Feature Stories Alumni: Making history: UMassD women’s basketball celebrates 50 years of athletic excellence

In the early 1970s, as women’s sports began to emerge as a force to be reckoned with, Carol Pimentel ’76 took a bold step that would drastically change the landscape of athletics at UMass Dartmouth. With a fiery passion for basketball and the support of key staff members, she helped launch the women’s basketball team program—a journey that would not only shape her life but also the lives of countless student-athletes who followed in her footsteps in the decades that followed.

The early days of the program were humble. Pimentel’s recruitment strategy was as grassroots as it gets, posting flyers all over campus to spark interest among female students seeking their place on campus. Players donned collared shirts and pleated skirts, and only a handful of fans occupied the bleachers of a small campus basketball court, the larger being reserved exclusively for the men’s team. They participated in the Massachusetts Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) Basketball Championships hosted at neighboring universities, cramming into a small SUV with their novice head coach.

“Starting the program was amazing on its own, but I loved playing in those tournaments,” said Pimentel, who served as the program’s first-ever captain for four years. Her leadership and dedication to developing the program helped it reach new heights of athletic excellence. “Beating all those bigger schools like Providence College before they became Division 1 was something I’ll never forget. My years at UMass Dartmouth (then Southeastern Massachusetts University, or SMU) were the best of my life, largely because of the program.”

“The coaches before me held a standard of excellence on the court and in the classroom, and the success of these alumni is a testament to that. It speaks to the university’s excellence and the quality of the women’s basketball program.”

By the time Pimentel graduated, change was already destined for the team. Uniforms were updated to t-shirts and shorts, more practical attire for players dribbling up and down the court. In 1977, the first team photo was taken and proudly featured in the yearbook, marking a significant milestone with its own dedicated page. That same year, Judy Sullivan became head coach, a position she held for the next sixteen seasons. Under her leadership, the Corsairs earned a MAIAW Tournament title and competed in two EAIAW Tournaments. Over nearly two decades, Sullivan posted a 200-166 record in women's basketball.

"Judy was the kind of coach you wanted to play for. While I went to UMass Dartmouth for academic reasons, her coaching style was all business, and that really made me want to be a Corsair," said Lisa Downs '90, now a school administrator and women's basketball coach at Foxborough High School. "She taught me what I valued in a coach as a player. She was direct with her expectations on the court, but also so kind that you could go to her with personal problems. I strive to emulate her coaching style in my own career."

By the early 2000s, the program evolved in ways that paved a path for future female student-athletes to succeed both on and off the court.

“Throughout the years, the common theme of this program has been recruiting amazing players who possess tremendous basketball talent and share a commitment to winning,” said Associate Director of Athletics Amanda Van Voorhis, a former women’s basketball coach for six seasons. Her 2012-13 squad reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in program history while advancing to the Little East Conference (LEC) championship game. “Some of my early years as a coach here were an against all odds story as we fought and clawed our way to new heights. It was Matthew Ducharme, then assistant coach, who put the missing pieces together to propel the program into the regional and national competitor it is today.”

A legacy of growth and success

The women’s basketball program has thrived throughout the 21^st century, not only elevating the performance of its teams but also fostering a strong sense of community among players, coaches, and supporters.  

“We invest in building a culture of care, community, and championships,” said Lori Hendricks, current Director of Athletics. “The University is committed to not only the athletic success of our student-athletes, but also their academic achievements and overall well-being. When we talk about the Corsair Family, we walk our talk by showing up for one another. I love seeing our teams cheer each other on–whether it’s as they come and go into the practice venue or being front and center for all of the important contests. We really buy in to the belief that a rising tide lifts all Corsairs!”

This legacy of growth and empowerment is reflected in the stories of several alumni, each contributing to the program’s rich history and carrying forward the spirit of teamwork and athletic achievement.

“What’s great is that by joining the team, you have a group of sisters with the same goals. We were together every single day and in a lot of the same classes, so you’re hanging out with each other every chance you get,” said Alicia Kutil ’17. “When we made our big run to the Elite Eight, the quarter-finals of the NCAA tournament, we saw how supportive the UMassD community was firsthand with the big sendoff they gave us. There so many rows of faculty, staff, and students waving as we drove away. It was wonderful to see the camaraderie from the university.”

Ashley Chard ’08 added to this sentiment, recalling, “The coolest part was seeing Carol at some of our games, always cheering us on. It was amazing to hear her stories about what it was like being on the team back then because that kind of legacy is really incredible.” Pimentel’s courtside presence was so consistent that fans often mistook her for a family member of one of the players, and in many ways, she was—a cherished part of the family that each of the teams nurtured over time.

This sense of family extends even beyond the court. Kelsey Garrity ’15 had no doubts about including her former teammates in her wedding party when she married a fellow UMassD alum. She simply stated, “You grow up with these girls and you’re with them more often than you’re not. It builds this unbreakable bond both on and off the court.”

Merideth Morgan ’08, who swapped being a team captain for assistant coach upon her graduation, said, “I think I took leadership skills away from my experiences on the team. Not just being a good leader, but also being a good teammate. I was really proud to put on my resume that I was a four-year varsity basketball player because so many of those skills transfer over into real life. I think that student-athletes are really well-rounded because of that.”

Leah Douty ’18 certainly saw those acquired skills translate into her professional career. She leveraged what she learned on the team and now owns a successful fitness company with her sister, even giving back to the program by teaching a class for current players and sharing invaluable insights from her experience. Leah never forgot her roots, which are deeply embedded in the lessons learned from her coaching staff and the friendships formed with her teammates.

The program has even made international waves with their 2016-17 team service trip to Haiti, making a palpable difference in struggling communities. Nakira Examond ’19 said, “We had the opportunity to be philanthropists and volunteer our services in Haiti, which was such a rewarding experience. We were laying foundations in the ground for homes and completely immersed in the culture. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

That same 2016-17 women’s basketball team was inducted into the UMass Dartmouth Athletics Hall of Fame this year during Blue and Gold Weekend on October 25, 2024, a stark contrast from its modest beginnings. It’s a culmination of the blood, sweat, and tears that it took to get the program to where it is now, 50 years later.

As the current women’s basketball team gears up for this historic season, their sights are set on winning the LEC Championship title, something alumni believe can happen this year under fellow UMass Dartmouth alum and Head Coach Matthew Ducharme ’00, and testing their athletic skills at the Clasico Tournament in Puerto Rico this December. They kicked off regular season action with the Lafrance Hospitality Tip-Off Tournament, featuring a special alumni reception on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Tripp Athletic Center. All proceeds supported the team's evolution as a top LEC contender.

“It is an honor to coach so many Corsairs and meet program alumni who played throughout these 50 years,” said Ducharme, who’s entering his tenth season. Under his leadership, the program has advanced to the LEC Tournament in all nine of his seasons, including championship game appearances in 2018, 2019, and 2022, and set a record of 25 wins in 2016-2017. “The coaches before me held a standard of excellence on the court and in the classroom, and the success of these alumni is a testament to that. It speaks to the university’s excellence and the quality of the women’s basketball program. I’m looking forward to the next 50 years and hoping that this year’s team will make these alumni proud.”

With the steadfast support of alumni rallying behind them, this year’s players are inspired to rise to every challenge, embodying the enduring spirit and legacy of the program that has empowered generations of student-athletes.