Massachusetts Closes Non-Conference Schedule With 86-43 Win Over SCSU

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball closed out its non-conference schedule with a dominant 86-43 win over Southern Connecticut State on Monday night at the Mullins Center. It is the seventh straight triumph for the Minutewomen (10-3), the first time the squad has accomplished such a feat since the 1997-98 season. With the loss, the Owls drop to 7-5 on the year.

.@CoachVerdiUMass with some postgame thoughts following our seventh straight W#FlagshipIsRising | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/bhJOkbenM5
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) December 31, 2019

Juniors Sam Breen and Paige McCormick each recorded the first double-doubles of their collegiate careers. McCormick contributed 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while Breen came off the bench to provide 28 points and 11 boards, both career-bests, in just her second game as a Minutewoman. Senior Vashnie Perry (16 points) was just short of her own double-double performance with eight assists, the most in a game in Perry's career.

Perry sparked the Maroon and White with an eight-point first quarter, teaming up with McCormick to spearhead an 11-3 run in which UMass claimed the lead for the remainder of the game. McCormick finished the period already tallying seven points and six boards.

That momentum carried into the second period and, in concert with a stout defensive effort gave the Minutewomen a double-digit lead for the rest of the night. An and-one for SCSU's Amani Boston stood as the Owls' lone scoring for the first five minutes and 30 seconds before the sides traded buckets down the stretch of the frame.

In the second half UMass continued to pull away, including stringing together a 21-2 run in the third quarter. The Minutewomen turned the ball over just three times in the final 20 minutes, in contrast to 10 turnovers before the halftime break.

As a team on the glass, UMass doubled up the Owls with a 55-27 rebounding margin and was an even 50% (35-of-70) from the field.

The 10 wins in non-conference play for the Minutewomen are the most since 2006-07 and are one short of tying an Atlantic 10-era program record (11), set in 1984-85.

Massachusetts opens up the Atlantic 10 Conference slate on Sat., Jan. 4 at Duquesne. Opening tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Kerr Fitness Center.

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

Capped non-conference the right way tonight#FlagshipIsRising | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/TQ3FYKxzdm
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) December 31, 2019

?? @DrCoyner

Always love welcoming back our #UMassFamily at the @MullinsCenter!#Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/Bqv0vBMXVC
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) December 30, 2019

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