Four Straight as Minutewomen Down SLU, 78-62

ST. LOUIS – University of Massachusetts women's basketball had a balanced attack with four Minutewomen scoring double figures as the squad defeated Saint Louis, 78-62, on Friday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena. It is the fourth straight triumph for the Minutewomen, who are now 10-2 on the season and 6-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The overall mark is the best start since 1976-77, and UMass' record in league play is the best since the WNIT team of 1994-95.

Senior Sam Breen logged her seventh double-double (13 points, 15 rebounds) in the last eight games. Sophomore Sydney Taylor turned in a game-high 18 points on 6-of-10 from the field, followed up by 14 points, six assists and four boards from junior Destiney Philoxy. Graduate student Maddie Sims added a line of 12 points, three boards, two blocks and as many assists.

Freshman Ber'Nyah Mayo rounded out the starting five with an eight-point, seven-rebound day plus a pair of steals. Coming off the bench for 20 minutes was junior Danielle Sanderlin, who contributed eight points plus five boards in the win.

It was a quieter start than usual for the Minutewomen, who were held to just 25% from the field in the first quarter but kept SLU plenty within reach. A quick 5-0 UMass run brought the score even at 10-apiece in the final minute before Brooke Flowers connected on a jumper for the Billikens in the final 30 seconds of the frame.

Momentum swung the way of the Minutewomen in the second quarter after a timeout at the 6:17 mark. Trailing by seven, Massachusetts began chipping away out of the break and closed out the half on an 11-3 run spearheaded by Breen. Taylor capped off the half swishing a left-wing three, putting the squad ahead for the first time and sending UMass into the locker room with a 32-31 advantage.

The third quarter saw the Maroon and White take charge of the game, trailing for just 20 seconds midway through. Following a three-pointer from SLU's Myia Clark with 5:40 on the clock, UMass went on a 9-0 run and maintained at least a two-possession lead for the rest of the day.

The Billikens had three finish in double figures, and Rachel Kent was just short of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

UMass will rematch with the Billikens in a 3 p.m. Eastern Time game on Sun., Jan. 24.

Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB).

Game Notes:
• Massachusetts picked up its first win over Saint Louis since Jan. 6, 2019 and snapped a seven-game losing streak at Chaifetz Arena (last win: Jan. 13, 2010)
• Friday's win was the ninth in the last 10 games dating back to Dec. 3, 2020
• UMass has won five in a row away from the Mullins Center
• Breen's double-double was her eighth of the season. Her 15 rebounds were a season-high and surpassed only by her career-high of 17 boards vs. Davidson on Feb. 22, 2020.

38 minutes out there today and she gave us 14 points, 4 rebounds and 6 dimes

Destiney Philoxy, you planted the flag!#Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/6utOmqK0n3
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) January 22, 2021

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Sydney Taylor

Destiney Philoxy

Sam Breen

Maddie Sims

Players Mentioned

Sam Breen

Ber'Nyah Mayo

Destiney Philoxy

Danielle Sanderlin

Maddie Sims

Sydney Taylor

Players Mentioned

Sam Breen

Ber'Nyah Mayo

Destiney Philoxy

Danielle Sanderlin

Maddie Sims

Sydney Taylor

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics