Second Quarter VCU Surge Keys 61-46 Setback

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball led by nine early but VCU answered in the second quarter and would not look back as the Minutewomen fell, 61-46, on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center.

With the loss, a nine-game winning streak at the Mullins Center hardwood comes to an end and drops the Minutewomen to 14-5 on the season, 4-2 in the Atlantic 10. VCU has won five straight to open league play and is now 10-8 (5-0 A-10).

Sophomore Destiney Philoxy was 5-of-11 from the field and had 12 points to lead the Minutewomen, followed up by 11 points from senior Hailey Leidel. Freshman Maeve Donnelly's seven rebounds were a game-high and Philoxy's five assists on the night led the squad.

UMass came out firing from downtown in the first quarter and turned in a 4-of-8 clip from beyond the arc. Leidel and Philoxy each had eight points in part thanks to a pair of threes apiece and highlighted an 11-3 run that saw the squad lead, 18-9, after a period of play. Defensively the Minutewomen forced nine VCU turnovers in the frame and flipped that into 12 points.

But the tide turned VCU's way during a difficult shooting second stanza that saw UMass connect on just one of 14 field goals. It was a 9-0 Rams run that ultimately put the visitors ahead for the remainder of the game and swelled into a 13-2 stretch to close the half, although the Minutewomen remained within one possession trailing just 26-23 at the break.

Philoxy appeared to drain a halfcourt buzzer-beater at the end of the third period, but a video review revealed that the shot left Philoxy's hand just after time expired, leaving the deficit at 40-32.

VCU did not take its first double-digit lead of the night until the fourth quarter, setting off a stretch in which the sides traded baskets down the final minutes of the contest.

Four Rams finished in double figures, led by Tera Reed (21 points). Taya Robinson's seven dimes were a game-high.

Massachusetts now hits the road and focuses on a Sun., Jan. 26 game at George Washington with opening tip at noon from the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C.

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Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Destiney Philoxy

Hailey Leidel

Bre Hampton-Bey

Sam Breen

Players Mentioned

Maeve Donnelly

Hailey Leidel

Destiney Philoxy

Players Mentioned

Maeve Donnelly

Hailey Leidel

Destiney Philoxy

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics