Late Run Helps Women's Hoops Get Past Bryant, 68-62

AMHERST, Mass. - A 16-to-0 run in the fourth quarter proved the difference maker allowing the UMass women's basketball team to post a 68-62 win over Bryant on Saturday afternoon at the Mullins Center. The nip-and-tuck match-up featured six ties and seven lead changes until the Minutewomen were able to pull away at the start of the final quarter.

The win improves the Minutewomen to 5-5 overall for the season, while the Bulldogs drop to 4-5 overall. UMass will return to action on Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) at Boston University.

Hailey Leidel led UMass with a game-high 23 points including a 5-of-5 performance from beyond the arc, while adding eight rebounds. Ryan Holder added 16 points and a season-high eight assists, while Alyx Stiff scored 11 in her second game back this season.

The highlight of the day for the Minutewomen, however, was the stellar play of Leah McDerment who had a career-high 14 assists - the second-most for a single game in program history. McDerment fell just one shy of tying Christel Zullo who had 15 assists against Temple on Feb. 14, 1986.

Byrant had four players in double figures led by Sydney Holloway who scored 17 points while adding eight rebounds. Kierra Palmer and Morgan Olander each had 12 points, while Alex Klein had 10 points to round out the top scorers.

The Minutewomen shot 43.8 percent for the game hitting 28-of-64 from the floor including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. All but two of their field goals were assisted falling just two shy of tying the program record for a game (28 vs. Toledo, 2004).

The afternoon started with the Bulldogs having a hot hand early hitting six-of-eight field goals to take an early 14-6 lead. Coming out of the first media timeout Bryant missed their next three shots on the floor allowing UMass to cut the Bryant lead to 20-17 heading into the second quarter.

UMass started the second stanza with a steal and a Leidel three-pointer to tie the game. The game became a back-and-forth battle between the two teams as each used 6-to-0 runs to trade leads. Leidel closed out the quarter with back-to-back treys in the last 1:40 to give UMass a 36-33 lead at the intermission.

With 6:16 left in the third quarter, Bryant went on a 9-to-0 run putting the Bulldogs up 46-43. The Minutewomen again fought back thanks to a three-point play by Stiff and a lay-up from McDerment to reclaim a 48-46 lead with 2:12 to go. After both teams traded baskets, Bryant was able to close out the quarter with a lay-up by Holloway to tie the game at 50 entering the fourth.

The Minutewomen jumped out to a fast start in the fourth putting together a 16-to-0 run thanks to six points from Holder and eight from Leidel who hit a pair of three-pointers in the stretch. As had been the case the whole game, Bryant answered with nine straight points to pull within seven at the 2:04 mark, but could get no closer. The Minutewomen held the Bulldogs to just a pair of field goals in the final 21 seconds of play to close out the win.

For complete coverage of the UMass women's basketball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @UMassWBB and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Hailey Leidel

Ryan Holder

Alyx Stiff

Maggie Mulligan

Players Mentioned

Ryan Holder

Hailey Leidel

Leah McDerment

Alyx Stiff

Players Mentioned

Ryan Holder

Hailey Leidel

Leah McDerment

Alyx Stiff

Scoreboard

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