Inspiring young girl athletes from the basketball court
The DGAL team celebrates that the scored. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Girls from Tansey cheer with their pom poms. 
Leah Baptista smiles for the camera.
Brynn Goyette celebrates a score.
Melanie DeMeo dribbles the ball.
Some of the girls celebrate that the team scored. 
Leah Baptista shows off the shirt she caught.
Yasmine Santos throws a foul throw. 
Phoebe Wilkins smiles for the camera.
Kasey Oliver prepares to pass the ball.
The DGAL team celebrates that the scored. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Girls from Tansey cheer with their pom poms.
Leah Baptista smiles for the camera.
Brynn Goyette celebrates a score.
Melanie DeMeo dribbles the ball.
Some of the girls celebrate that the team scored.
Leah Baptista shows off the shirt she caught.
Yasmine Santos throws a foul throw.
Phoebe Wilkins smiles for the camera.
Kasey Oliver prepares to pass the ball.
Every February since 1974, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has been celebrated to show the importance of women athletes.
The Dartmouth Girls Athletic League fourth and fifth grade basketball team celebrated by watching the UMass Dartmouth women’s basketball team beat Eastern Connecticut State University with a score of 65-59.
“To have positive role models, because if you ask a lot of them, a lot of them want to play collegiately or even professionally, and this is a testament to what hard work can lead to,” said DGAL coach Ryan Goyette.
DGAL was not the only group there, with basketball players from James Tansey Elementary School in Fall River and many other young girls attending as well.
“I just think women can play sports just like men do,” said Melanie DeMeo, a senior on the team. “I think the competitiveness is growing as years go on, and it's just a good show out every time.”
The game started off slow, with Eastern Connecticut State University in the lead. By the fourth quarter, the game was tied until UMass pulled ahead to win.
“I like it when they score,” said Brynn Goyette, a fourth grader on the DGAL team.
The game began with the girls running through the fan tunnelDuring the game, the kids cheered the UMass players on with pom poms that were yellow and blue for the school’s colors. They also enjoyed some candy and pizza during halftime. When the game was over, the girls got to meet the players.
“I think now that women’s games [are] kind of exploding, I think it really helps that [young kids are] able to see people in their own backyard that are playing here tonight,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Matt Duchard. “I think it’s important to bring the community together as well, and especially the young girls.”
