Big Green Drop Heartbreaker to Merrimack at the Buzzer

Tuesday, December 2

Hanover, N.H.

6:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-2,0-0Ivy League

Merrimack

3-4,0-0MAAC

Merrimack

Dartmouth

Big Green Drop Heartbreaker to Merrimack at the Buzzer

12/2/2025 10:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference

The Warriors' Molly Manion knocked down the game-winning corner three as the clock expired

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — In a wild ending that saw three made shots in the final six seconds, it was a 3-pointer from Merrimack's Molly Manion that proved to be the difference as the Warriors defeated the Dartmouth women's basketball team, 59-57 on Tuesday evening inside Leede Arena.

After Merrimack's Mia Fiore connected on a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining, Nina Minicozzi converted a layup off a pass from Cate MacDonald on a great drawn-up play coming out of a timeout. But just over one second was enough time for Manion to win the game for the Warriors with a corner three.

Minicozzi led the Big Green with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Olivia Austin added 12 points and 10 rebounds for her third-career double-double. MacDonald and Clare Meyer each added 10 rebounds as well.

Fiore led Merrimack with 15 points.

Dartmouth was in action for the first time since Nov. 16 after more than two weeks due to final exams. The Big Green fall to 3-2 on the season, with the Warriors improving to 3-4.

Score: Merrimack 59, Dartmouth 57
Records: Merrimack (3-4, 0-0 MAAC), Dartmouth (3-2, 0-0 Ivy League)
Location: Hanover, N.H. (Leede Arena)
Date: Sunday, December 2, 2025
Attendance: 603

UP NEXT:

The Big Green return home on Friday to host Central Connecticut State at 6 p.m.

FIRST QUARTER:

The opening minutes saw two ties and two lead changes, until an 8-0 Dartmouth run — capped off by a Zeynep Ozel layup — gave the Big Green a 10-4 lead with 3:17 on the clock.
After four straight Merrimack points, an Alexandra Eldredge 3-pointer gave Dartmouth a 13-8 lead.
An Austin jumper in the final seconds of the first gave the Big Green a 15-12 advantage after 10 minutes of play.

SECOND QUARTER:

Dartmouth's lead reached five on multiple occasions early in the quarter, with a MacDonald jumper getting the Big Green lead back up to six at 26-20 with 3:02 left in the quarter.
Merrimack pulled within two at 28-26 at the half.

THIRD QUARTER:

Early in the third, the Warriors pulled even at 28, 30 and 33, but the Big Green responded with seven straight points.
Meyer scored five of the seven points, including the final four to give Dartmouth a 40-33 lead with 3:57 on the clock.
Dartmouth led 44-40 heading into the fourth.

FOURTH QUARTER:

The Big Green continued to maintain a multiple possession lead, until midway through the quarter.
Five straight Merrimack points pulled the Warriors within 51-50.
A Minicozzi layup gave Dartmouth a 55-53 lead with 3:51 remaining, a score which stood heading into the final minute, which set the stage for the wild back-and-forth ending.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

For the game, the Big Green shot 34.4% from the floor (21-of-61), including 21.7% from 3-point range (5-of-23).
Merrimack finished at 39.4% (26-of-66) and 30% from behind the arc (6-of-20).
The Big Green held a 48-38 edge on the glass, including 16-9 in offensive rebounds.
Tuesday was just Dartmouth's second home game of the season, but the Big Green will be home twice this weekend (Friday and Sunday).
MacDonald recorded double-figure rebounds for a second straight game and missed her second consecutive double-double by a single point.
Dartmouth has had a double-double in three straight games (Ozel vs. Colby-Sawyer, MacDonald at Siena then Austin vs. Merrimack).
Merrimack led for just 23 seconds all game.

QUOTABLE:
Hear from Coach Cimino following the victory.