University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
(11-14,8-6 A-10)
Saint Joseph's
(22-4,13-2 A-10)
Women's Basketball Falls To St. Joseph's, 66-41
February 20, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2000
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Senior Alison MacFarland (Brick, N.J.) and sophomore Nekole Smith (Ann Arbor, Mich.) each had eight points, but it was not enough, as UMass fell to St. Joseph's, 66-41, in Philadelphia, Pa., Sunday afternoon. The Minutewomen fall to 11-14 overall and 8-6 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while the Hawks improve to 22-4 and 13-2 in conference play. Jana Lichnerova led St. Joseph's with 16 points, while Susan Moran had a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). The Hawks have already clinched the East Division, while UMass has clinched the second-place spot. Each team will receive a bye in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament from March 3-6 at the Forum at the Apollo of Temple in Philadelphia, Pa.
UMass took a 4-3 lead at the 18:50 when sophomore Caroline Nehls (Randolph, N.J.) hit the second of two jumpers in the first two minutes of play. Junior Kathy Coyner (Belpre, Ohio) hit a three-pointer at the 18:09 to take a 7-3 lead, and freshman Amber Sneed (Cincinnati, Ohio) connected on a three to take a 10-5 advantage, their largest of the half. The Hawks made a run at the Minutewomen, taking an 18-16 lead at the 10:38, when Lichnerova hit a jumper. UMass got two buckets from Smith at the 13:35 and the 12:46, and a basket by MacFarland at the 5:59, but did not score again for the rest of the half. The Minutewomen got into foul trouble, as Nehls was sent to the bench at the 8:09 with her second foul, and freshman Jennifer Butler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was sent out of the game at the 5:05 with her third foul. Lichnerova led St. Joseph's with 11 points in the half, helping the Hawks to a 35-18 lead at the end of the first stanza. St. Joseph's had an 11-1 advantage from the free-throw line.
The Hawks and the Minutewomen traded baskets at the beginning of the second half, with St. Joseph's outscoring UMass, 13-10, in the first eight minutes. Smith hit a jumper at the 12:26 to cut the lead to 20 points (48-28), the closest the Minutewomen would get. Senior Tonia Thomas (Seguin, Texas) connected on two three-pointers late in the game to cut the margin to 66-41.
UMass will play its final home game on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center. It will mark the final home contests for seniors Jaywana Bradley (Bronx, N.Y.), MacFarland and Thomas.
