University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Harvard
Women's Basketball Welcomes Harvard To Amherst On Friday
November 11, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Minutewomen and Crimson are slated for a 5 p.m. start at Mullins Center.
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 2 | Massachusetts (1-0) vs. Harvard (0-1) |
| Date // Time | Friday, Nov. 12 // 5 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. // Mullins Center |
| Watch | NESN / ESPN+ |
| Live Statistics | LiveStats |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts // Harvard |
| Social Media | Facebook: UMass Women's Basketball Twitter: @UMassWBB // @CoachVerdiUMass Instagram: @UMassWBB |
The Need to Knows
Follow the Minutewomen on Social Media
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. In addition, fans can follow head coach Tory Verdi on Twitter @CoachVerdiUMass.
Breen and Philoxy Tabbed Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference
Breen was named to the preseason all-conference first-team coming off a season where she averaged 18 points per game and 10 rebounds on her way to being named to the A-10 All- Conference First-Team in 2020-21. The graduate student led the league in double-doubles with 15, including a stretch where she recorded seven straight from Jan. 29-March 13. Breen reached double figures in scoring in 22 of 24 contests, including eight games with 20 or more.
Philoxy was tabbed to both the preseason all-conference second-team and all-defensive team after leading the Atlantic 10 and ranking eighth nationally in assists a season ago as a junior with 156. The guard played in all 24 contests for the Minutewomen and scored in double figures in 12 games on her way to being named second-team all-conference in 2020- 21. Philoxy averaged 11.5 points to go along with 6.5 assists per game.
Last Time Out
University of Massachusetts women's basketball opened the season with a 87-50 win over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Five Minutewomen reached double figures, led by junior Sydney Taylor's 16 points, in the season opener. Graduate student Sam Breen (15 points), junior Angelique Ngalakulondi (14), senior Destiney Philoxy (13) and sophomore Ber'Nyah Mayo (12) recorded double figures, while Mayo chipped in 10 boards for her first career double-double
Those following UMass expect to hear senior transfer Shavonne Smith's name often this season, as the Pemberton Township, N.J., native is expected to make a significant impact for the Minutewomen. Smith added seven points for the Minutewomen, shooting 3-for-3 from the field, against Central Connecticut State.
All-Time Series vs. Harvard
Massachusetts leads the all-time series, 13-9, over Harvard, including a 7-4 mark in Amherst, as the Minutewomen and Crimson meet for the 23rd time in program history.
The two teams have not met since Nov. 18, 2015 and the Minutewomen are looking to end an eight game skid against Harvard; the last win was on Feb. 13, 1990 - a 78-74 road triumph.
Massachusetts' last win in Amherst over the Crimson came on Feb. 14, 1989 (a 70-67 result).
#Savage7
Massachusetts returns the Savage 7, who picked the names after brainstorming and deciding upon sophomore Ber'Nyah Mayo's suggestion of Savage 7. The seven players include Sam Breen, Stefanie Kulesza, Mayo, Angelique Ngalakulondi, Destiney Philoxy, Sydney Taylor and Makennah White.
The name came about when UMass finished runner-up in the Atlantic 10 Championship after winning three games in three days, with just seven active players. Seeded No. 7 in the tournament, the determined group knocked off No. 10 Saint Joseph's in overtime before winning a quarterfinal matchup vs. No. 2 Fordham and semifinal tilt against No. 3 Saint Louis.
Queen[s] of the Assist (well, almost)
Junior Destiney Philoxy has established herself among the top ball distributors in the country, averaging 6.5 assists per game. That ranks tied for fifth in the country, with Syracuse's Tiana Mangakahia (7.5 apg) in the national lead and Philoxy. In terms of total assists (156), Philoxy is No. 8 in Division I.
The Queens, N.Y. native set up a career-high 11 buckets in the Davidson win on Jan. 8, 2021, and became the first UMass player since Megan Zullo (2010-11) to have multiple games in the same season with 10-plus assists–the other being on Jan. 3 at La Salle (10). She has recorded eight-plus dimes in eight games last season.
Philoxy continued to add her to her total, contributing 10 a team-leading 10 assists in the 2021-22 season-opener on Nov. 9.
"Swish" Taylor
Junior Sydney Taylor has been one of the most improved Minutewomen since the 2019-20 season, and entered the WNIT ranking second on the team and No. 5 in the Atlantic 10 in scoring (15.2 ppg) last season. Taylor was outstanding during the 2020-21 A-10 Tournament, averaging a team-high 20 points and being named to the A-10 All-Championship Team alongside Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy, while adding a career-high-tying 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, that came in the Quarterfinal win over Fordham.
Taylor kept the momentum going into this season, logging a team best 16 points against Central Connecticut State in the season-opener.
Next Up
The Minutewomen host Iona on Tuesday, November 16, at the Mullins Center for a 7 p.m. matchup.
