University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Saint Joseph's
Minutewomen Knock Off St. Joe’s, 61-43, Earning 10th Straight Win
January 11, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Massachusetts secures first 10-game winning streak in program history
The Maroon and White are now 13-3 on the season and have also won their first three Atlantic 10 Conference games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Following the setback, St. Joe's is now 7-8 and 1-2 in league play.
?? "They ?????????????? in one another. They ?????????????? in themselves. They believe in what we're doing. I'm extremely proud of them and how they prepare each and every single day."@CoachVerdiUMass after our program-record 10th straight W.#FlagshipIsRising | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/9HwvutOn4m
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) January 11, 2020
Senior Hailey Leidel led the way with a game-high 18 points and was joined in double figures by classmate Vashnie Perry (15) and sophomore Destiney Philoxy (12). Freshman Maeve Donnelly pulled down seven rebounds and added two blocks, both Perry and junior Bre Hampton-Bey had a pair of assists, and Leidel along with junior Sam Breen grabbed three steals each.
In part on the strength of a 9-2 run UMass jumped out to a 19-8 first quarter lead, in a period that featured three ties. Leidel sparked the squad early with eight points, including four from the free throw line, and Perry added five of her own. Defensively, a stout effort by the Minutewomen forced seven St. Joe's turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
The Hawks put together a quick 13-5 stretch in the second stanza but a UMass timeout helped stagger some of that momentum. Despite allowing five offensive boards in the quarter and seven over the half, the home side surrendered just six second-chance points and took a 33-22 advantage into the locker room for the break. Breen banked a right-hand layup off the glass just before the buzzer to close out the quarter.
The lead remained at double-digits for the entire second half and helped Massachusetts weather a third period in which it was just 3-of-12 from the field. For the day, UMass shot 20-of-59 (33.9%) and held the Hawks to an even 30% (15-of-50). SJU had 23 turnovers to just nine for the Minutewomen–the third time this season that the squad gave the ball away less than 10 times.
Three different Hawks contributed a team-high eight points in Gabby Smalls, Lula Roig and Jaden Walker.
Massachusetts now turns its focus to a Wed., Jan. 15 game vs. La Salle with opening tip off coming at 7 p.m. from the Mullins Center. Contact the Mullins Center Box Office at 1 (866) UMASS-TIX or visit UMass Athletics Ticket Central to purchase tickets.
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.
?? "They ?????????????? in one another. They ?????????????? in themselves. They believe in what we're doing. I'm extremely proud of them and how they prepare each and every single day."@CoachVerdiUMass after our program-record 10th straight W.#FlagshipIsRising | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/9HwvutOn4m
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) January 11, 2020
Proud to partner with such a wonderful cause today as we Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer with the @Go4theGoal Foundation!
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) January 11, 2020
?? https://t.co/GvNXwFlkbw pic.twitter.com/gd4ob4uTZK
Felt GREAT to be back at ?? today#FlagshipIsRising | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/t3cefQJWTX
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) January 11, 2020
