University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Seton Hall
UMass Women's Basketball Edged By Seton Hall, 79-74
December 29, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - Despite shooting 51.8% for the game and 58.6% in the second half, the UMass women's basketball team was unable to hold off Seton Hall as the Pirates edged the Minutewomen, 79-74, on Monday afternoon in the Mullins Center. UMass is now 6-6 on the season, while Seton Hall pushes its record to 10-1, having won its last six straight.
Three players scored in double figures for the Minutewomen led by senior Stefanie Gerardot's 16. Her classmate Sakera Young put up a career-high 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting and was 5-for-5 at the free throw line to go along with five assists. Junior Kim Benton matched her best offensive performance of the season with 12 points as she was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field on the day.
Just shy of reaching double figures were freshman Kristina Danella and sophomore Teya Wright. Danella had nine points and seven rebounds in her first collegiate start, while Wright totaled eight points, nine rebounds and a career-best six steals. Freshman Alesia Howard posted a new career best for a second consecutive game, scoring six points in nine minutes on the floor.
After a tightly-played opening five minutes, the Pirates managed eight straight points to build an 11-point advantage at 22-11 with 12:31 remaining in the first. UMass closed the gap to two with a three by Benton at the 8:25 mark, but Seton Hall responded with an 11-0 run and led by as many as 14 before going to the locker room ahead 42-29.
In the blink of an eye, the Pirates saw their lead evaporate in the first 4:05 of the second half as the Minutewomen began the period by outscoring Seton Hall, 17-2. A three by Danella from the top of the key tied the score at 44 with 15:55 to play and prompted a timeout by the Pirates. Gerardot followed with a basket at the 15:16 mark to give UMass its first lead since the opening minute of the contest.
A layup by Noteisha Womack put Seton Hall back in front for good at 52-50 with 12:11 on the clock, although the Minutewomen battled to the end. The game went down to the wire as a three-point play by Young making it a one possession game with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. UMass outscored the Pirates 45-37 in the second period.
Ebonie Williams and Nicole Emery both logged 20-point games for Seton Hall with 23 and 22, respectively, while Womack also reached double figures with 13. Womack, the nation's leading rebounder as of the last NCAA statistics report, was limited to just three boards by the Minutewomen after entering the day with an average of 15.1 rebounds per-game. Emery had a team-best eight rebounds and Williams dished a game-high six assists.
UMass will conclude its four-game home stand this Friday, Jan. 2, when the squad will take on Boston University. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
