University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Wagner
Minutewomen Win On The Road, 59-50, Over Wagner
December 15, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2007
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A 16-point, nine-rebound effort by Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) and 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists by Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) led UMass women's basketball to a 59-50 victory over Wagner at the Spiro Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. Stefanie Gerardot (Fort Wayne, Ind.) added 14 points and six rebounds as the three players accounted for 76% of the Minutewomen's scoring. Mills also led at the defensive end with four blocks and three steals. John'a Poole led Wagner with 11 points. With the win UMass improves to 5-6 on the season while Wagner drops to 2-6.
Kim Benton (Springfield, Pa.) opened the scoring with a three-pointer as the Minutewomen jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The UMass defense held the Seahawks to two points over the first 7:35 of the game. Mills led the defensive effort early on with two blocks and several altered shots. UMass held a 13-9 lead with 8:00 minutes left in the first half when it went on a 12-0 run over the next 4:38 to make it a 25-9 game. Wagner would then outscore the Minutewomen, 11-5, over the final 3:22 as UMass took a 30-20 lead into halftime.
Gerardot led UMass in the first half with nine points, including 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Rosanio added seven points and five rebounds as seven different Minutewomen got in the scoring column. UMass outshot Wagner in the first half, 41.7% (10-24) to 24% (6-25). The Seahawks were led by Ashley Olsen with six points in the opening 20 minutes.
Both offenses got it going to start the second half as the teams played to a 14-14 tie over the first five minutes, making it a 44-34 game. The Seahawks then used a 9-0 spurt over 3:10 to cut the UMass lead to three with 11:42 remaining. Rosanio then took matters into her own hands, scoring two straight baskets to end the drought, which led to a 9-2 run that put UMass up, 53-43, with 6:55 left. Neither side could score over the next 4:25 until Wagner's Chelsey Bunyer did with 2:30 remaining, making it a 53-45 game. UMass however, would make 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch, including a perfect 6-for-6 by Mills, to secure the 59-50 win.
For the game, UMass shot 35.1% (20-57) from the field, while Wagner shot 31.7% (19-60). Rebounds were a dead heat as both sides recorded 41. UMass never trailed and the game was never tied after 0-0.
The Minutewomen return to action on Saturday, Dec. 22, when they host Buffalo in a noon game at the Mullins Center.
