University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, January 12
Richmond, Va.
6 PM
University of Massachusetts
13-2,1-0Atlantic 10
72
at
60
VCU
7-6,2-1Atlantic 10
1
2
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F
Massachusetts
14
21
16
21
72
VCU
15
25
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60
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics
Second Half Rally Gives Women's Basketball 72-60 Victory At VCU
January 12, 2022 | Women's Basketball
Taylor tallies career-high 32 points, shooting 12-of-21 from the field, in the win.
RICHMOND, Va. – A second half surge allowed the University of Massachusetts women's basketball team to come away with a 72-60 triumph over Virginia Commonwealth University in its Atlantic 10 opener on Wednesday night at the Siegel Center. Sydney Taylor finished with a career-high 32 points for her 13th double figure game, and made six three-pointers, tying her career best.
UMass improves to 13-2 on the year, tying the best starting records through the first 15 games with the 1968-69 season and becoming the first team in program history to have the best start since the enactment of Title IX and the recognition of women's sports by the NCAA.
Taylor went 12-of-21 from the field on the night, including six-for-12 from behind the arc. Along with Taylor, Destiney Philoxy (13) and Ber'Nyah Mayo (11) each tallied double figures in the contest. Philoxy also led the team in assists with six, while Sam Breen led the Minutewomen in rebounds with nine and recorded two steals. Mayo hit three of her four attempted three-pointers, and also had two swipes. Angelique Ngalakulondi had a team-high two blocks.
Massachusetts held VCU to only scoring five points in the third quarter and outscored the Rams in the paint (36), off turnovers (17) and on fast breaks (14). The Minutewomen also outrebounded VCU 35-31. UMass earned a 52.6 three-point percentage, making 10 of its 19 attempts.
In the opening quarter, Mayo got the Minutewomen on the board first, hitting her first three-pointer of the night. VCU answered back with a triple of their own to bring the score to a 3-3 draw. Ngalakulondi made her layup to push UMass up by two, but the Rams knocked down their second consecutive three to take a slight 6-5 lead. A pair of free throws by Philoxy got Massachusetts back on top, 7-6, but VCU went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead. The Rams were able to maintain the lead, despite Mayo's second shot from behind the arc at the 1:28 mark, ending the first quarter with a score of 15-14.
VCU opened the second quarter with a three, but Taylor answered back with her first triple of the game to close the gap back within one. A 19-18 lead for UMass, thanks to a layup by Ngalakulondi, was short lived as the Rams went on a 14-6 run to pull ahead, 34-25. UMass was back within one once again after a small 6-0 run, but two made free throws and two jumpers closed out the first half with VCU leading 38-33.
After regrouping, the Minutewomen came back full force in the third quarter, going on a 10-0 run to begin the second half, pushing ahead, 46-40. VCU made a triple and layup back-to-back to bring the score to 46-45 with UMass still leading. Extending its lead, Massachusetts grabbed six more points, making it a 51-45 contest.
The final frame saw another UMass run at the start, going 11-2, to bring the game to a score of 62-49. The Rams collected 11 more points in the fourth, while the Minutewomen registered 10 more, which was enough for the 72-60 victory.
UMass continues its trip in Virginia with a match up at Richmond on Saturday, January 15, at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
UMass improves to 13-2 on the year, tying the best starting records through the first 15 games with the 1968-69 season and becoming the first team in program history to have the best start since the enactment of Title IX and the recognition of women's sports by the NCAA.
Taylor went 12-of-21 from the field on the night, including six-for-12 from behind the arc. Along with Taylor, Destiney Philoxy (13) and Ber'Nyah Mayo (11) each tallied double figures in the contest. Philoxy also led the team in assists with six, while Sam Breen led the Minutewomen in rebounds with nine and recorded two steals. Mayo hit three of her four attempted three-pointers, and also had two swipes. Angelique Ngalakulondi had a team-high two blocks.
Massachusetts held VCU to only scoring five points in the third quarter and outscored the Rams in the paint (36), off turnovers (17) and on fast breaks (14). The Minutewomen also outrebounded VCU 35-31. UMass earned a 52.6 three-point percentage, making 10 of its 19 attempts.
In the opening quarter, Mayo got the Minutewomen on the board first, hitting her first three-pointer of the night. VCU answered back with a triple of their own to bring the score to a 3-3 draw. Ngalakulondi made her layup to push UMass up by two, but the Rams knocked down their second consecutive three to take a slight 6-5 lead. A pair of free throws by Philoxy got Massachusetts back on top, 7-6, but VCU went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead. The Rams were able to maintain the lead, despite Mayo's second shot from behind the arc at the 1:28 mark, ending the first quarter with a score of 15-14.
VCU opened the second quarter with a three, but Taylor answered back with her first triple of the game to close the gap back within one. A 19-18 lead for UMass, thanks to a layup by Ngalakulondi, was short lived as the Rams went on a 14-6 run to pull ahead, 34-25. UMass was back within one once again after a small 6-0 run, but two made free throws and two jumpers closed out the first half with VCU leading 38-33.
After regrouping, the Minutewomen came back full force in the third quarter, going on a 10-0 run to begin the second half, pushing ahead, 46-40. VCU made a triple and layup back-to-back to bring the score to 46-45 with UMass still leading. Extending its lead, Massachusetts grabbed six more points, making it a 51-45 contest.
The final frame saw another UMass run at the start, going 11-2, to bring the game to a score of 62-49. The Rams collected 11 more points in the fourth, while the Minutewomen registered 10 more, which was enough for the 72-60 victory.
UMass continues its trip in Virginia with a match up at Richmond on Saturday, January 15, at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UMass
VCU
FG%
.519
.400
3FG%
.526
.412
FT%
.400
.643
RB
35
31
TO
10
12
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
32
FGM
12
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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