University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
George Washington
Women's Hoops Hosts George Washington to Close Out Home Stand
January 20, 2017 | Women's Basketball
It's a doubleheader on Saturday as the Minutewomen play following the men's game at the Mullins Center.
AMHERST, Mass. -Â After a tough loss on Thursday morning to St. Bonaventure, the UMass women's basketball team looks to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as George Washington visits the Mullins Center to close out a three-game home stand for the Minutewomen. The game will be streamed online for free on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network and broadcast locally on 91.1 FM WMUA.
Despite a season-high crowd of 2,650 fans as part of the annual Field Trip Day at the Mullins Center, the Minutewomen were unable to generate any consistent offense in the 55-38 loss to St. Bonaventure. Leah McDerment and Alyx Stiff led UMass with 11 points each.
Freshman guard Hailey Leidel earned her third Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honor on Monday after averaging 21.5 points in the wins over Davidson and Duquesne. The rookie hit the game-winning three-pointer against the Wildcats for her second buzzer-beater of the season. The Brownstown, Mich., native leads UMass in scoring this season with 16.7 points per game while also averaging 5.2 rebounds. Maggie Mulligan is second in scoring with 14.1 points a night while also hauling down 11.6 rebounds per game. Ryan Holder (10.3 points) and Alyx Stiff (10.1 points) round out UMass' top scoring leaders. Stiff scored a career-best 19 points in the win over Duquesne.
In the Atlantic 10, UMass is currently in a four-way tie for eighth in the standings (alongside Duquesne, George Mason and VCU), while the Colonials (12-6, 5-1 A-10) are second overall. Leidel continues to lead all A-10 rookies in scoring and is third overall. She leads the league in three-pointers made (56) which is tied for sixth-most in a single-season at UMass. The freshman also ranks fourth in the league in steals. Mulligan ranks ninth overall in scoring, is second in rebounds per game, and ranks third in blocked shots (1.8). Leah McDerment rounds out the league leaders for the Minutewomen ranking third in assists with 5.3 per game.
Nationally, Mulligan continues to rank second nationally in double-doubles with 15 - just one behind Washington's Chantel Osahor. Her 11.6 rebounds per game ranks third overall in the NCAA. Leidel also remains the countries No. 2 rookie scorer just behind UNC Greensboro's Nadine Soliman who is 0.4 points ahead. Her 56 three-pointers made is tied for 16th nationally.
George Washington enters the game having won five of their last six games - the lone loss coming on the road in a 50-48 decision at Dayton. Caira Washington leads the Colonials with an 11.8 point average while controlling 8.1 rebounds per game. She is followed by Hannah Schaible who scores 10.7 points a night. Lexi Martins (9.7 points) and Kelli Prange (9.1 points) round out the leading scorers as they are just shy of double-figure averages. Defensively, GW has been solid this year allowing just 58.5 points per game and holding oppontents to 27 percent from beyond the arc.
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. Tickets for home games can be purchased by calling 866-UMASS-TIX, logging on to www.UMassAthletics.com, and by visiting the Mullins Center Box Office.
