The Beacons came into their Feb. 7 game against Rhode Island College as losers of their last 3 of 4, and in a freefall down the Little East Conference standings they stood atop of in early January. They could not turn things around, losing 64-52.
In their previous game — a win over Western Connecticut Feb. 4 — junior guard Madison Haggett scored a game high 22 points, shooting 9 for 16 from the field, willing her team towards a top four spot in the conference and securing the home court for the first round of the playoffs.
The Feb. 7 game posed as a massive moment in the team’s season, with RIC in second place at 12-2 in conference play and only a game back of Southern Maine for the LEC crown — a potentially pivotal confidence booster for the ailing Beacons.
The contest started hot for UMass Boston, as the starters came out with a clear intensity and attacked the offensive glass, getting them out to a quick 9-4 lead midway through the first quarter. RIC would respond immediately — especially freshman center Eva Monahan, who used her frame to bully defenders in the paint. Monahan converted on multiple low post finishes while UMass Boston’s inefficiencies around the rim started to catch up, combining to a 10-0 Rhode Island run.
Right at the end of the first quarter, Beacon Jordis Tautalatasi faded to her right and used the glass to score with the buzzer sounding to make it 16-13 going into the second quarter. To start the quarter, Beacons’ star Sabanna Berrios found her first points of the game, working on the block down low and creating space with some pretty footwork. She struck again later in the quarter on a fast-break layup to tie the game up.
Both squads hit a cold spot halfway through the quarter with either team struggling to find efficient offense and a consistent source of scoring. UMass Boston found offensive salvation in the form of the free throw line, drawing multiple fouls to grab a slight one-point lead before half.
RIC’s Monahan flipped that lead, converting on back-to-back layups, giving her team a 25-24 advantage at the half. UMass Boston would continue the foul-drawing trend into the third quarter, forcing Monahan to the bench with her third foul and eking out a lead at the six minute mark after three free throws from Hileah Turner-Foster.
The last five minutes of the third quarter were dominated by RIC’s junior guard Abby Wager who scored 11 of the team’s 21 points and tacked on two steals that led to fast-break baskets which blew the game open for the Anchorman. RIC would go on a 17-3 run from the five minute mark, ending the quarter up 46-33.
Wager’s third-quarter run was topped in the fourth by the Beacons’ Asheligh Leglor, who exploded for 12 points in the final quarter, rising above defenders and making a couple of tough, contested shots that ignited some small runs.
It ultimately was not enough, leading the Beacons to a 64-52 loss and putting them at 6-7 in the LEC. Lagor finished with a game high 20 points, while Berrios went 2-12 with 5 points in a truly disappointing loss.