University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
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Western Michigan
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Western Michigan Spoils Women's Hoops Season-Opener, 63-41
November 15, 2014 | Women's Basketball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Senior forward Kim Pierre-Louis scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 21 minutes on the floor, but UMass women's basketball dropped a 63-41 decision at Western Michigan's University Arena in the season-opener for both teams on Friday evening.
Cierra Dillard chipped in seven points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor while Amber Dillon added six points and a pair of steals. Kymber Hill and Rashida Timbilla pulled down seven rebounds apiece as the Minutewomen won the battle of the boards, 41-38.
Jazmine Windham led Western Michigan with 16 points while Michelle O'Brien provided a double-double with 13 points and as many rebounds. Jessica Jessing scored 10 to go with four boards and a pair of blocks.
UMass scored seven consecutive points to open the game with jumpers by Hill and Pierre-Louis plus a three-pointer from Dillard. After the Broncos started up their offense and pulled within 9-4, Pierre-Louis tallied three straight baskets to keep the Minutewomen in front early, 15-9. The Ottawa, Ontario, native went on to hit eight of her 15 shots from the floor while seven of her boards came from the defensive glass.
However, WMU (1-0 overall) rallied with a 21-point run covering eight minutes, 11 seconds of game action to take control. The response turned the home side's 17-9 deficit into a 30-17 lead with 1:26 left in the first half and the Broncos eventually took a 34-21 advantage into the break.
Pierre-Louis reached double-digits in points during the opening minutes of the second half with a layup at the right of the hoop, but Western Michigan used a balanced offense in the final stanza to keep the Minutewomen from cutting into the Bronco advantage. The Broncos finished 25-of-69 from the floor (36.2 percent) as they went 13-for-36 in the first half (36.1 percent) and 12-of-33 during the second (36.4 percent). Massachusetts finished 16-fo-47 overall (34.0 percent) but we just 8-of-28 during the final frame (28.6 percent).
Dillard, Maggie Mulligan and Ciara Rosten all made their UMass debuts against the Broncos. Dillard started at guard while Mulligan and Rosten rotated into the lineup from the bench. Rosten had three rebounds over 13 minutes while Mulligan added an offensive board and an assist in 11 minutes.
Massachusetts was plagued by turnover trouble during the game and gave the ball away 22 times in total. Western Michigan used the UMass turnovers to create 27 points while the Broncos led scoring in the paint, 22-14 and bench points, 14-11.
The Minutewomen (0-1) close out their trip through the Midwest with a contest at Central Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 16. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
