Fairfield Awaits Minutewomen Thursday Night

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game 3	Massachusetts (1-1) at Fairfield (0-0)
Date // Time	Thursday, Dec. 3 // 5 p.m.
Location	Fairfield, Conn. // Alumni Hall Game closed to spectators
Series History	Massachusetts leads, 4-2 Last meeting: Massachusetts 59, Fairfield 49; Nov. 25, 2018
Television/Stream	ESPN+
Live Statistics	StatBroadcast
Game Notes	Massachusetts // Fairfield
Social Media	Facebook: UMass Women's Basketball Twitter: @UMassWBB // @CoachVerdiUMass Instagram: @UMassWBB
News Clips	Massachusetts In the Press

THE OPENING TIP: THE MASSACHUSETTS-FAIRFIELD PREVIEW
• University of Massachusetts women's basketball returns to the hardwood on Dec. 3 as the Minutewomen head down to Fairfield for a 5 p.m. non-conference matchup. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ from George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.

• Added to the schedule on Nov. 30, the game will serve as Fairfield's season opener. The Stags were previously slated to tip things off against Sacred Heart, then Seton Hall, but both games were canceled due to COVID-19 related changes at the opposing programs.

• Massachusetts was last in action on Nov. 29 with a road tilt at Boston College. It was one of the largest comeback efforts in recent memory as the Minutewomen eliminated a 20-point second half deficit, but the valiant effort came up short as BC escaped in overtime, 90-82.

• Despite the loss, senior Sam Breen poured in a career and game-high 31 points on 13-of-19 from the field, even as Breen's minutes were limited due to foul trouble. Sophomore Sydney Taylor (19) and graduate student Maddie Sims (10) scored in double figures, while junior Destiney Philoxy had eight assists for the second straight game.

• Redshirt junior Desiree Oliver, who missed last season due to transfer rules, made her Massachusetts debut on Nov. 29 against the Eagles. Oliver (6 points, 5 assists) marked her first game as a Minutewoman hitting a third-quarter jumper to complete the 20-point comeback and put UMass ahead. She then swished a three-pointer in the final minute of regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 77-all.

• Also in the BC game, Philoxy had four steals and Sims had three blocks–both game-highs.

• Fairfield was picked second in the MAAC Preseason Poll, one point shy of first-place Manhattan. The Stags received four first-place votes and are led by MAAC Preseason Player of the Year forward Lou Lopez-Senechal, who averaged 15.5 points per game last year to lead the squad and rank top-5 in the conference.

• UMass looks to build on considerable momentum from 2019-20. The Minutewomen set a program record last year with 20 wins, including an all-time best 11 straight triumphs spanning Nov. 29, 2019-Jan. 11, 2020.

• The special run last year was capped off hosting an Atlantic 10 Tournament game at the Mullins Center, a feat not seen in Amherst since 1998. The Minutewomen knocked off St. Bonaventure in the A-10 First Round before exiting the tournament with a quarterfinal loss to Saint Louis.

From the Twittersphere

Looking for a way to still be part of our program this season?!

?????? ???????? ?????????? provides you with the opportunity to do just that!

Plus, we can't imagine not seeing your faces this season...so here's a way we still can! #TheFlagshipIsRising pic.twitter.com/GILWYhVVFX
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) December 1, 2020

One final look back at some top moments from yesterday, as we were right there down to the wire with the ACC squad from Chestnut Hill#Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/jAKTbwbuA9
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) November 30, 2020

Tough OT loss today at BC. Had our chances. We will learn from this and grow. Proud of our effort and fight! #ItWillHappen
— Tory Verdi (@CoachVerdiUMass) November 29, 2020

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Sam Breen

Desiree Oliver

Destiney Philoxy

Maddie Sims

Sydney Taylor

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics