University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Eastern Michigan
Women's Basketball Falls At Eastern Michigan, 63-45
November 22, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2005
YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Massachusetts women's basketball team (1-2) shot 29 percent from the field and lost at Eastern Michigan (2-0), 63-45, Tuesday night at the EMU Convocation Center. The Minutewomen opened the game by missing 17 of their first 18 shots and were never able to recover as the Eagles built up a 31-13 halftime lead.
UMass came out shooting ice cold from the field and Eastern Michigan built up a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. UMass missed 17 of its first 18 shots from the field and EMU's Canea Williams scored eight of the Eagles points during the run. Eastern Michigan continued to dominate and led 17-2 at the 11:42 mark when the Minutewomen finally broke their scoring drought on a pair of free throws by junior Tamara Tatham (Brampton, Ontario). .
The Eagles kept it going and reeled off seven more points in a row forcing UMass to use its second timeout of the game with 8:51 left and Eastern Michigan leading 24-4. The Eagles led 26-4 before UMass' offense got going. Sophomore Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) scored at the 5:02 mark to snap a 6:40 scoring drought for the Minutewomen. After a steal, sophomore Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) scored on the other end end forced the Eagles to call a timeout. UMass was unable to get any closer though and trailed 31-13 at halftime. Senior Katie Nelson (Ellicott City, Md.) made a three-pointer right before halftime which was UMass' first trifecta in 15 opportunities.
UMass shot just 19 percent from the field (5-27) in the first half and had 11 turnovers. EMU shot 40 percent and out-rebounded the Minutewomen, 22-16. Sarah Vanmetre scored 14 points off the bench to lead all scorers.
Vanmetre picked right off where she left off by draining a three in the opening minutes off the second half to give Eastern Michigan a 40-17 lead at the first media timeout. Back-to-back three-pointers by Nelson and sophomore Kaylie Schiavetta (Northport, N.Y.) cut the lead to 40-24 with 14:07 left and forced Eastern Michigan to use a timeout. The Eagles, however, ran off 10 of the next 12 points and got the lead up to 24 before a Nelson three made it a 50-29 game with just over eight minutes left. On the next play, UMass got a steal and a lay-up by Rosanio made it a 50-31 game, but the Minutewomen were running out of time.
UMass was unable to string together consecutive baskets in the final few minutes and dropped its second road game of the year. The Minutewomen finished the game shooting 29 percent from the field. They shot 31 three-pointers, making seven of them (.226). The Eagles shot 35 percent from the field. Every time, UMass tried to get back in the game, Eastern Michigan had an answer. The Eagles out-rebounded UMass, 49-34, and forced 20 Minutewoman turnovers.
Rosanio and Nelson led the Minutewomen with nine points apiece. Mills did have four blocks for the second straight game.
Williams finished with a game-high 18 points for the Eagles, while Vanmetre had 17.
The Minutewomen will return home to open up a three-game homestand Saturday against Hartford.. Tip-off is slated for 12:00 PM at the Mullins Center. The game will be broadcast live on WMUA, 91.1 FM, and online at www.umassathletics.com. To purchase tickets, call 1-866-UMASS-TIX, stop by the Mullins Center Box Office or go online to www.umassathletics.com.
