University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Villanova
Jones Leads UMass Past Villanova, 55-47
November 22, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2009
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AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's basketball team came out on top, 55-47, in a defensive battle with Villanova on Sunday afternoon in the Mullins Center. Led by sophomore Nicole Jones' first career double-double, the Minutewomen leveled their record at 2-2. The Wildcats, coming off a 2008-09 NCAA Tournament appearance, fell to 2-1 to start the season.
Jones led all scorers with her first career 20-point game, pouring in 22 on 9-11 shooting and was the top rebounder with 12, as well. Senior Diatiema Hill followed with 12 points and eight boards for UMass, while sophomore Kristina Danella added seven points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Minutewomen led from the opening basket, but were not able to pull out in front by more than four as their largest lead of the first half came at 12-8, courtesy of a three-pointer from Megan Zullo at 13:42.
Villanova fought back by draining four straight threes, part of a 14-4 run for the Wildcats, and went up by eight, 22-14, on a trey by Kyle Dougherty with 7:56 remaining in the period for its largest lead of the afternoon.
The Minutewomen responded by closing the gap to a one-possession margin. A three-pointer by Danella and a layup by Hill closed out the half and sent UMass into the intermission down by three at 24-21.
Carrying their momentum into the second period, the Minutewomen quickly overtook Villanova with an 8-0 run, which included six from Jones. Her third basket of the period, a layup with 16:13 on the clock, gave UMass a 29-24 advantage. However, Villanova eventually pulled even at 31-31 on a bucket by Laura Sweeney.
At the 8:02 mark, another layup by Sweeney gave the Wildcats back the lead, 39-38, for the final time. Jones then continued her stellar afternoon as she made a free throw to complete a three-point play at 6:26 that put the Minutewomen back up by two. She followed up with a fast break bucket and another free throw to expand the UMass lead to 44-39 with less than five minutes to play.
A Tia Grant three brought Villanova to within two points, 46-44 at 2:47, but Hill answered at the opposite end for the Minutewomen with the final field goal of the contest for the Minutewomen. UMass then put the game away by making seven free throws in the final 45 seconds.
The Minutewomen bounced back from an 8-for-30 (26.7%) showing in the first half by shooting 10-for-17 (58.8%) in the second to finish the contest 18-for-47 from the field (38.3%). UMass limited Villanova to 17-for-60 (28.3%) shooting overall, including 9-for-38 (23.7%) from three-point range. Points in the paint were 24-14 in favor of the Minutewomen, who finished with a 39-34 edge in rebounding.
Grant, Sweeney and Heather Scanlon registered 12 points apiece for the Wildcats, while Scanlon had nine boards and Sweeney brought down eight.
UMass will next travel to the University of Miami Thanksgiving Tournament and will take on Rice on Friday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m.
