Minutewomen Prepare For UMass Thanksgiving Classic

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes
Game 5	Massachusetts (2-2 overall) vs. Northeastern (2-2 overall)
Date \| Time	Friday, Nov. 24 \| 1 p.m.
Location	Mullins Center; Amherst, Mass.
Series History	Massachusetts leads, 16-15; Last Meeting: Northeastern 95, Massachusetts 76, Dec. 21, 2013
Game Notes	Massachusetts \| Northeastern (available shortly)
Live Statistics	Sidearm Sports
Listen	91.1 FM WMUA \| WMUA Online
Tickets	866-UMASS-TIX \| UMass Athletics Ticket Office
Watch	Atlantic 10 Digital Network
Twitter	@UMassWBB \| @UMassAthletics \| @CoachVerdiUMass
Instagram	UMass Women's Basketball \| UMass Athletics

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes
Game 5	Massachusetts vs. Liberty
Date \| Time	Saturday, Nov. 25 \| 1 p.m.
Location	Mullins Center; Amherst, Mass.
Series History	Massachusetts leads, 1-0; Last Meeting: Massachusetts 69, Liberty 34; Dec. 29, 1993
Game Notes	Massachusetts (available shortly) \| Liberty (available shortly)
Live Statistics	Sidearm Sports
Listen	91.1 FM WMUA \| WMUA Online
Tickets	866-UMASS-TIX \| UMass Athletics Ticket Office
Watch	Atlantic 10 Digital Network
Twitter	@UMassWBB \| @UMassAthletics \| @CoachVerdiUMass
Instagram	UMass Women's Basketball \| UMass Athletics

Setting The Scene
University of Massachusetts women's basketball is back at the Mullins Center to host the inaugural UMass Thanksgiving Classic from Nov. 24-25. The Minutewomen will welcome Houston, Liberty and in-state foe Northeastern for the two-day event, which features back-to-back games each day.

Following the 1 p.m. UMass-Northeastern game on Fri., Nov. 24, Liberty and Houston will square off in a 3 p.m. tilt. On Sat., Nov. 25, Houston and Northeastern will open the day at 11 a.m. to precede UMass' 1 p.m. rendezvous with Liberty.

Ticket Information
Fans are reminded that tickets purchased for either UMass game during the tournament are valid for both games on that respective day. For example, a ticket purchased for Friday's UMass-Northeastern game will also be accepted at the Liberty-Houston game. On Saturday, a UMass-Liberty ticket will also admit one to the Houston-Northeastern game.

Recap In A Minute
UMass enters the Thanksgiving holiday on the heels of a pair of tough setbacks in North Dakota. The Minutewomen were downed, 82-70, by North Dakota State on Fri., Nov. 17 after NDSU and Sarah Jacobson shot lights out from three-point range, despite 20-plus point performances by Genesis Rivera and Bre Hampton-Bey. Maggie Mulligan recorded her 22nd career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in the loss.

It was a difficult shooting day for the Minutewomen at North Dakota on Sun., Nov. 19. UND held UMass under 30 percent from the field including a 2-for-11 (18.2 percent) clip from downtown. In spite of forcing 18 Fighting Hawks turnovers, UMass could not counter UND's four double-figure scorers as well as a 19-2 run in the fourth quarter en route to the 82-52 result.

Minutewomen Gear Up For Pair Of Tournaments
Including the Thanksgiving Classic, Massachusetts will partake in two tournaments in as many weeks. Next weekend as part of a trip to Texas, the Minutewomen will play in the UTRGV Battle on the Border in Edinburg, Texas. In the latter event, UMass will face host UTRGV on Fri., Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and Mississippi Valley State on Sat., Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

Over The Century Mark
In recording a 111-45 triumph over Maine-Fort Kent on Nov. 10, UMass surpassed the 100-point mark for the first time since Dec. 13, 1980 when the squad defeated Vermont, 105-74. Additionally, the UMFK result reset a program record for largest margin of victory (65), which previously stood at 51.

UMass Adds Five During Early Signing Period
University of Massachusetts women's basketball and head coach Tory Verdi welcomed five new members to the program on Mon., Nov. 13, as Alexa Kellner (Stamford, Connecticut), Madison Lowery (Virginia Beach, Virginia), Asia McCoy (Lawrenceville, Georgia), Jessica Nelson (Buford, Georgia) and Destiny Philoxy (Queens, New York) signed their respective National Letters of Intent. Regarded as one of the highest-caliber classes in program history, the group was ranked No. 57 nationally by Blue Star Basketball as well as No. 62 in the country by PASS.

Leidel, Mulligan Collect A-10 Preseason Recognition
Hailey Leidel and Maggie Mulligan received Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Team as announced by the league office on Oct. 23. Leidel was placed on the All-Conference Second Team, while Mulligan earned herself a spot on the All-Conference Third Team.

Welcome To The Show!
UMass welcomes seven newcomers in 2017-18 in Alexia Allesch (Basking Ridge, New Jersey), Autumn Giles (Fort Myers, Florida), Bre Hampton-Bey (Toledo, Ohio), Paige McCormick (Ogdensburg, New York), Vashnie Perry (Nashville, Tennessee), Genesis Rivera (Caracas, Venezuela) and Anil Soysal (Istanbul, Turkey).

We're Telling The Truth, No Lying Here
Now-sophomore Hailey Leidel took home Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors in 2016-17 after averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, ranking fourth in scoring among all NCAA rookies. She tied a UMass program record with 78 made 3-pointers and set program-bests among freshmen in in scoring (465), three-point field goals made, and free throws made (111).

Candice Finley Joins UMass As Assistant Coach
University of Massachusetts women's basketball head coach Tory Verdi announced in May the addition of Candice Finley as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The addition of Finley reunited the duo after they worked together for four years at Eastern Michigan. The native of Detroit earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky in 2002, then played professionally in Luxembourg for a season.

Next Up
A three-game swing in the Lone Star State is ahead for the Minutewomen, who begin the stretch in San Antonio on Wed., Nov. 29 at Incarnate Word. Tipoff in that game is slated for 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

UMass Women's Basketball On Social Media
Follow UMass women's basketball on Twitter (@UMassWBB), Instagram (UMassWBB) and Facebook (UMass Women's Basketball) for the latest news and updates around the team.

Scoreboard

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexia Allesch

Autumn Giles

Bre Hampton-Bey

Hailey Leidel

Paige McCormick

Maggie Mulligan

Vashnie Perry

Genesis Rivera

Anil Soysal

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics