University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Minutewomen Cruise To 79-49 Win Over Rhode Island
February 11, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2007
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AMHERST, Mass. - Freshman Kim Benton (Springfield, Pa.) set a new Mullins Center record for a UMass player as she drilled six three-pointers to lead the UMass to a 79-49 win over Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,017 fans. UMass improves to 14-11 overall and 4-6 in the Atlantic 10, while the Rams fall to 6-18 overall and 4-6 in the conference.
Benton scored a career-high 18 points on the strength of those three-point shots. She hit four-consecutive treys in the second half as her perimeter scoring opened up the post for the Minutewomen who outscored Rhode Island 49-24 in the period.
Safii Mojidi scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Rams before fouling out of the game with 20 remaining in the game. She was the only Rhode Island player to reach double-figures as the Rams shot just 33 percent for the game and committed 21 turnovers.
Junior Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) scored 15 points and blocked three shots for UMass, followed by Tamara Tatham's (Brampton, Ontario) 14 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Sakera Young (Glassboro, N.J.) scored four points, handed out six assists and hauled in four rebounds.
The Minutewomen shot 55 percent for the game. In the second half, UMass hit 19 field goals - almost double its first half production. Depth was huge for the Minutewomen as their reserves scored 32 points compared to just nine for Rhode Island's bench.
UMass led 30-25 at the break after a first half marked by several runs for each team.
The Minutewomen jumped out to an early 8-0 run as Mills hit four of her first five shots. Rhode Island struggled going 0-for-9 from the field until Lindsay Harris scored the Rams first points of the game 4 minutes and 57 seconds into the game.
The Rams continued to chip away at UMass' lead until taking their first lead of the game at 21-20 with 3:57 remaining until halftime.
After a timeout, the Minutewomen closed the half on a 10-to-4 run taking a 30-25 lead into the intermission.
In the second half, UMass claimed an early 10 point lead on Benton's second three-pointer of the game. Rhode Island cut the lead down to five on the next two possessions until Benton drilled three consecutive treys to put the game out of reach and stretch the lead to 14, 48-34.
Sophomore Erin Calipari (Memphis, Tenn.) hit her first career points as a Minutewoman when she drained a three-pointer to give the final margin, 79-49, with eight seconds to play.
UMass will host two more home games as part of their final home stand of the regular-season. The Minutewomen will face Duquesne on Friday, Feb. 16 and Xavier on Sunday, Feb. 18. Gametime for the Duquesne game is set for 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
