University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Boston College
Women's Basketball Suffers Tough Loss At BC, 70-64
December 31, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2006
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Boston College (10-4) closed out the final 2:03 on an 8-0 run to defeat Massachusetts (9-4), 70-64, before 2,088 fans at Conte Forum Sunday afternoon. The game featured 12 ties and 12 lead changes and neither team led by more than six points at any point. Senior Tamara Tatham (Brampton, Ontario) led four UMass double-figure scorers with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. She also added six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Junior Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) and freshman Kim Benton (Springfield, Pa.) had 13 points apiece while junior Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) had 11 points. UMass had 21 assists and just 11 turnovers, including one in the entire second half.
Boston College started off quickly building a 6-3 lead, but the Minutewomen used a 7-0 run in a 53 second span to take a 10-6 lead and force a Boston College timeout. The game settled down after that and BC was able to establish an inside game with Kathrin Ress. At one point, Ress had 14 of the team's 18 points, but UMass was able to hang in thanks in large part to Benton's three-point shooting. Benton was 3-for-5 from behind the arc and led the Minutewomen with nine points at the break.
UMass trailed 30-26 at halftime. The Minutewomen shot 42 percent from the field but committed 10 turnovers. BC was an even 50 percent from the field and did not attempt a three-pointer. The Eagles had nine turnovers and out-rebounded UMass 17-13.
BC extended its lead to six points early in the second half, but an 8-2 run by the Minutewomen tied the game at 32 just two minutes in. A basket by Mills at the 15:10 mark gave UMass its first lead since mid-way through the first half. The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, but two straight Tamara Tatham hoops and a jumper by Benton gave the Minutewomen their largest lead, 50-44, with 10:08 left.
BC came right back with a 13-4 run in three-plus minutes to take a 57-54 lead with 5:22 left. The Minutewomen answered and led 64-62 after consecutive baskets by Tatham with 2:03 left. That was the last UMass point of the game though. A pair of free throws by Elisabeth Engell tied the game at 64. UMass came down the other end and got the ball to an open junior Alisha Tatham (Brampton, Ontario) on the far side wing, but her shot rimmed out. Tamara Tatham was called for an over the back foul trying to get the offensive rebound. Kathrin Ress scored for the Eagles to give them the lead for good, 66-64 with 59 seconds left.
UMass came down trying to get the ball down low to either Tamara Tatham or Kate Mills, but Mills committed the team's first turnover of the second half. The Minutewomen were forced to foul now and sent Sarah Marshall to the line. She calmly hit both ends of the 1-and-1 and iced the game. Now trailing by four points with just 28 seconds left, Benton tried a quick score but had her pull-up jumper rim out. Marshall made another couple free throws with 16 seconds left to give BC the win.
UMass shot 52 percent (15-29) from the field in the second half to finish 47 percent (26-55) for the game. The Minutewomen were out-rebounded 36-21, but committed just 11 turnovers including one in the second half. BC had 11 offensive rebounds which it turned into 13 second-chance points. The Eagles shot 55 percent (28-51) for the game. UMass also had 11 steals as BC committed 18 turnovers.
Ress led four BC double-figure scorers with 22 points. Engell had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Massachusetts continues its season-long, six-game road trip Wednesday night at Holy Cross. The game will be broadcast on WMUA, 91.1 FM in Amherst and online at www.umassathletics.com.
