No doubt about it. Eastern Connecticut State (ECS) has one of the best Division III women’s basketball teams in the nation and the UMass Boston squad ran with the Warriors for much of the game. However, the Warriors came out on top 65-55, handing the Beacons their first Little East Conference (LEC) loss of the season.
It was a frustrating game for the Beacons. There were missed opportunities, some breakdowns on defense, and some tough breaks on foul calls. But the team battled and banged with their opponent for much of the game, as senior Andreen Gilpin (13 points, 15 rebounds) demonstrated in her play. The power forward took several hard spills while scrambling for loose balls, once going into the stands , but she got back up to play after everyone of them.
The Warriors started the game by trying to outrun the Beacons, but the team got back on defense extremely well in the early going. UMB was not allowing ECS second chances offensively as Gilpin and center Jamila Gales cleaned up the defensive boards.
The Beacons had a 18-13 first half lead built on strong defense, smothering several Warrior field goal attempts and stepping into the passing lanes. Unfortunately, the offense sputtered after that, as the team could score only six points in the final 9:38 of the first half. UMb took a slim 24-22 lead into the locker room.
Eastern Connecticut showed why they are one of the best, shifting into another gear as the team went on a 15-4 run in the first five minutes. UMass Boston tried to countered with several mini-runs, led by Kristen Bowes’s three pointers, but the Warriors held fast.
At this time, the foul calls began to go against the Beacons and the UMB bench became visibly frustrated. Coach Shawn Polk was particularly animated. The Beacons did cut the lead to six several times, but the fouls began to pile up as ECS was in the bonus early and the Warrior players converted their free throw attempts. Gales and Bowes both fouled out, leaving holes in the paint and on the perimeter. ECS sealed the victory by hitting the majority of their free throws down the stretch.
The loss was the second in a row for the Beacons. The team lost the championship game of the Grand Canyon Classic to Anderson University 50-41, but slipped by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the first game 66-62 in OT.
The team’s overall record stands at 7-3 and 2-1 in the Little East Conference. The team is next in action at the Clark Athletic Center Thursday, January 16 against Suffolk University at 6pm and then on Saturday, January 18 against LEC foe Western Connecticut State at 1pm.