representing the only scoring. Meyer sank a turnaround jumper in the paint to give Dartmouth a much-needed bucket, but UMass secured the momentum heading into the break with Breen's and-one in the final seconds.

The lead stretched to double digits following a 6-0 Minutewomen run to open the third quarter before the Big Green found life with Anna Nelson's 3-pointer. Olivia Lawlor's successful and-one opportunity answered a seven-point UMass spurt, but Dartmouth was unable to hold off a hot UMass offense, which shot better than 60 percent during the second half.

Dartmouth and UMass played even in the fourth quarter as both offenses erupted for 23 points over the final 10 minutes. Eight players scored for the Big Green, led by Curtis with five. Dartmouth twice found itself within 15 after triples by Curtis and Harland, but time ran out on a potential Big Green run.

Ivy League play begins Sunday, Jan. 1 at Cornell. The game, which is set for 2 p.m., will be streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available through the Dartmouth Athletics website.