University of Massachusets Athletics

Sunday, February 20
Philadelphia, Pa.
2:00 PM ET

University of Massachusetts

(11-14,8-6 A-10)

66
vs
41

Saint Joseph's

(22-4,13-2 A-10)

Team
1
2
F
Massachusetts182341
St. Joseph's353166

Women's Basketball Falls To St. Joseph's, 66-41

February 20, 2000 | Women's Basketball

Feb. 20, 2000

Box Score

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.

Thursday, May 28
Saturday, March 07
Saturday, March 07
Wednesday, February 25