University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-6
Rice
4-2
Women's Basketball Falls To Rice, 59-58
December 03, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 1999
HOUSTON, Texas - Senior Alison MacFarland scored 15 points, including 13 in the second half, to help the University of Massachusetts to overcome a 18-point deficit, but it was not enough as the Minutewomen fell to host Rice, 59-58, in the first round of the Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas. Senior Jaywana Bradley scored nine pointes in the second half to help the comeback effort. UMass falls to 0-6 on the season and will play in the consolation game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon against New Mexico State, which fell to Michigan, 84-55. Rice improves to 4-2 on the season with the win. Kira Ligget led the Owls with 12 points.
In the first half, UMass surged out to a 5-0 lead with a three-pointer from Tonia Thomas and a bucket from Jennifer Butler, but Rice countered with a three-pointer from Kim Lawson and a bucket by Kenya Tuttle. Butler scored again to take a 7-5 lead and then the Minutewomen went cold from the field. Amber Sneed's free throws at 5:38 were the next points UMass would score cutting the Rice lead to 22-9. UMass made a 10-2 run with buckets from Butler, MacFarland, Kathy Coyner, and Sneed to cut the lead to 26-17. Rice then went on a 7-3 run to end the half. UMass struggled from the field, shooting only 25 percent in the first stanza.
The Minutewomen battled back in the second half. UMass went on a 4-0 run to start the second half, but Rice answered the tun with three consecutive hoops from Kenya Tuttle. Rice used a 9-2 run to build the largest lead of the game (18 points, 42-24 at 15:49) when Jen Cafferty hit a threee-pointer. UMass used a 13-5 run to cut the lead to 10 points (47-37) when Jennifer Butler hit a jumper at 11:47. UMass used an 11-2 run to cut it to 53-52 at 4:42 when MacFarland hit two free throws. Bradley led the way with five points in the run. Rice built the lead back to five on a three-pointer by Maria Brumfield and then a free throw from Kim Lawson. UMass cut the lead back to two on a jumper from Caroline Nehls. Kirra Jordan then made both free throws after a UMass foul, giving UMass one more possession. MacFarland hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the game at 59-58. UMass outscored Rice, 38-26, in the second half and benefitted from 52 percent shooting ? the best single half mark yet this season.
