Hot Three-Point Shooting Paces UTRGV Over Women’s Basketball

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Massachusetts	16	10	12	21	59
UT Rio Grande Valley	19	17	16	15	67

Massachusetts

UT Rio Grande Valley

EDINBURG, Texas – University of Massachusetts women's basketball was unable to withstand a 44.8 percent three-point shooting effort by UT Rio Grande Valley, falling to the Vaqueros by a 67-59 margin on Friday night at UTRGV Fieldhouse. The contest marked the opening night of the UTRGV Battle on the Border, which also includes UTSA and Mississippi Valley State.

The setback drops the Minutewomen to 4-4 on the season, while UTRGV improves to 7-2 after the victory.

Four Minutewomen finished in double-figure scoring, led by 14 points apiece from Genesis Rivera and Maggie Mulligan. Hailey Leidel turned in a 12-point performance and Bre Hampton-Bey had 10 points of her own. Hampton-Bey also contributed seven assists and five steals, both of which led UMass and were one short of her respective career-highs.

Paige McCormick paced the Minutewomen on the glass with 10 rebounds.

Massachusetts got off to a strong start with a 7-2 run. Just seconds after the opening tip, Leidel drained a three-pointer from the near right wing before McCormick, Hampton-Bey and Mulligan each hit layups. However, the Vaqueros would counter with 14 of the next 16 points over the next 5:26, going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and netting eight points in the sequence from Quynne Huggins.

UTRGV continued their strong effort from downtown in the second period, ultimately finishing the half having made eight of their 13 total field goals from three-point land. Early in the quarter, Massachusetts clawed its way back within three at 22-19 but Huggins drained a pair of triples to help the home squad build a 36-26 lead heading into halftime.

Rivera went 3-for-7 from the field in the final 10 minutes, including converting an and-one play, helping the Minutewomen shoot in excess of 53 percent in the fourth quarter. UMass battled back within six and had a chance to get within five or less in the final two minutes. Needing a defensive stop, the Maroon and White pressured Huggins into a missed jumper with 1:18 left but Krisynthia Sampson grabbed the offensive board, forcing UMass to foul.

Huggins had a game-high 17 points and Sampson logged 10 rebounds for the Vaqueros in the win. UTRGV capitalized tremendously on UMass turnovers, taking the ball away 18 times and turning that figure into 27 points. In spite of this, the Minutewomen had a strong night in the paint, outscoring the Vaqueros 30-12.

Massachusetts closes the Battle on the Border with a Sat., Dec. 2 contest against Mississippi Valley State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Time at UTRGV Fieldhouse.

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Scoreboard