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University of Massachusets Athletics
Women’s Hoops Opens Season at Holy Cross Sunday
November 13, 2015 | Women's Basketball
The 2015-16 season officially kicks off for the UMass women’s basketball team on Sunday as the Minutewomen head to Holy Cross for a 2 p.m. tip-off. As the new campaign begins, UMass will look to not only win its season-opener, but provide head coach Sharon Dawley her 300th career win.
Dawley and the Minutewomen look to continue the success built last season after advancing to the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament and finishing the year with a 12-18 overall record.
Coming into the new year, UMass returns the bulk of its starting line-up from a year ago with four of five starters back. In addition, the Minutewomen add the services of redshirt sophomore forward Alyssa Lawrence to the line-up after she sat out last year following her transfer from San Diego State.
Lawrence figures to be a strong compliment in the post alongside returning starter Rashida Timbillia who is one of the top scorers and rebounders in the Atlantic 10. Along with her ability to get to the basket, Timbillia was also the only player in the league to finish in the top-10 rankings last year in rebounds, assists and steals making her a threat on both ends of the court.
The backcourt figures to make big strides in the upcoming season as well. Cierra Dillard is UMass’ top returning scorer after averaging 10.6 points per game as a freshman in 2014-15.
Also returning is Leah McDerment who started 29 games a year ago and senior Amber Dillon who has played in 84 career games. Talented freshman guard Bria Stallworth figures to work herself into the starting line-up after a strong preseason which gives UMass’ flexibility a depth at each backcourt position.
Anchoring the front court alongside Timbilla and Lawrence will be Kymber Hill, Ciara Rosten and Maggie Mulligan. Hill started 28 games last season, while Rosten and Mulligan each saw time in nearly every game as reserves.
In last season’s meeting with the Crusaders at the Mullins Center, the Minutewomen came away with a 72-61 win thanks to a big second half. UMass outscored Holy Cross 43-31 following the intermission thanks to a key 8-to-1 run midway through the second stanza. Kim Pierre-Louis led the Minutewomen with 27 points, while Dillard added 21 points including 17 in the second half. Points in the paint were an overwhelmingly key statistic as UMass outscored Holy Cross 40-to-18.
After the Holy Cross game, UMass will head to Harvard on Wednesday, Nov. 18 for a 7 p.m. tip before opening the home schedule on Nov. 21 against Buffalo (5 p.m.) at the Mullins Center3
