University of Massachusets Athletics
Monday, November 6
Amherst, Mass.
6 PM
University of Massachusetts
1-0,0-0Atlantic 10
56
vs
44
Saint Peter's
0-1,0-0MAAC
1
2
3
4
F
Saint Peter's
11
6
12
15
44
Massachusetts
18
8
17
13
56
UMass Defeats Saint Peter’s In Opener, 56-44
November 06, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Kristin Williams scored a career and game-high 19 points while Stefanie Kulesza posted her first career double-double in the win.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball defeated Saint Peter's, 56-44, on Monday evening at the Mullins Center for the first win in the Mike Leflar era. Junior Kristin Williams tallied a career-high 19 points, followed by fellow classmate Stefanie Kulesza with a career-best 15 points and 14 rebounds to record her first career double-double.
In addition to Williams and Kulesza, Lilly Ferguson and Lilly Taulelei put up six points apiece, with Bre Bellamy scoring five. Bellamy grabbed eight boards with three different Minutewomen coming down with four each.
Massachusetts shot 69.2 percent (9-for-13) from the free throw line. Williams hit all four of her free throw shots, while Kulesza made her two from the charity stripe.
UMass tallied a 13-4 run to take an early lead, seeing five points alone scored by Kristin Williams. Five straight points for the Peacocks put them within four, but three points, combined from Bre Bellamy and Stefanie Kulesza pushed Massachusetts ahead 16-9. The two teams each made a layup to finish the first quarter with a Minutewomen lead of 18-11.
The two teams traded a pair of points to open the second quarter with the Minutewomen taking a 22-15 lead at the 8:16 mark. A layup from Kulesza and two free throws made by Williams pulled Massachusetts ahead. Saint Peter's made a layup with one second remaining in the first half, bringing the score to 26-17, as UMass held the lead.
An 8-3 run by UMass kicked off the third quarter, extending its lead to 34-20. A small 9-7 run for the Minutewomen put them up 43-29. The run was capped by a layup from Kulesza to put her point total into double digits and give her the first double-double of her career.
The Peacocks came with 10 points, before Williams knocked down a three-pointer to extend the Minutewomen's lead to 51-38. Saint Peter's totaled six more points to UMass' five, but Massachusetts held on for a 56-44 victory.
Massachusetts hits the road to take on Commonwealth foe Northeastern in Boston on Thursday, November 9. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on NESN+.
In addition to Williams and Kulesza, Lilly Ferguson and Lilly Taulelei put up six points apiece, with Bre Bellamy scoring five. Bellamy grabbed eight boards with three different Minutewomen coming down with four each.
Massachusetts shot 69.2 percent (9-for-13) from the free throw line. Williams hit all four of her free throw shots, while Kulesza made her two from the charity stripe.
UMass tallied a 13-4 run to take an early lead, seeing five points alone scored by Kristin Williams. Five straight points for the Peacocks put them within four, but three points, combined from Bre Bellamy and Stefanie Kulesza pushed Massachusetts ahead 16-9. The two teams each made a layup to finish the first quarter with a Minutewomen lead of 18-11.
The two teams traded a pair of points to open the second quarter with the Minutewomen taking a 22-15 lead at the 8:16 mark. A layup from Kulesza and two free throws made by Williams pulled Massachusetts ahead. Saint Peter's made a layup with one second remaining in the first half, bringing the score to 26-17, as UMass held the lead.
An 8-3 run by UMass kicked off the third quarter, extending its lead to 34-20. A small 9-7 run for the Minutewomen put them up 43-29. The run was capped by a layup from Kulesza to put her point total into double digits and give her the first double-double of her career.
The Peacocks came with 10 points, before Williams knocked down a three-pointer to extend the Minutewomen's lead to 51-38. Saint Peter's totaled six more points to UMass' five, but Massachusetts held on for a 56-44 victory.
Massachusetts hits the road to take on Commonwealth foe Northeastern in Boston on Thursday, November 9. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on NESN+.
Team Stats
SP
UMass
FG%
.232
.333
3FG%
.067
.263
FT%
.773
.692
RB
41
43
TO
23
20
STL
12
7
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC/F
/ Women's BasketballG
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