NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Wesleyan women’s basketball team faced a setback on Sunday, losing to UMass Dartmouth 69-56 in the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament. This loss brings their record to 2-2, while UMass Dartmouth improves to 2-3.
The game started with promise for the Cardinals. They quickly put up 10 points in the first four minutes, fueled by Alli Jones and Olivia Quinn, each scoring four points. However, UMass Dartmouth responded strongly, ending the first quarter with a 16-12 lead.
In the second quarter, Madie Dayton and Meghan Kirck hit back-to-back three-pointers, narrowing the gap from nine points to just three. But the Corsairs retaliated with three consecutive trifectas, building their lead back up significantly. A buzzer-beating three from Cristina Negron left Wesleyan trailing 40-27 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Corsairs continued to dominate, pushing their lead to as much as 21 points. Wesleyan did mount a little comeback, outscoring their opponents 13-4 in the last five minutes, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Quinn led Wesleyan with 17 points and seven rebounds, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Jones turned in her second consecutive double-double, with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Kirck contributed with 14 points and four assists.
Looking at the broader context, women’s basketball has seen significant growth in visibility and popularity over the years. Recent studies show that NCAA women’s basketball viewership has increased by 23% over the past few seasons, reflecting a growing interest in women’s sports. This game, while a loss, contributes to that story of progress.
Next up, Wesleyan will hit the road for a game against Clark on Tuesday.
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