University of Massachusets Athletics
Sunday, February 28
Kingston, R.I. (Ryan Center–URI)
4:30 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
11-6,7-5Atlantic 10
70
vs
65
Richmond
12-8,9-6Atlantic 10
1
2
3
4
F
Richmond
19
11
12
23
65
Massachusetts
16
9
23
22
70
Photo by: Drew Adames-URI Athletics
Balanced Effort Carries Minutewomen Over Richmond, 70-65
February 28, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Philoxy carries Minutewomen with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds
KINGSTON, R.I. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball capped the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule with a 70-65 win over Richmond on Sunday at the Ryan Center. It ended a four-game losing streak for the Minutewomen, who are now 11-6 on the season and 7-5 in A-10 action.
Prior to the game, UMass recognized graduate student Maddie Sims and the co-captain's two years with the program. In addition to a presentation from her teammates and coaches, Sims' family shared congratulatory messages on the Ryan Center videoboard.
Four Minutewomen scored in double figures in the win, once again led by freshman Ber'Nyah Mayo (17). Junior Destiney Philoxy had one of her top performances of the season and was electric all over the floor with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Senior Sam Breen (14 points, 18 rebounds) added her fourth straight double-double and league-leading 12th of the season, and freshman Makennah White provided 12 points plus eight boards in her first collegiate start.
Massachusetts faced a slow start before rallying from a second quarter deficit of 12. A 7-0 run to close the period ended in emphatic fashion, when Philoxy collected a rebound on a missed Richmond free throw, connecting on a 50-foot prayer at the buzzer. It sent the squad into halftime trailing 30-25.
Philoxy's bucket proved to spark the Minutewomen in the third quarter as the squad went a stretch of seven straight field goals made, capped off with a Breen trey that gave UMass a 40-38 lead with 5:23 left. It was part of a 10-0 run for the Maroon and White that ultimately put the team in the lead for the rest of the game.
The Spiders waged a valiant comeback effort down the home stretch and came within one possession in the final two minutes. But a corner-three by sophomore Sydney Taylor off a Philoxy baseline inbounds pass with 47 seconds proved a huge momentum swing and forced Richmond to foul. It set up the Minutewomen to seal the win from the free throw line.
Breen's 18 rebounds were a career-high and the most by a Minutewoman since Maggie Mulligan pulled down 19 boards in the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Saint Louis on Feb. 27, 2018. It was the most in a regular season game since Mulligan had 22 at Duquesne on Dec. 31, 2017.
The Minutewomen have been seeded No. 7 in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championship presented by Air Force Reserve, and begin tournament action vs. No. 10 Saint Joseph's on Thursday, March 11. The entirety of the 2021 championship will be played at the Siegel Center on the campus of VCU. Click here for additional information.
Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB).
Prior to the game, UMass recognized graduate student Maddie Sims and the co-captain's two years with the program. In addition to a presentation from her teammates and coaches, Sims' family shared congratulatory messages on the Ryan Center videoboard.
Thank You, @MaddieSims2#Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/17JNSQbVr5
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) February 28, 2021
Four Minutewomen scored in double figures in the win, once again led by freshman Ber'Nyah Mayo (17). Junior Destiney Philoxy had one of her top performances of the season and was electric all over the floor with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Senior Sam Breen (14 points, 18 rebounds) added her fourth straight double-double and league-leading 12th of the season, and freshman Makennah White provided 12 points plus eight boards in her first collegiate start.
Massachusetts faced a slow start before rallying from a second quarter deficit of 12. A 7-0 run to close the period ended in emphatic fashion, when Philoxy collected a rebound on a missed Richmond free throw, connecting on a 50-foot prayer at the buzzer. It sent the squad into halftime trailing 30-25.
Philoxy...from NEWPORT??
— UMass Women's Basketball (@UMassWBB) February 28, 2021
(also wassup #SCTop10 @ESPNAssignDesk)#Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/UxTcn8eD9t
Philoxy's bucket proved to spark the Minutewomen in the third quarter as the squad went a stretch of seven straight field goals made, capped off with a Breen trey that gave UMass a 40-38 lead with 5:23 left. It was part of a 10-0 run for the Maroon and White that ultimately put the team in the lead for the rest of the game.
The Spiders waged a valiant comeback effort down the home stretch and came within one possession in the final two minutes. But a corner-three by sophomore Sydney Taylor off a Philoxy baseline inbounds pass with 47 seconds proved a huge momentum swing and forced Richmond to foul. It set up the Minutewomen to seal the win from the free throw line.
Breen's 18 rebounds were a career-high and the most by a Minutewoman since Maggie Mulligan pulled down 19 boards in the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Saint Louis on Feb. 27, 2018. It was the most in a regular season game since Mulligan had 22 at Duquesne on Dec. 31, 2017.
The Minutewomen have been seeded No. 7 in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championship presented by Air Force Reserve, and begin tournament action vs. No. 10 Saint Joseph's on Thursday, March 11. The entirety of the 2021 championship will be played at the Siegel Center on the campus of VCU. Click here for additional information.
Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB).
Team Stats
UR
UMass
FG%
.393
.369
3FG%
.345
.316
FT%
.500
.640
RB
46
42
TO
16
8
STL
1
9
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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