University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Long Island
Women's Basketball Outlasts Long Island, 53-51
December 06, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - With the score tied at 51 and 12 seconds remaining in the second half, sophomore Teya Wright hit a pair of free throws to lift the UMass women's basketball team to a 53-51 victory over Long Island at the Brown Classic on Saturday in the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Minutewomen are now 4-4 on the season following the win, while the Black Birds level their record at 4-4.
Wright finished the contest with six points and a team-high eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end of the court. Senior Stefanie Gerardot led all UMass scorers with 16 points and had a squad-best three assists, while sophomore Cerie Mosgrove and redshirt sophomore Diatiema Hill followed with nine and eight points, respectively. Hill's came on 4-for-7 (57%) shooting.
The squads played even through the first half with neither side managing to lead by more than six. UMass limited LIU to just one trip to the free throw line (1-for-1) and 0-for-9 shooting from three point range to take a 29-27 advantage into the intermission.
Five straight points by Gerardot on a three and a pair of free throws gave the Minutewomen their largest lead of the evening at the 17:47 mark in the second period, 34-27. However, a 7-0 run by Long Island put the Black Birds in front by one, 40-39, with 10:45 left in the half, capped off by a free throw from Jade Brown.
A layup by Wright gave UMass back a one-point edge, 41-40, and the squad stretched its lead back out to five before another stretch of seven straight points by LIU gave the Black Birds a two-point advantage at 51-39 with 1:32 to play.
Gerardot tied the score at 51 with a jumper 17 seconds later and was fouled, giving her the opportunity for a three-point play. She missed converting the free throw despite making the first seven of her nine attempts from the charity stripe in the contest.
On UMass' next offensive possession, Wright was fouled while grabbing an offensive board following a missed three-pointer and sunk the game-winning free throws.
LIU's Ashley Palmer missed the final shot of the game with one second remaining, but finished with 17 points along with eight rebounds and three assists. Chelsi Johnson was the only other member of the Black Birds to score in double figures with 16 on 6-for-10 shooting and six rebounds.
UMass shot 19-for-56 overall (33.9%) to Long Island's 13-for-33 (38.9%) in a game that featured eight ties and six lead changes. The Mintutewomen held a 17-9 edge in points off turnovers, a 13-8 advantage in second-chance points and led in bench points, 18-7.
UMass will be back on the court tomorrow, Dec. 7, in the Pizzitola Sports Center as the squad will face the tournament host Brown at 4 p.m.
