University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
6-14, 2-3 A-10
Saint Joseph's
12-7, 2-3 A-10
Women's Hoops Drops Heartbreaker at St. Joe's
January 22, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The UMass women's basketball team built a double-digit first half lead, but was unable to hold off Saint Joseph's in a loss 72-68 on Saturday afternoon in Hagan Arena. The setback leaves the Minutewomen at 6-14 overall and 2-3 in Atlantic 10 play, while the Hawks improve to 12-7 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
Sophomore Shakia Robinson paced UMass with 25 points, shooting 12-for-21 from the field, grabbing a team-best eight rebounds and handing out four assists. Senior Cerie Mosgrove logged her ninth straight game in double figures with 11 points and totaled six boards. Her classmate, Megan Zullo, was the third Minutewoman in double-digits with 10 points and dished five assists, as well. Sophomore Dee Montgomery contributed eight points and Jasmine Watson added six points and five rebounds.
After neither team could gain more than a one-possession lead, senior Cerie Mosgrove's three-pointer at 13:31 kick started a 15-2 UMass run. The spurt gave the Minutewomen the largest advantage of the half, 13, on a layup by Shakia Robinson at the 8:50 mark, which brought the score to 25-12. After Zullo hit the squad's seventh trey of the half with 58 seconds to play in the period, a pair of baskets by the Hawks trimmed the deficit to seven, 45-38 at the intermission. UMass shot 58.6% from the field in the frame, including a remarkable 7-for-9 (77.8%) from beyond the arc.
Then in the second half, Saint Joseph's rallied with a 16-5 run to pull in front for the first time since the 16:14 mark of the opening period, going on top 58-56 with 6:19 remaining on a basket by Michelle Baker. The squads traded the lead five times over the next five minutes, with UMass holding a slim 68-67 advantage with 1:33 left on a jumper by Zullo. On the opposite end of the floor, however, Samira Van Grinsven hit a clutch shot with 45 seconds on the clock and Saint Joseph's sunk three free throws in the final 15 ticks to secure the win.
After a hot start in the first half, the Minutewomen were limited to an 8-for-25 (32%) second and finished the contest shooting 46.3% (25-for-54). The squad made just 1-of-6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc following the intermission, ending at 8-for-15 (53%). At the free throw line, UMass converted 10-of-15 (66.7%).
The Hawks shot 29-for-68 (42.6%) from the field, 5-for-19 (26.3%) from three and 9-for-19 (47.4%) from the charity stripe.
Baker led the charge for Saint Joseph's with 21 points, backed by a double-double from Kelly Cavallo on 16 points and game-best 14 boards. Erin Shields chipped in 12 points and seven assists and Katie Kuester was just shy of double figures with nine points.
UMass returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 26 to face Temple at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
