University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
NJIT
Women's Hoops Rolls To 70-59 Win Over NJIT
December 20, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2009
NEWARK, N.J. - Four UMass starters scored in double figures, helping the Minutewomen basketball squad roll to a 70-59 victory over NJIT on Sunday afternoon at the Fleisher Athletic Center. UMass levels its record at 6-6 heading into the holiday break, while the Highlanders fall to 3-7 on the year.
Redshirt junior Megan Zullo poured in a team-best 17 points for the Minutewomen, aided by 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Sophomore Kristina Danella followed with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while senior Diatiema Hill posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards. Hill was 9-for-10 at the charity stripe and dished a game-high six assists, as well.
Sophomore Nicole Jones chipped in 10 points and six rebounds and, off the bench, junior Stephanie Lawrence and freshman Jasmine Watson contributed six points apiece.
Aided by a 5-0 advantage from the start on a layup by Jones and a three from Zullo, UMass never trailed in contest. Then with 4:54 remaining in the first half, the Minutewomen began to pull away from NJIT, leading by eight at 30-22. However, the Highlanders reeled UMass back in, cutting its deficit to 33-31 with a 9-3 run to end the period.
Though NJIT's Jessica Gerald would tie the score for the fourth time at 33-33 with a free throw in the opening minute of the second half, the Minutewomen went on to outscore the Highlanders, 37-28 in the frame. UMass shot 47.1% (8-for-17) from the field following the intermission and 18-for-21 (85.7%) from the foul line compared to a 10-for-37 (27.0%) performance by NJIT.
With 9:47 left in the contest, Gerald's layup brought the Highlanders back within a possession of the Minutewomen at 50-47, but UMass responded by scoring the next 11 straight points to expand their advantage out to 14. The Minutewomen did not score a field goal in the final 7:03 of the game, but maintained their double-digit cushion by draining 11-of-12 free throws in that span.
UMass finished 17-for-38 (44.7%) overall, including a 9-for-18 (50%) clip from beyond the arc, and shot 79.4% (27-for-34) at the free throw line. NJIT went 23-for-70 (32.9%) from the field, 6-for-27 (22.2%) from three and 7-for-8 (87.5%) at the charity stripe.
Gerald led all scorers with 24 points, while Melanie Griffin totaled 13 and Katie Piekielski had 10 for NJIT. Rayven Johnson was the squad's top rebounder with eight, while Griffin handed out six assists and grabbed three steals.
The Minutewomen will be idle until Wednesday, Dec. 30, when the squad will travel to Newark, Del., to play Delaware at 7 p.m.
