University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Basketball To Head South To Texas
December 02, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 1999
AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts women?s basketball team will head south this weekend to compete in the Rice Invitational from Dec. 3-4 in Houston, Texas. The Minutewomen are still in search of their first win this season at 0-5, after falling short to New Hampshire in overtime, 60-58, at home on Nov. 30.
UMass struggled against the Wildcats during key moments throughout the game, but head coach Joanie O?Brien is confident her youthful team will become more comfortable out on the court when the pressure is on for her Minutewomen in future games.
"When things get a little chaotic, we tend to fall into that trap of backing up and not doing the things we know we are supposed to do," O?Brien says. "And part of it is age and part of it is maturity as basketball players. But we will continue to talk about it, and every day we get a little bit better. So we just have to keep going and hope that players like Kathy Coyner and Alison MacFarland can carry the load a little bit until the younger kids finally feel comfortable out there."
Senior Alison MacFarland (Brick, N.J.) is pacing the squad in scoring with 10.8 points per game. She ranks second in rebounding, pulling down six boards a game. Sophomore Caroline Nehls (Randolph, N.J.) is UMass? second-leading scorer with 10.2 points per game, while freshman Jennifer Butler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is the top rebounder with 8.8 rebounds per game.
The Minutewomen will face tournament-host Rice in game one on Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. eastern time. The Owls are 3-2 this season and are coming off a 74-69 road win against Sam Houston State on Nov. 29. Kirra Jordan is leading the team in scoring and in rebounds with 13.6 points and 7.2 boards per game. Friday?s game will mark the first meeting between the two teams.
"Rice is a team that is very athletic and pressure-oriented," O?Brien says. "They are at their best when they can run the transition game. We are going to have to play with complete discipline against them and force them to play the game out on the perimeter."
UMass will face either Michigan or New Mexico State in the championship or consolation game on Dec. 4. The Minutewomen have not faced either of the two squads in previous meetings. The Wolverines are undefeated this season at 5-0 and are coming off a 79-66 victory over Providence at home on Nov. 30. Stacey Thomas is pacing the team in both scoring and in rebounds with 14.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
"Michigan is a solid basketball team," O?Brien says. "They play that Big 10 style of basketball of pounding and making the ball go inside as much as it can. When you know the Big 10, you know it is going to be a really physical game."
The Roadrunners are 2-1 this season, after coming off a 67-38 win over Division II UC-Colorado Springs on Dec. 1 at home. Melanie Maynes is New Mexico St.?s top scorer at 14 points per game, while Carrie Saidat is pacing the squad in rebounds, pulling down 7.3 boards a game.