University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
8-12, 2-6 A-10
St. Bonaventure
12-10, 2-7 A-10
Women's Hoops Stopped By St. Bonaventure, 77-57
January 31, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Box Score |
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AMHERST, Mass. - UMass women's basketball started strong against St. Bonaventure at home in the Mullins Center on Saturday afternoon, but could not keep pace with the Bonnies down the stretch in a 77-57 loss. Kim Pierre-Louis paced the Minutewomen with 14 points while Emily Mital chipped in 10 more to go with a team-best four assists.
Rashida Timbilla nearly added a double-double as the junior forward finished with nine rebounds and eight points. Alyx Stiff, back from a seven-game injury-related absence, scored seven points in as many minutes and dished out two assists while Maggie Mulligan notched five points and ripped down five boards in only 13 minutes on the floor.
Shooting accuracy in all facets of the game buoyed St. Bonaventure. Nyla Reuter and Gabby Richmond combined for 40 points as the duo finished 12-for-20 on field goals and 12-of-12 at the line. As a team, St. Bonaventure hit 45.1 percent of its attempts from the floor (23-of-51) and went 23-of-30 on foul shots (76.7 percent).
Katie Healy provided 14 points to round out the Bonnies who scored in double-figures while Richmond led both sides with 12 boards.
For matchup purposes against a smaller St. Bonaventure lineup, UMass switched its starters for the first time this season. Mital served as the No. 3, Timbilla moved to forward and Pierre-Louis started at center in place of Kymber Hill.
The change in the lineup helped UMass start 5-for-8 from the field as the squad held a slim 14-13 lead with 11 minutes, 57 seconds to play in the first. Leah McDerment spearheaded the run with five points while Mital added a triple and dished out three assists in the span.
However, the Bonnies (12-10 overall, 2-7 Atlantic 10) adjusted and moved ahead, 25-15, through an 11-1 scoring streak. Free throws from Cierra Dillard and Mital kept the Minutewomen within striking distance as they closed the gap to six points before Mital sank her second triple of the game at the 3:45 mark.
Once UMass (8-12, 2-6) closed within 25-22, St. Bonaventure answered with eight of the final 10 points in the half for a 32-24 advantage at the break. The Bonnies continued to roll early in the second half and built their lead to as much as 26 points.
Dillard started the half with a layup for UMass, but the visitors scored the next 13 points to increase their lead to 47-28 with 15:45 left. The Bonnies continued to hit from all areas over the next nine minutes of play, which resulted in a 64-38 lead with less than seven minutes left. Rueter spearheaded the effort with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, including a 4-for-5 line from three-point land. Richmond was close behind with 12 points (2-2 FG, 8-8 FT) in the half.
Seven quick points on a Pierre-Louis jumper, Stiff three-pointer and Timbilla layup cut the deficit 64-45 with 5:26 remaining, but Massachusetts was unable to edge closer than within 19 until the final minute of play.
The Minutewomen hit the road for game at regional rival Rhode Island (12-8, 4-4) on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
