Late Run Keys Dayton to 77-65 Win Over Women's Hoops

DAYTON, Ohio – A late fourth-quarter 14-to-6 run for Dayton proved the difference maker as the Flyers defeated the UMass women's basketball team 77-65 on Saturday afternoon at UD Arena. Maggie Mulligan had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Minutewomen (6-9, 0-2 A-10) who had tied the game three times in the second half.

Mulligan's double-double tied her for the NCAA lead with 11 this season and marked the third 20-point effort of her career. Alyx Stiff scored a career-high 15 points, while Hailey Leidel added 13 points and seven rebounds. Thanks to Mulligan's efforts in the post, UMass outscored the Flyers 40-to-28 in the paint.

Dayton (7-7, 1-1 A-10) was led by 21 points from Jenna Burdette as one of four Flyers in double figures. Saicha Grant-Allen had 16 points and 13 rebounds followed by JaVonna Layfield (15 points) and Kelley Austria (11 points). The Flyers hit 9-of-25 from beyond the arc and converted 20-of-24 free throw attempts.

Dayton carried a 36-30 lead into the intermission despite UMass having cut an early deficit to just two points twice in the first half.

The Flyers started the game with a 10-2 lead at the 4:57 mark. A steady dose of passes to Mulligan in the paint helped the Minutewomen pull back into the game. She scored six points on an 11-to-3 UMass run to close the first quarter with the Minutewomen pulling within two, 15-13.

Dayton used a 9-to-2 run early in the second quarter to build up a 28-18 lead, but UMass was again able to pull back with a pair of Mulligan lay-ups in the final minute before intermission. The junior notched 14 of her game points in the first half along with six rebounds.

The third quarter started well for the Minutewomen as they were able to draw even at 42-42 with Dayton at the 4:58 mark. A three-point play by Stiff and another lay-up by Mulligan sparked a 10-to-3 run by UMass for the first tie of the game.

The teams traded baskets for the next two minutes until Dayton was able to string five straight points thanks to a three-pointer from Cannatelli and a Burdette lay-up to take a 50-45 lead with 1:39 left in the third.

A Stiff three-pointer with 57 seconds cut the lead to two, but a pair of Dayton free throws closed the scoring and gave the Flyers a 54-50 lead going into the fourth.

The Minutewomen were able to keep the game close in the opening five minutes of the fourth, but Dayton extended its lead back to double-digits, 73-63, thanks to a 14-to-6 run late in the quarter.

Mulligan closed out the UMass scoring with a pair of free throws with 29 seconds to go, but the Flyers were able to convert four straight free throws down the stretch to give the final score.

The Minutewomen will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 4 against Rhode Island at the Mullins Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-UMASS-TIX, logging on to www.UMassAthletics.com and visiting the Mullins Center Box Office.

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

Maggie Mulligan

Alyx Stiff

Hailey Leidel

Ryan Holder

Players Mentioned

Hailey Leidel

Maggie Mulligan

Alyx Stiff

Players Mentioned

Hailey Leidel

Maggie Mulligan

Alyx Stiff

Scoreboard

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