UMass Surges Past Dartmouth in Fourth to Defeat Big Green, 67-56

Sunday, December 8

Hanover, N.H.

6:30 PM

Dartmouth College

3-5,0-0Ivy League

Massachusetts

4-5,0-0Atlantic 10

Massachusetts

Dartmouth

UMass Surges Past Dartmouth in Fourth to Defeat Big Green, 67-56

12/8/2024 10:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

A 25-11 fourth quarter proved too much for Dartmouth to overcome

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth women's basketball team held a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but visiting UMass outscored the Big Green 25-11 over the final 15 minutes to walk away with the 67-56 win on Sunday evening inside Leede Arena. Clare Meyer and Alexandra Eldredge led Dartmouth with 12 points apiece, as a balanced effort saw six Big Green players score seven or more points.

Yahmani McKayle came off the bench to lead UMass, scoring a game-high 19 points. Dartmouth held a slight two-point edge in both the first and second quarters, with the Minutewomen winning the third by a point, in a tightly-contested game until late. Even so, the Big Green pulled within five with 3:25 still remaining, but from that point forward, UMass outscored Dartmouth 10-4 to erase any doubt.

Sunday marked the Big Green's fourth game in eight days, with another game just two days away — on Tuesday at Stonehill.

Score: UMass 67, Dartmouth 56
Records: Dartmouth (3-5, 0-0 Ivy League), UMass (4-5, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire (Leede Arena)
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Attendance: 603

UP NEXT:

The Big Green wrap up a five game in 10 day stretch on Tuesday night at Stonehill.

FIRST QUARTER: 

The Big Green got off to a fast start, taking a 6-2 lead after Meyer's second layup less than two minutes into the contest.
UMass responded with seven straight points and 11 of the next 13 to take a 13-8 lead after two Megan Olbrys free throws with 2:34 on the clock.
With Dartmouth trailing 16-11, the Big Green ended the first on a 7-0 run — behind a Tahira Muhammad 3-pointer, Olivia Austin steal and layup, and Meyer layup. That made the score 18-16 Dartmouth after one quarter of play.

SECOND QUARTER:

A few minutes in, the Big Green opened their largest lead at the time (5) after another Muhammad 3-pointer and Eldredge fast break layup, making the score 28-23 with 6:32 until halftime.
Neither team scored for almost four minutes until the Minutewomen pulled within three. The remainder of the quarter saw Big Green field goals from Austin, Victoria Page and Muhammad, as they took a 34-30 lead into halftime.

Big Green own their largest lead (5), as UMass calls timeout!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/GikxWshN4D #GoBigGreen | #TheFutureIsGreen | #YOURFutureIsGREEN🌲 pic.twitter.com/2lI9wDJJgv
— Dartmouth Women's Basketball (@DartmouthWBB) December 9, 2024

THIRD QUARTER:

Dartmouth continued the momentum into the third quarter, as back-to-back baskets from Eldredge and Austin gave the Big Green their largest lead at 40-32.
From there, UMass slowly chipped away, scoring eight straight points, which encompassed most of the quarter.
After the Minutewomen pulled even at 40 with 1:19 on the clock, Nina Minicozzi connected on a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in the third. The ensuing possession saw Meyer convert to give Dartmouth a 45-42 lead after 30 minutes of play.

Minicozzi three gives the Big Green the lead!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/GikxWshN4D #GoBigGreen | #TheFutureIsGreen | #YOURFutureIsGREEN pic.twitter.com/rptmDK8mgP
— Dartmouth Women's Basketball (@DartmouthWBB) December 9, 2024

FOURTH QUARTER:

UMass scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, which included an Olbrys second-chance 3-point play. The Minutewomen wouldn't trail the rest of the way.
After Austin pulled the Big Green within five, 57-52, with 3:25 to go, UMass immediately reeled off six straight points to take it largest lead, 63-52, with 44 seconds remaining — on the way to the 67-56 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Eldredge's 12 points marked a Dartmouth career-high, eclipsing her 10 scored at Navy on Wednesday night. She shot 6-of-11 from the floor, converting 6-of-8 from inside the arc.
Minicozzi finished with a season-high nine points, all coming from behind the 3-point line. This came in a season-high 29 minutes.
Muhammad was a spark off the bench, tallying eight points (second most in her young career) on 3-of-6 shooting.
As a team, the Big Green shot 42.1% from the floor (24-of-57), including 26.1% from 3-point range (6-of-23).
UMass finished at 47.9% (23-of-48) and 45.5% from behind the arc (5-of-11).
The Minutewomen held a 38-22 edge in rebounds.
Dartmouth finished with 12 steals, a season high and its most against a Division I opponent since tallying 13 on Feb. 2, 2023 at Brown.

QUOTABLE:
Hear from Minicozzi, Coach Cimino and Meyer following the defeat.