University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
7-8, 2-2
Xavier
11-2, 2-1
Xavier Defeats UMass Women, 77-68
January 12, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2001
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Jennifer Phillips (Elida, Ohio/Elida) set a season high for rebounds with seven and put up 17 points as Xavier (No. 22 USA Today/ESPN/WBCA) beat the University of Massachusetts 77-68 Friday night at the Cintas Center. With four straight wins over the Minutewomen, Xavier now leads the series 6-2.
Taru Tuukkanen (Helsinki, Finland) led the Musketeers with 23 points and was one of four Musketeers who finished the game in double-digits. As a team, Xavier shot 58.3 percent from the field.
With her four rebounds and 23 points tonight, Tuukkanen has moved into third place on the Xavier all-time rebounding list (1,363) and sixth (681) on the all-time scoring list. Also reaching a milestone tonight was the Minutewomen's Amber Sneed (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) who set a career high with 18 points.
Xavier got off to a great defensive start, holding UMass to just 40 percent shooting in the first half. Leading the defense was Jennifer Phillips, who racked up six rebounds, two steals and a block. Phillips defensive abilities and her 5-of-6 shooting in the first half enabled the Musketeers to grab a 14-point halftime lead.
In the second half Sneed scored 14 of her 18 total points to get UMass within nine. However, Reetta Piipari (Kotka, Finland/Minster (Ohio)) responded with consecutive 3-pointers to give Xavier back their double-digit lead. Piipari also racked up her fifth double double of the year with 10 assists and 14 points.
Jennifer Butler had her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Kathy Coyner and Ebony Pegues added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Minutewomen who shot 41.5 percent from the field.
UMass returns to action this Sunday, January 14, with a 2:00 p.m. game at Dayton.
- UMASS -
