Women's Basketball opens Season at Mass-Dartmouth Tournament

(Dartmouth, Mass.) The Rivier University Women's Basketball team opened up their 2015-16 season this past weekend at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Tournament hosted by the Corsairs of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. The Raiders fell in both contests on the weekend as UMD took the opening game 79-42 and Westfield State prevailed in the tournament consolation game, 100-74.

Opening Game: UMass-Dartmouth 79, Rivier University 42 (Final)

Junior Caitlyn Perry (Nashua, N.H.) dropped 17 points in the season opener and classmate Savanna Butterfield (Londondery, N.H.) added seven points and eight rebounds as the Raiders fell in the first game of the Tournament to the hosts, UMD 79-42.

Perry was 5-for-11 from the field as she controlled the attack for Rivier. Butterfield, meanwhile, did her best in leading the team with those eight rebounds and playing a team high of 34 minutes.

Freshman Kaylee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) had a solid collegiate debut as she added five points and four rebounds in the loss.

UMD was led by senior Beth Castanini's 22 points and freshman Nakira Examond's 20 points, 10 rebounds performance off the bench as they advanced to the Tournament Championship game against Coast Guard.

Tournament Consolation: Westfield State University 100, Rivier University 74 (Final)

After getting their feet wet in the opening game, the Raiders had a better offensive output but were not able to come away with a victory as they were defeated by Westfield State, 100-74.

Butterfield had a tremendous game as she went 9-for-14 for a game high 27 points to go along with her 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Perry was right behind Butterfield with 19 points and junior Caitlin Bulger (Quincy, Mass.) racked up 11 points while dealing out seven assists. Junior Rebecca DeBaldo (Pelham, N.H.) also added a double-double afternoon with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Raider starting five totaled 67 of the team's 74 points.

Westfield State was paced by Jill Valley's 25 points in the consolation win.

For her efforts, Butterfield was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Rivier will look for win number one on the season as they return to the court on Tuesday evening against Plymouth State University in the annual Boys and Girls Club Classic hosted by New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, N.H.