University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
4-11
Holy Cross
4-11
W. Hoops Cruises Past Holy Cross, 75-50 At Cage
January 05, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2011
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
| Buy Your Own Copy Of This Game: $9.99
AMHERST, Mass. - Behind a career-high 23 points from sophomore Jasmine Watson the UMass women's basketball team rolled to a 75-50 win over Holy Cross (4-11) on Wednesday night in its return to the Curry Hicks Cage. Playing at the Cage for the first time since Dec. 4, 2004, the Minutewomen (4-11) picked up the program's fifth-straight win at the historic facility, a streak dating back to Feb. 18, 1995.
Watson drained 9-of-14 from the field and was flawless (5-for-5) at the free throw line, while also grabbing 11 rebounds on the way to her fourth career double-double. She added three blocks and three steals, as well. Junior Emilie Teuscher, senior Cerie Mosgrove and senior Megan Zullo all joined Watson in double figures with 12 points apiece. Mosgrove logged her first career double-double, corralling a career-best 10 rebounds and narrowly missed a triple-double, dishing a personal-best seven assists. Teuscher and Zullo shot a combined 8-for-18 from three-point range, going 4-for-8 and 4-for-10, respectively. Sophomore Dee Montgomery contributed nine points to go along with three assists and four steals.
Watson hit a layup 12 seconds into the game to give UMass a lead the squad never relinquished in the contest. Whitney Fremeau's jumper on the next Holy Cross possession marked the only time the score was level on the evening. Zullo drained a three at the 19:09 mark, the first of 11 on the night for the Mintutewomen, and the squad never looked back. A bucket by Watson with 1:32 left in the first half put UMass up by double digits for the first time, 31-20, and the team went on to take a 33-25 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Minutewomen started the second half on a 19-2 run to put the game out of reach for the Crusaders, who were limited to just one field goal in the first 9:35 of the period. UMass led by 20 or more from the 15:39 mark on.
Finishing the night 25-for-61 from the field, the Minutewomen shot 41% overall, including the second-highest three-point total in program history, making 11-of-25 from beyond the arc for a 44% showing. UMass also boasted its best free throw shooting performance of the season, converting 14-of-16 attempts (87.5%).
Defensively the Minutewomen limited Holy Cross to just 18-for-63 (28.6%) shooting and 3-for-17 (17.6%) from three-point range. The Crusaders made 11-of-16 (68.8%) free throws and were out-rebounded by UMass, 45-38. The Minutewomen held a 23-15 edge in points off turnovers, 18-9 in second chance points and 8-2 in fast break points.
Fremeau was the lone Holy Cross player in double figures with 13 points and totaled a team-leading six rebounds. Amy Lepley and Meredith Ward had nine points apiece.
UMass will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 8, when the team will open its Atlantic 10 season at Rhode Island. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the Ryan Center.
