University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Vermont
Vermont Tops Women's Basketball, 57-38
December 09, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Despite a strong outing by freshman Jasmine Watson, the UMass women's basketball team came up short against Vermont, falling 57-38, on Wednesday evening at the Mullins Center. The loss leaves the Minutewomen at 5-5 on the season, while the Catamounts improve to 7-1.
Watson totaled 14 points and nine rebounds to lead UMass, both career highs for the center. Senior Kim Benton added seven points, while redshirt junior Megan Zullo and sophomore Nicole Jones totaled six apiece. Sophomore Kristina Danella contributed six rebounds, as well.
A 1-for-5 start from the field for the Minutewomen allowed Vermont to take a 10-point lead seven minutes into the opening period, 14-4. UMass managed to cut its deficit to single digits on several occasions, but was unable to come any closer than eight of the Catamounts, who held a 27-15 advantage at the intermission.
Vermont shot 10-for-27 (37%) in the first half to the Minutewomen's 4-for-18 (22.2%) and held an 8-0 edge in points off turnovers.
A three-point play for Jones gave UMass some momentum to start the second half, trimming the Catamounts' lead to nine at 27-18. However, Vermont responded by scoring 10 straight points over a span of 4:24 and held a double-digit cushion the rest of the way.
Though the Minutewomen won the battle of the boards with a 37-28 edge in rebounding, turnovers were 22-4, against UMass. The Catamounts finished 20-for-56 (35.7%) overall, 3-for-17 (17.6%) from three and 14-for-21 (66.7%) at the foul line. Despite a stellar 17-for-19 (89.5%) performance by the Minutewomen at the charity stripe, the squad was just 1-for-12 (8.3%) from beyond the arc and shot 10-for-39 (25.6%) overall.
May Kotsopoulos tallied a game-best 19 points to pace Vermont and had three assists and two steals. Kendra Seto and Alissa Sheftic each chipped in with 10 points and grabbed nine and seven rebounds, respectively.
The Minutewomen will be back in action as part of a basketball doubleheader this Friday, Dec. 11, when they take on Providence. Tip-off for the women is at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m.
