BRISTOL, R.I. – A strong defensive effort paced the Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team past the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Thursday evening, defeating the Corsairs 50-38 in a non-conference matchup.

The Corsairs shot only 19.2 percent from the field in the game, their lowest percentage of the season. In addition, the 38 points scored in the game is their second lowest output of the year, behind a 37-point effort in a loss to Worcester State on November 24^th.

Conversely, the Hawks overcame their struggles with ball control to come away with the win. RWU turned the ball over a season-high 31 times in the game while shooting only 32.8 percent from the floor. Despite the turnovers, the Hawks outrebounded the Corsairs 61-41 in the contest, the team's best performance on the glass of the year.

The Corsairs scored the first five points of the game on a layup by Kaylin Nelson (New Bedford, Mass.) and a three-point play by Lynley DeAmato (Melrose, Mass.). The Hawks responded with a 6-0 run on baskets by Ryan Weekes (Worcester, Mass.), Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.), and #Alexandria Lanieri# (Port Jefferson, N.Y.).

A layup by Shannon Singletary (Brockton, Mass.) gave the Corsairs an 8-6 advantage at the 14:31 mark. UMass-Dartmouth would go on to lead throughout most of the remainder of the half until a three-pointer by Kate Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) put the Hawks up 23-21 on their final possession of the period to go into the break with the lead.

The Hawks opened the second half on a 10-3 run, holding the Corsairs to 1-of-8 shooting over the first five minutes of the period to take a 33-24 lead. The nine-point deficit proved to be too much for UMass-Dartmouth to overcome, as the Corsairs would not be able to come closer than seven over the remainder of the game thanks to a trey by Jessica Howlett (North Quincy, Mass.) to make it 38-31 with 6:59 to play. Kilzi would knock down a three of her own with under six minutes left to put the Hawks back up by double digits, which they would hold onto for the win.

Lanieri and Weekes each recorded double-doubles in the game, with Lanieri going for 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Weekes added ten points and 12 boards. Kilzi scored 13 points with eight rebounds in a team-high 36 minutes of action.

Nelson finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals for the Corsairs, while DeAmato contributed seven points, four boards and four steals. Tashauna Ashmeade (Hyannis, Mass.) only scored three points on 1-of-15 shooting, but grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with two blocks and two steals.

Roger Williams (5-8) returns to TCCC play Saturday at home with a 1:00 p.m. game against Wentworth Institute of Technology, while UMass-Dartmouth (5-9) hosts Keene State College at 1:00 p.m. in a Little East contest.