DORCHESTER, Mass. — Senior forward Regan Keyter (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) posted a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team to a 59-46 victory over host University of Massachusetts Boston this afternoon at Clark Athletic Center in the Dorchester section of Boston, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 4-9 on the season, while the Beacons fall to 9-5.
Wheaton owned a 41-31 advantage on the glass and outscored UMass Boston, 10-1, in second chance points. The Lyons shot 38.9% (21-54) from the floor, including 26.1% (6-23) from three-point range but were excellent from the free throw line, converting 11-13 (84.6%) of their tries. The Beacons were limited to 35.6% (21-59) from the field and made just three of nine free throws for the game.
Keyter was 8-13 from the field for Wheaton and came up with three steals to go with an assist and a block, while junior forward Cheyenne Colbert (Brookline, N.H.) scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and came up with a steal. Junior guard Mary Claire McClintock (Essex Junction, Vt.) netted 14 points on 5-10 shooting and added five boards, three assists and a pair of steals.
Junior guard Jordis Tautalatasi (Springfield, Mass.) led all scorers with 21 points on 10-15 from the floor to go with six rebounds, three steals and two assists for UMass Boston. Junior forward Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) chipped in with eight points, four rebounds, a pair of steals and a blocked shot.
Senior guard Tatiannah Fevry (Dracut, Mass.) converted a layup to even the game for the Beacons with 8:12 to play in the opening quarter. The Lyons closed out the period with a 14-5 run, fueled by nine points from Keyter, to take an 18-9 lead into the second quarter. Wheaton didn't look back in a game it never trailed.
The Lyons carried their momentum into the second quarter, putting together a 14-6 stretch capped by a layup from first year forward Katelyn Cadmus (Pawcatuck, Conn.) to give Wheaton its largest lead at 32-15 with 2:06 showing in the second quarter. Keyter scored four points during the run to give her 17 points and keep her personal advantage over UMass Boston's total.
Tautalatasi scored all six of the quarter's final points to cut the deficit to 32-21 at the intermission for the Beacons.
McClintock knocked down a jumper at the 8:23 mark of the third quarter to give the Lyons a 34-23 cushion, but UMass Boston went on a 9-3 burst with a jumper from Fevry pulling the home team within 37-32 with 6:09 remaining in the period. Wheaton scored the next five points, including a three-ball from sophomore guard Daniella MacDonald (Newtown, Pa.) to increase the Lyons' lead to 42-32 with 2:30 to play in the quarter. Cadmus kept it a double-digit difference for Wheaton with a layup coming with 63 seconds to play in the third quarter. The Beacons tallied the final three points of the period to make it 44-37 heading into the final quarter of play.
The Lyons ripped off the first eight points of the fourth quarter, including five from McClintock, to take a 52-37 commanding lead with 7:43 remaining in the contest. Wheaton led by double-digits for the rest of the game and Beacons got no closer than within 11 points for the remainder of the tilt.
The Lyons return to the court on Monday, January 12 when they host Emmanuel College (Mass.) at 6:00 p.m. in Emerson Gymnasium, while UMass Boston hosts Little East Conference foe Plymouth State University on January 14 at 12:00 p.m.
