University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
2-10, 0-0A10
Northeastern
6-2, 0-0CAA
UMass Women's Basketball Falls At Northeastern, 78-51
December 22, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2012
BOSTON - Freshman guard Jasmine Harris had a career-high 14 points, including 11 in the second half; however, UMass women's basketball fell on Northeastern's Solomon Court, 78-51 on Saturday afternoon. Harris also notched personal bests with four made three-pointers and 22 minutes played while sophomore guard Emily Mital added 11 points and freshman guard Rashida Timbilla grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Northeastern keyed in from behind the arc early to take a 12-4 advantage with 15:53 remaining in the first half, hitting its first trio of three-point attempts to buoy the charge. The Minutewomen answered with buckets from outside to drop the deficit to 12-10 at the 13:22 mark. Redshirt-sophomore forward Millie Niggeling checked in with 14:45 to play and drained a trey on the ensuing trip down the floor. Harris followed two possessions later with the first of four three-pointers the freshman produced on the day to mark the 6-0 run.
However, the Huskies continued to knock down their attempts from outside to widen the gap to 43-23 at halftime. Northeastern finished the frame 8-for-13 on three-pointers (61.5 pct.) and totaled a 51.7 field goal percentage overall (15-of-29).
UMass shot well to start the second half, hitting five of its first nine attempts (55.6 percent), but was unable to drop the deficit below 17. Niggeling knocked down a jumper near the free throw line to cut the Northeastern advantage to 54-37 with 13:19 remaining in the contest; however, the Huskies were able to knock down their attempts down the stretch to maintain the lead and earn the 78-51 decision.
The Minutewomen finished 18-for-51 from the field (35.3 percent), including hitting 36.4 percent of their three-point attempts (8-for-22). Northeastern went 29-for-59 overall (49.2 percent) and 8-for-19 from behind the arc (42.1 percent). The teams earned nearly identical free throw percentages, as UMass hit 7 of 11 attempts (63.6) while the Huskies knocked down 12-of-19 (63.2).
Points in the paint (36-18) and off of turnovers (32-7) favored Northeastern. UMass tallied a slim lead in second chance scoring, 10-9 while each team's bench notched 25 points.
Jewel Tunstull finished with a game-high 15 points to lead the Huskies while A'lece Mark contributed 14 and Kashaia Cannon and Tiffany Montagne each chipped in 12.
After a short break for the holidays, UMass returns to action at home in the Mullins Center against Siena College (3-6) on Friday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through 866-UMASS-TIX or online through the UMass Ticket Central.
