University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Minutewomen Fall Short At Rhode Island, 75-64
February 09, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2008
KINGSTON, R.I. - Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) scored 24 points, her eighth time scoring 20 or more this season, but it wasn't enough, as UMass fell to Rhode Island, 75-64, at the Ryan Center on Saturday afternoon. Safi Mojidi (18), Crystal Bellinger (17), and Amanda McGrew (17) all scored in double-figures for the Rams. Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) scored nine points, while Stefanie Gerardot (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Alisha Tatham (Brampton, Ontario) added eight each for UMass. The loss drops the Minutewomen to 11-12 overall and 3-5 in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island improves to 11-12 and 4-4 in the A-10.
UMass shot 47.9% (23-48) overall, while Rhode Island shot 55.1% (27-49). From 3-point range, the Rams were 6-for-10, while the Minutewomen were 1-for-8. Rhode Island outrebounded UMass, 29-23, in what was a season-low total on the boards.
The Rams started the game strong, taking a 13-6 lead on three-straight hoops by Tanja Licini with 15:31 left in the half. The Minutewomen came roaring back with a 12-0 run over a 5:30 stretch, with Mills supplying six of the points, to take a 20-15 lead with 9:06 left in the first half. Rhode Island went on to outscore UMass, 21-8, over the final 8:34 of the half to take a 36-28 lead into halftime.
Mills paced the Minutewomen with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the half, while the team shot 44.4% (12-27) as a whole. Bellinger led the Rams with seven points and URI shot 57.1% (12-21) for the half. Rebounding was a draw, with 14 per side.
After URI opened up a 13-point lead early in the second half, UMass went on a 12-2 run to close the deficit to three, 49-46, with 12:18 to go. Eight of the Minutewomen's 12 points in that stretch came at the free throw line. The Rams then reeled off eight-straight, on their way to an 11-2 run that gave them a 60-48 lead with 7:44 to go. The clubs exchanged 6-0 spurts, making it 66-54 with 3:51. With URI leading, 71-58, after a 3-pointer by Amanda McGrew with 2:29 left, Rosanio, Mills, and Gerardot scored on three-straight possessions to pull the Minutewomen within seven, 71-64, with 1:07 left. The Rams went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minutes to secure the 75-64 victory.
The Minutewomen return home to host No. 14/13 George Washington on Wednesday at the Mullins Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
