Providence, R.I.—Junior guard
Antonia Corsinetti (Johnston, R.I.) scored a career-high 27 points and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as No. 1-seeded Rhode Island College knocked off No. 3-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 70-55, in the finals of the 2022 Little East Women's Basketball Championship played at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
No. 1 Rhode Island College 70, No. 3 UMass Dartmouth 55
Rhode Island College (23-5)
UMass Dartmouth (20-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• RIC took an early five-point, 10-5, advantage, on a jumper by junior forward
Izabelle Booth (Newport, R.I.). UMass Dartmouth quickly responded and went into the first break down by just three points, 15-12.
• The two squads traded three-point field goals to open the frame, with UMD taking the lead, 24-21, with 5:20 remaining on a three-pointer by senior forward
Shaelyn Carreiro (Fall River, Mass.). The hosts battled back to share a 28-28 score with the Corsairs going into halftime.
• The third quarter was another slugfest, with RIC firing the first punch with a 9-0 run to open up the stanza. The Corsairs clawed back to trim RIC's lead to just one, 40-39, as the two teams entered the fourth and final quarter.
• With 7:41 left in the fourth quarter, freshman forward
Angelina Nardolillo (Hinsdale, N.H.) hit a layup to give the host their first 10-point lead of the game, 49-39.
• UMD senior guard
Jordan Moretti (Johnston, R.I.) and sophomore guard
Kaylin Zalewski (Johnston, R.I.) made some tough shots to keep the Corsairs in it, but ultimately fell short as RIC iced the game with free throws.
• Corsinetti was outstanding in RIC's, 3-0, run through the Little East Championship. Over the three games, she averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds and two assists per game.
• Corsinetti's seven three-pointers in the win today were the second-most in a game in RIC women's basketball history.
• Booth dropped a career-high 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.
• Junior guard
Jeniyah Jones (Randolph, Mass.) had another outstanding performance with eight points, a game-high 14 rebounds and six steals in the win.
• Moretti and Carreiro each had 12 points for the visitors. Moretti added six assists and five rebounds, while Carreiro plucked eighth rebounds.
• This marks the fourth Little East Title ('11-12, '13-14, '20-21, '21-22) and the fifth time RIC has made the NCAA Tournament ('21-22, '13-14, '11-12, '84-85, '82-83).
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will participate in the 2022 NCAA Div. III Women's Basketball Championship for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Anchorwomen will fide out their next opponent on Monday, Feb. 28 when the tournament selections are announced.
