University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
3-10
Maine
2-10
Maine Edges Women's Basketball, 66-62
December 29, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2010
ORONO, Maine - In a contest that featured six ties and 11 lead changes, the UMass women's basketball team came up just short against Maine, falling 66-62 on Wednesday evening at Alfond Arena. Katelyn Vanderhoff netted five three-pointers in the second half, helping the Black Bears (2-10) past the Minutewomen (3-10).
Senior Megan Zullo scored in double figures for a 10th straight game, leading UMass with 16 points, while also recording seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophomore Jasmine Watson followed, chipping in with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Senior Cerie Mosgrove had 13 points and junior Emilie Teuscher added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Minutewomen began the contest with a 7-1 lead, but hit a 4:30 scoring drought following a layup by Jasmine Watson at the 13:35 mark. During that stretch, Maine scored six straight points to take its first lead of the night, 13-11. The teams traded baskets until a 7-1 UMass run gave the Minutewomen a two-possession advantage, 23-18, with 4:31 remaining in the period. However, the Black Bears countered by scoring the next eight points to go in front by three. After each side managed a layup in the closing minute, freshman Talen Watson drained a three at the buzzer to tie the score at 28 heading into the intermission.
Neither team could manage to build more than a four-point edge in the first eight minutes of the second half. Teuscher's trey at 12:02 put UMass on top for the last time, 43-42, as Maine countered with an 8-0 stretch that included a pair of threes by Vanderhoff. She later sunk another from beyond the arc with 1:59 to play to give the Black Bears their largest lead of the night, nine, at 61-52. Baskets by Zullo and Watson trimmed the deficit to two in the final 30 seconds, but Ashleigh Roberts sealed the victory for Maine by converting both her free throw attempts with 11 seconds on the clock.
The Minutewomen were 25-for-62 (40.3%) from the floor against the Black Bears, made 10-of-28 (35.7%) from three and 2-of-3 (66.7%) free throw attempts. Maine recovered from shooting 34.3% (12-for-35) in the first half with a 50% (12-for-24) showing in the second to finish at 40.7% (24-for-59). The Black Bears shot 6-for-13 (46.2%) from beyond the arc and 12-for-22 (54.5%) at the charity stripe, while out-rebounding UMass 46-31, including 19-10 on the offensive glass.
Vanderhoff paced Maine with 18 points, aided by a perfect 5-for-5 showing from three point range, and chipped in eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and four steals. Amber Smith had 13 points and six boards, Roberts totaled 11 points and Corinne Wellington was just shy of a double-double with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Minutewomen will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 2, when the squad will play at Harvard at 2 p.m.
