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University of Massachusets Athletics
Tuesday, February 27
Saint Louis, Mo.
8 p.m. (ET)
University of Massachusetts
64
at
70
Saint Louis
Photo by: Bill Barrett/Atlantic 10
Minutewomen Fall to Saint Louis, 70-64, in A-10 First Round
February 27, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Mulligan posts double-double in career finale, McDerment breaks UMass record for games played
ST. LOUIS – Despite a valiant collective effort and a double-double from senior Maggie Mulligan (14 points, 19 rebounds), No. 10-seeded University of Massachusetts women's basketball was unable to handle a second half surge by seventh-seeded Saint Louis as the Billikens topped UMass, 70-64, in the First Round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at Chaifetz Arena on Tuesday night.
Senior Leah McDerment's final contest with the Maroon and White was her 120th appearance, setting a new program record previously held by Kim Benton (119, 2006-10). Mulligan also tied the single season UMass record with 68 blocks after posting three on the night. Kate Mills also logged 68 swats in 2007-08.
Additionally, Mulligan's double-double was the 33rd of her career. Since 1999 when double-doubles became a computerized statistic at UMass, only Jennifer Butler (47, 1999-2003) has more. Her 13 rebounds in the first half of action were the most by a Minutewoman in a half since Mulligan tallied 13 boards in the second half at Duquesne on Dec. 31, 2017.
UMass had three other double-digit scorers in Genesis Rivera (13), Paige McCormick (12) and Bre Hampton-Bey (10). SLU's Jackie Kemph had a game-high 21 points plus eight assists and Jenny Vliet had seven rebounds.
The Minutewomen came out on fire in the first quarter and closed the period with a 10-3 run to build a 20-11 lead. Hampton-Bey came up with a nice bucket with 1:27 left that came following an offensive rebound. Jessica George received a baseline inbounds pass from Hampton-Bey and the latter recovered the basketball after George's shot attempt was blocked, setting up the layup in the paint.
In the second quarter Massachusetts extended its lead to as many as 16 points on the heels of a Hailey Leidel jumper at the 6:07 mark. By halftime the visitors still enjoyed a 10-point advantage at 36-26, with Mulligan just one point short of the double-double.
Kemph was instrumental for the Billikens out of halftime with 12 points in the third quarter, including six in a row in the middle stages of the stanza as Saint Louis went on an 11-5 run. A fast break bucket by Kemph with 2:26 on the clock completed the comeback effort from 16 down for SLU and set the stage for a back-and-forth stretch over the next several minutes.
The Bills took the lead for good with under seven minutes to go when Kemph put down a layup. UMass never gave in down the stretch but SLU took advantage of missed shots and ultimately forced the Minutewomen to foul. The subsequent comeback effort came just short as Massachusetts could not move any closer than four points.
McDerment led UMass with five assists. Collectively, the group shot 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the floor but struggled from beyond the three-point line going 4-of-20 (25 percent). SLU was 35.3 percent (24-of-68) shooting and also converted 17-of-21 free throws (81 percent).
UMass ends the season with a record of 14-16, capturing the program's most wins since the 2006-07 campaign. SLU (16-14) advances to the A-10 Second Round and will meet second-seeded Duquesne on Fri., March 2 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
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.
Senior Leah McDerment's final contest with the Maroon and White was her 120th appearance, setting a new program record previously held by Kim Benton (119, 2006-10). Mulligan also tied the single season UMass record with 68 blocks after posting three on the night. Kate Mills also logged 68 swats in 2007-08.
Additionally, Mulligan's double-double was the 33rd of her career. Since 1999 when double-doubles became a computerized statistic at UMass, only Jennifer Butler (47, 1999-2003) has more. Her 13 rebounds in the first half of action were the most by a Minutewoman in a half since Mulligan tallied 13 boards in the second half at Duquesne on Dec. 31, 2017.
UMass had three other double-digit scorers in Genesis Rivera (13), Paige McCormick (12) and Bre Hampton-Bey (10). SLU's Jackie Kemph had a game-high 21 points plus eight assists and Jenny Vliet had seven rebounds.
The Minutewomen came out on fire in the first quarter and closed the period with a 10-3 run to build a 20-11 lead. Hampton-Bey came up with a nice bucket with 1:27 left that came following an offensive rebound. Jessica George received a baseline inbounds pass from Hampton-Bey and the latter recovered the basketball after George's shot attempt was blocked, setting up the layup in the paint.
In the second quarter Massachusetts extended its lead to as many as 16 points on the heels of a Hailey Leidel jumper at the 6:07 mark. By halftime the visitors still enjoyed a 10-point advantage at 36-26, with Mulligan just one point short of the double-double.
Kemph was instrumental for the Billikens out of halftime with 12 points in the third quarter, including six in a row in the middle stages of the stanza as Saint Louis went on an 11-5 run. A fast break bucket by Kemph with 2:26 on the clock completed the comeback effort from 16 down for SLU and set the stage for a back-and-forth stretch over the next several minutes.
The Bills took the lead for good with under seven minutes to go when Kemph put down a layup. UMass never gave in down the stretch but SLU took advantage of missed shots and ultimately forced the Minutewomen to foul. The subsequent comeback effort came just short as Massachusetts could not move any closer than four points.
McDerment led UMass with five assists. Collectively, the group shot 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the floor but struggled from beyond the three-point line going 4-of-20 (25 percent). SLU was 35.3 percent (24-of-68) shooting and also converted 17-of-21 free throws (81 percent).
UMass ends the season with a record of 14-16, capturing the program's most wins since the 2006-07 campaign. SLU (16-14) advances to the A-10 Second Round and will meet second-seeded Duquesne on Fri., March 2 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
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.
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