University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Providence
Providence Runs Past UMass, 72-54
December 11, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2009
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AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's basketball team outscored Providence in the second half, but cold shooting in the opening period proved to be too much to overcome as the squad fell to the Friars, 72-54 on Friday evening in the Mullins Center. With the loss, the Minutewomen are now 5-6 on the year, while the Providence moves to 8-2.
Sophomore Kristina Danella totaled a squad-best 17 points and contributed eight rebounds for UMass, while senior Diatiema Hill followed with nine points and nine boards. Sophomore Nicole Jones chipped in a team-leading 11 rebounds and had eight points, while freshman Jasmine Watson and redshirt junior Megan Zullo added seven points apiece. Zullo and senior Kim Benton each dished a game-high four assists, as well.
In her first career start, Zullo drained an early three, helping the Minutewomen to a 5-0 lead. With the score tied at 11, Providence proceeded to go on a 16-4 run over the next 5:32 to build a 27-15 advantage. Then UMass hit a dry spell, with 7:21 between field goals, which allowed the Friars to pull away even further and take a 19-point lead into the intermission at 42-23.
The Minutewomen went 8-for-10 (80%) at the foul line in the first half, but was just 7-for-29 (24.1%) from the field, compared to 16-for-33 (48.5%) for Providence.
With 31 points to the Friars' 30, the UMass offense fared better in the second. The Minutewomen shot 10-for-32 (31.3%), and finished 17-for-61 (27.9%), but could not overcome the first period deficit. Providence was 26-for-56 (46.4%) on the night, including 6-for-16 (37.5%) from three-point range. Both teams fared extremely well at the foul line as UMass was 15-for-17 (88.2%) and the Friars were 14-for-17 (82.4%).
Chelsea Marandola paced Providence with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting, while Jess Clark and Brittany Dorsey followed with 13 apiece. Clark also logged a team-high seven rebounds, while Dorsey had four assists.
After breaking for final exams, the Minutewomen will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 20, when they take on NJIT in Newark, N.J., at 12 p.m.
