University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, January 4
Amherst, Mass.
7 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
7-9, 1-2 A-10
68
vs
67
Rhode Island
4-11, 0-3 A-10
1
2
3
4
F
Rhode Island
21
16
18
12
67
Massachusetts
24
18
11
15
68
Defensive Stand Key As Women's Hoops Beats Rhode Island, 68-67
January 04, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Ryan Holder's steal with 1.2 seconds to go seals Minutewomen's first A-10 win of season.
AMHERST, Mass. - Ryan Holder's steal with 1.2 seconds remaining proved the defensive stand the Minutewomen needed as the UMass women's basketball team pulled out a 68-67 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center. In a game that featured 14 lead chages and three ties, the play proved the highlight of the night as UMass picked up its first league victory of the season.
With the win, UMass improves to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island falls to 4-11 overall and 0-3 in league play. The victory also improves UMass to 6-1 this year at the Mullins Center.
After trailing by three with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, freshman Hailey Leidel scored four straight points on a pair of free throws and a lay-up as part of her career-best and game-high 27 points. She put the Minutewomen up 68-67 with 1:04 to go. Rhode Island turned the ball over on the next possession, but the Minutewomen missed a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining. UMass fouled twice to work the clock as URI looked to in-bound the ball from the far sideline at mid-court. Leah McDerment played close defense on leading URI scorer Charise Wilson who was the target of the inbounds play which allowed Holder to slide over for the game-winning steal ending the game.
Leidel's 27 points came on 8-of-17 shooting and marked the fifth time the nation's No. 2 scoring rookie hit the 20-point mark for a game. Maggie Mulligan added her 12th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Alyx Stiff rounded out the top scorers with 14 points, while McDerment added nine assists.
Rhody was led by 26 points from Wilson who hit 10-of-24 shots including six three-pointers. Morgan Johnson added 15 points followed by Ednaija Lassiter (12 points) and Dina Motrechuk (10 points, 5 blocks). Overall, the Rams hit 15 three pointers in the game and scored 33 points of 15 UMass turnovers.
UMass led 42-37 at halftime despite the early barrage of Rams three-pointers. In the third quarter, the Minutewomen led by as many as six early in the period, but URI fought back and a Wilson three-pointer with three seconds to go put Rhody up 55-53 heading to the fourth. The teams traded leads through the fourth quarter as Rhode Island managed a 67-64 lead on a Lassiter three at the 2:48 mark.
Overall for the game, UMass shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor and hit 9-of-17 three pointers. The Minutewomen were a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line and held a 37-to-27 advantage in rebounds.
UMass will return to action this Saturday, January 7 at Saint Joseph's. The game will be streamed on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network and carried live locally on 91.1 FM WMUA.
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.
With the win, UMass improves to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island falls to 4-11 overall and 0-3 in league play. The victory also improves UMass to 6-1 this year at the Mullins Center.
After trailing by three with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, freshman Hailey Leidel scored four straight points on a pair of free throws and a lay-up as part of her career-best and game-high 27 points. She put the Minutewomen up 68-67 with 1:04 to go. Rhode Island turned the ball over on the next possession, but the Minutewomen missed a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining. UMass fouled twice to work the clock as URI looked to in-bound the ball from the far sideline at mid-court. Leah McDerment played close defense on leading URI scorer Charise Wilson who was the target of the inbounds play which allowed Holder to slide over for the game-winning steal ending the game.
Leidel's 27 points came on 8-of-17 shooting and marked the fifth time the nation's No. 2 scoring rookie hit the 20-point mark for a game. Maggie Mulligan added her 12th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Alyx Stiff rounded out the top scorers with 14 points, while McDerment added nine assists.
Rhody was led by 26 points from Wilson who hit 10-of-24 shots including six three-pointers. Morgan Johnson added 15 points followed by Ednaija Lassiter (12 points) and Dina Motrechuk (10 points, 5 blocks). Overall, the Rams hit 15 three pointers in the game and scored 33 points of 15 UMass turnovers.
UMass led 42-37 at halftime despite the early barrage of Rams three-pointers. In the third quarter, the Minutewomen led by as many as six early in the period, but URI fought back and a Wilson three-pointer with three seconds to go put Rhody up 55-53 heading to the fourth. The teams traded leads through the fourth quarter as Rhode Island managed a 67-64 lead on a Lassiter three at the 2:48 mark.
Overall for the game, UMass shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor and hit 9-of-17 three pointers. The Minutewomen were a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line and held a 37-to-27 advantage in rebounds.
UMass will return to action this Saturday, January 7 at Saint Joseph's. The game will be streamed on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network and carried live locally on 91.1 FM WMUA.
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.
Team Stats
URI
UMASS
FG%
.433
.429
3FG%
.385
.529
FT%
.000
1.000
RB
27
37
TO
12
15
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's BasketballG
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