University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
7-22, 3-11
La Salle
10-19, 6-8
La Salle Edges UMass Women's Basketball, 67-63
February 26, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - In a closely contested matchup where the squads were never separated by more than seven points, La Salle edged the UMass women's basketball squad, 67-64, on Senior Day at the Mullins Center. The Minutewomen close out the regular season at 7-22 overall, 3-11 in the Atlantic 10, while the Explorers improve to 10-19 overall and 6-8 in the conference.
Registering a double-double for a second straight game, sophomore Jasmine Watson scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for a new personal best. Senior Cerie Mosgrove followed with 13 points and seven boards, while sophomore Shakia Robinson joined the pair in double figures with 10 points to go along with six rebounds. Senior Megan Zullo dished seven assists and tallied nine points. She now has 132 assists on the year, tied for 10th all-time at UMass in a single season, and broke the program record for season minutes played during the contest, as well.
After back-to-back buckets by Mosgrove and Watson, the Minutewomen held their largest lead of the afternoon, 11-6, with 13:39 on the clock. Three treys from La Salle, however, part of a 10-0 run, helped the Explorers climb on top, 23-17. After taking the lead with 9:07 left in the frame, La Salle remained in front for the duration of the period, though UMass managed the final three points of the half to cut the deficit to 34-31.
The Explorers pushed the lead back to six with a trey by Michea Bryant to open the second half, but the Minutewomen gradually crept closer and eventually tied the score at 43 with a layup by Shakia Robinson at the 14:29 mark. Seven straight points, beginning with a pair of free throws from Watson at 11:28, then helped UMass overtake La Salle. A three-point play by Robinson gave the Minutewomen a 54-50 advantage with 10:15 to play. However, the Explorers answered with the next five points to go back in front.
Over the next 8:49, the teams remained no more than two points apart. With 4:33 left, Watson split on a trip to the free throw line, tying the score for the eighth time, 60-60. Neither squad would find the net again until Bryant came up with a jumper at 1:25 that put La Salle in front for good. She then drained a three with 17 ticks left to help ice the victory for the Explorers.
UMass shot 20-for-53 (37.7%) overall compared to La Salle's 27-for-63 (42.9%). The Explorers finished 9-for-29 (31%) from beyond the arc, while the Minutewomen were 6-for-20 (30%). Capitalizing on its trips to the free throw line, UMass made 17-of-22 (77.3%), compared to just 4-for-7 (57.1%) for La Salle.
Alexis Scott totaled 15 points and six assists to pace the Explorers. Bryant and Ashley Gale chipped in with 12 apiece, while Bryant also handed out five helpers. Chelsea Conner and Ebonee Jones added nine points each and Jess Koci logged a team-best eight rebounds.
The Minutewomen will be back in action next Friday, March 4, when the squad will travel across the state to Lowell, Mass., for the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Seeding for the tournament has not yet been announced.
