University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Journeys To Atlanta For Holiday & Hoops Classic
December 16, 2014 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes: Holiday & Hoops Classic | |
| Game 10 | Massachusetts (5-4) at Georgia State (4-3) |
| Date | Time | Friday, December 19, 2014 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Location | GSU Sports Arena (3,455) | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Live Statistics | NeuLion (provided by Georgia State) |
| Watch Live | PantherVision (provided by Georgia State) |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Georgia State leads, 1-0. Last meeting: Georgia State 76, Massachusetts 65; Dec. 29, 1988 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts  | Georgia State |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Georgia State |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics  | @UMassWBB
|
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Georgia State Ticket Office or 866-427-8283 |
Scouting Georgia State Women's Basketball
Georgia State started the year with three consecutive wins, but dropped three of the last four games for a 4-3 mark ahead of competition with the Minutewomen. Three of the Panthers' four victories came at home at the GSU Sports Arena, including a 72-60 decision over Tennessee Tech in their most recent game.
Kayla Nolan's 13.4 points per game paves the way for the Georgia State offense. Aisha Andrews adds 11.0 per appearance, but missed the most recent two games due to a violation of team rules, while Makeba Ponder provided 10.9 points and Brittany Logan adds a near double-double with 9.7 scored to go along with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Sharon Baldwin-Tener is in her fifth season at Georgia State. She is 45-76 with the Panthers and 240-218 over 16 seasons as a head coach so far. Baldwin-Tener also guided East Carolina and Life University prior to her arrival at Georgia State.
Last Meeting: Georgia State 76, Massachusetts 65; Dec. 29, 1988
Georgia State won the only prior meeting between these teams, 76-65 on Dec. 29, 1988 at the B & W Holiday Hoop Classic. Christel Zullo led the Minutewomen with 15 points as one of five scorers who reached double-digit points for UMass. Keyburn McCusker and Michele Pytko notched 12 points each, while McCusker led Massachusetts with seven rebounds. Helen Freeman and Beth Wilbor chipped in 10 points apieace as well.
The Panthers earned a 47-28 margin on the boards, including a 29-17 lead on the defensive glass overall, but led just 31-28 at halftime before a strong finish to the contest netted Georgia State the victory. San Kegler had a game-high 19 points while Malynda Carruth scored 16 more and Angela Greshman tallied 15.
Massachusetts shot 38.1 percent from the floor (24-of-63) while Georgia State finished 29-for-56 on field goals (51.8 percent).
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes: Holiday & Hoops Classic | |
| Game 11 | Massachusetts vs. Ohio |
| Date | Time | Saturday, December 20, 2014 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | GSU Sports Arena (3,455) | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Live Statistics | NeuLion (provided by Georgia State) |
| Watch Live | PantherVision (provided by Georgia State) |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 2-0. Last meeting: Massachusetts 65, Ohio 61; Nov. 28, 2012 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Ohio (available shortly) |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Ohio |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassWBB
|
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Georgia State Ticket Office or 866-427-8283 |
Scouting Ohio University's Women's Basketball
Ohio University started the season with six consecutive victories, but faltered in its two consecutive games with one more to play before the Bobcats face the Minutewomen in a neutral-site contest. Ohio counts victories over Detroit, Manhattan, Morehead State, Murray State, Northern Kentucky and Wofford. The Bobcats losses came at the hands of East Carolina, 76-68 and James Madison, 69-62. They play Atlantic 10 Conference member La Salle on Friday, Dec. 19 prior to facing UMass the following day.
Kiyanna Black pours in 17.8 points per game while Quiera Lampkins (13.8) and Lexie Baldwin (11.1) also contribute double-digits on average. Lampkins is the leading rebounder on the squad with 7.0 per game and Baldwin follows closesly with 6.1 in each contest. Despite their two straight losses, Ohio still outscores foes, 78.9-to-57.8 as the squad connects on 43.6 percent of its field goals as a team (216-of-495).
Bob Boldon is in his second season as the head coach at Ohio University. He is 15-23 so far with the Bobcats and 113-109 as a program leader, with additional stops at Youngstown State and Lambuth University.
Last Meeting: Massachusetts 65, Ohio 61; Nov. 28, 2012
UMass secured its first road victory of the season with a 65-61 win at Ohio. Rashida Timbilla led the Minutewomen with her second career double-double on 16 points and 13 rebounds while adding four of UMass' 11 blocks on the day. The team total for blocks fell one shy of tying the single game program mark, reached most recently against St. Bonaventure on Feb. 27, 2008.
UMass held a slim lead during the majority of the first half and took a 31-27 advantage into the break. The contest featured back-and-forth play until the final buzzer as UMass did not relinquish its lead again, but was unable to build a margin larger than eight over the remainder of the game.
Erin Bailes connected on a shot from behind the arc to drop the UMass advantage to 62-59 with 1:16 remaining. After Timbilla missed a shot with 58 seconds to play, the Bobcats had one last attempt to rally taken away by Emily Mital. The Frisco, Texas, native poked the ball away from Ashley Fowler and knocked down a pair of free throws after taking a foul, extending the UMass lead to 64-59.
Home, Conference Contests Available On A-10 Digital Network
UMass women's basketball will have 12 of its 13 home games broadcast online through the Atlantic 10 Digital Network, with Cody Chrusciel providing play-by-play commentary. A link will be accessible in each game preview to direct fans or other interest parties to the subscription page, where the viewer can purchase the plan he or she believes to be appropriate. The lone game that will not be broadcast on the A-10 platform will be available on TV through the CBS Sports Network as CBSSN will air the UMass-George Washington tilt on Jan. 18, 2015.
WMUA 91.1 FM To Broadcast Women's Basketball
Each Massachusetts women's basketball contest during the 2014-15 campaign will be broadcast live on WMUA 91.1 FM. Fans can listen in through the FM radio station locally or catch the game via the online live streaming app, which is free of charge and linked in each game preview as well as on the interactive team schedule.
On Top Of The Tweet Game
Instant information about the University of Massachusetts women's basketball program, including an inside look at key possessions and statistics in each game as well as updates from practice and other team events can be found through the Twitter handle @UMassWBB. Follow the Minutewomen there and catch information about each UMass Athletic Department program through @UMassAthletics.
Quick Look: Massachusetts 72, Holy Cross 61
Kim Pierre-Louis and Cierra Dillard provided individual career-highs in points and spurred the Minutewomen to a 72-61 victory over Holy Cross on Sunday, Dec. 15. Pierre-Louis poured in 27 while Dillard added 21, including 17 in the second half when Massachusetts outscored the Crusaders by 12 points to seal the win.
The Minutewomen earned the win with their play in the paint, where UMass produced 40 points and held the Crusaders to just 18 in the lane on the other end.
Down 30-29 at the half, the Minutewomen fired in 55.6 percent of their field goals during the deciding frame and outscored Holy Cross by 12 points during the half, 43-31 as a result. Dillard and Pierre-Louis were locked in and - combined - went 11-of-15 on field goals (73.3 percent) to spearhead to comeback.
Up only three, 42-39, UMass went on an 8-1 run to spread the margin to 50-40 with 10 minutes, 34 second left. Dillard scored six points during the streak and the lead did not dip below five points over the rest of the game.
Dillard Gets A-10 Rookie Of The Week
Freshman guard Cierra Dillard earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday, Dec. 15, after she provided 21 points - 17 in the second half - when UMass defeated Holy Cross, 72-61 on Sunday, Dec. 14.
During the second half she shot 6-of-8 from the floor, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and earned two steals without a turnover while she played the entire frame.
Quick Look: Massachusetts 71, American 61
UMass topped American, 71-61 during a Saturday, Dec. 6 game. Kim Pierre-Louis paced the team with 22 points in 23 minutes as she went 10-for-17 from the floor and 2-2 at the line. Pierre-Louis also led all players with 11 boards for her first double-double of the season and helped the squad own a 40-23 advantage on the boards.
Freshman Cierra Dillard added a career-best 18 points. She was 6-of-12 on field goals with a 5-for-6 afternoon at the charity stripe.
After the UMass lead dipped to one point following a Jen Dumiak layup with 16 minutes, 13 second left to play, Massachusetts put together a 9-0 run to earn its first double-digit advantage, 43-33. Dillard spearheaded the stretch with seven of the points, including an and-one play to cap the streak.
Dumiak ended the UMass run with another layup, but the Minutewomen responded with a Pierre-Louis bucket and Alyx Stiff three-pointer from the left wing to push the advantage to 50-35 at the 10:22 mark. Massachusetts did not see its lead slip below nine points during the remainder of the play.
There's No Place Like Home
UMass has won four times at home this season with victories over Maine, 69-60, Central Florida, 67-62, American, 71-61 and Holy Cross, 72-61. Kim Pierre-Louis averaged 22.5 points per game in those contests, followed by Cierra Dillard's 11.5.
As a team in those games, the Minutewomen shot 47.0 percent from the floor (102-of-217), including 42.9 percent from three-point land (15-of-35). They also outrebound foes at home, 37.5-to-29.3 on average.
A Second Half Savior
Cierra Dillard spearheaded the UMass win over American when she scored 15 of her single-game career-high 18 points during the second half. Dillard's only made shot of the first half was a three-pointer that put UMass up, 26-24 with two seconds left in the stanza. She was 5-of-10 from the floor and 5-for-6 at the foul line during the second half, in which she played 17 minutes.
She upped her second-half success in the win over Holy Cross when she poured in 17 of her career-high 21 points and went 6-for-8 from the floor to lead UMass to its comeback win over the Crusaders.
Dillard more than doubles her scoring output from the first half to the second through nine games. She averages 3.0 points during the first half and scored 6.3 after the break.
Timbilla Reaches 500 Rebounds
Rashida Timbilla surpassed 500 career rebounds at UMass during the contest against Harvard. Timbilla is up to 521 as a Minutewoman nine games into her junior season. She had 241 as a freshman and 207 during her sophomore season. Currently, Timbilla averages 8.1 boards per game as a junior and 7.9 per game for her career.
If she continues to average 7.9 rebounds per game over the remainder of her career, Timbilla projects to finish as one of only three Minutewomen ever to earn at least 900 career rebounds alongside Jennifer Butler (1,328; 1999-2003) and Octavia Thomas (903; 1992-96).
The Hometown Girl
Junior guard Victoria Stewart is a native of Amherst, Massachusetts, and played scholastically at nearby Amherst-Pelham High School.
Stewart, who walked on to the team as a freshman in 2012-13, earned a scholarship for her hard work, dedication and positive attitude before her sophomore year. For her career, she has appeared in 22 games with the Minutewomen.
A First For Kymber Hill
Kymber Hill recorded her first collegiate double-double through 10 points and as many rebounds against North Texas. Hill was 4-for-7 from the floor 2-of-4 at the foul line while she split her 10 boards evenly between the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
Mital, The Scholar
Senior guard Emily Mital received a pair of Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll awards during 2013-14. Mital, a kinesiology major and a member of the University of Massachusetts Dean's List, was also chosen for the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll following the Spring 2013 semester to give her three nods to the two-per-year academic listing in four semesters eligible for it.
The Canadian Connection
UMass women's basketball has had eight Canadian players compete for the program in the history of the squad including Kim Pierre-Louis and Rashida Timbilla.
The list also included sisters Alisha Tatham (2004-08) and Tamara Tatham (2004-07), Cleo Foster (2001-04), Carolann Cloutier (2011-13), JoAnn Dupuis (1985-87) and Stephanie Lawrence (2007-11). The Minutewomen have had at least one Canadian-born player on their roster for each of the previous 13 seasons dating back to Foster's arrival in Amherst ahead of the 2001 campaign.
Griffith Joins Coaching Staff
Yolanda Griffith, a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning member of the U.S. National Team and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, joined the UMass coaching staff on Sept. 5.
Griffith, a 2014 first ballot inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, played 11 seasons in the WNBA and was the 2005 finals MVP when Sacramento won the WNBA Championship. Most recently, Griffith assisted at Lafayette in 2013-14 after she spent two seasons as a coach on the Dartmouth staff in 2011-13.
Wielgus Named Assistant Coach
Chris Wielgus was elevated from director of operations to assistant coach ahead of the 2014-15 season. Wielgus served as the director of operations during 2013-14 and has 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level.
Wielgus was the women's basketball coach at Dartmouth for 28 years (1976-84; 1993-2013), where she led the Big Green to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and two WNIT berths. She also coached the Fordham Rams to 37 victories over a two-season span from 1991-93 and has 436 victories as a collegiate head coach in total.