University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, February 8
Amherst, Mass.
7 PM
University of Massachusetts
80
vs
79
Fordham
Women’s Basketball Edges Out Fordham, 80-79, For Ninth Straight Victory
February 08, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Mayo records career-high 29 points on the night.
AMHERST, Mass.– University of Massachusetts women's basketball edged out Fordham University, 80-79, on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center to earn its ninth consecutive win. Junior Ber'Nyah Mayo put up a career-high 29 points on the day, making a career best 10 field goals on the night.
UMass improved to 20-4 overall and 10-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while Fordham dropped to 16-9 overall and 8-4 in the league. Massachusetts 10th conference win ties the third most wins in the A-10 in program history.
In addition to Mayo, Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy followed behind in double figures, registering 18 and 15 points, respectively. Philoxy and Makennah White led the team with five rebounds apiece, while Philoxy had a team-high six assists. Mayo, Breen and Philoxy each finished with three steals.
Massachusetts shot 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from the charity stripe on the night.
Fordham jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, before a 6-5 run for UMass knotted the game up at 8-8 at the 5:14 mark. In a back and forth first quarter, the two teams stood at a 15-15 draw, both putting seven points apiece with a minute and 24 seconds remaining. The Rams hit a three-pointer to pull ahead 18-15, but a buzzer-beating layup from Mayo brought the Minutewomen back within one, heading into the second quarter with a score of 18-17.
An 18-9 run for Fordham, elapsing for five minutes and 37 seconds of the second quarter, gave the Rams a 10-point lead at 36-26. Mayo hit a triple to bring the Minutewomen within seven, but Fordham's Anna DeWolfe answered back with a three of her own. Massachusetts began a 10-2 run in the final two minutes and 23 seconds of the first half, including back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from Sydney Taylor, Breen and Philoxy, and bringing UMass back within two at 41-39.
At the 8:41 mark of the third quarter, the two teams were tied, 43-43, before tying again at the 6:50 mark at 48-48. Both the Minutewomen and Rams traded four more points apiece, bringing the game to a 52-52 draw. In a close battle, each team put up six more points each to knot the contest up at 58-58 with 1:01 left in the third. Massachusetts tallied five more points to Fordham's two, seeing one more tie with 10 seconds remaining, before the Minutewomen held a 63-60 lead.
A back and forth start to the final frame saw UMass and Fordham trade eight points apiece, with the Minutewomen holding on to a 71-68 lead. A small 5-0 run allowed the Rams to regain the lead, 73-71, but a triple from Philoxy gave the Minutewomen the 74-73 lead. Massachusetts and Fordham scored six points each with 1:36 left in the third quarter, as Mayo made a layup with only 11 seconds remaining to edge the Rams and win, 80-79.
Massachusetts hits the road for a matchup against George Mason on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Fairfax, Virginia. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
UMass improved to 20-4 overall and 10-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while Fordham dropped to 16-9 overall and 8-4 in the league. Massachusetts 10th conference win ties the third most wins in the A-10 in program history.
In addition to Mayo, Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy followed behind in double figures, registering 18 and 15 points, respectively. Philoxy and Makennah White led the team with five rebounds apiece, while Philoxy had a team-high six assists. Mayo, Breen and Philoxy each finished with three steals.
Massachusetts shot 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from the charity stripe on the night.
Fordham jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, before a 6-5 run for UMass knotted the game up at 8-8 at the 5:14 mark. In a back and forth first quarter, the two teams stood at a 15-15 draw, both putting seven points apiece with a minute and 24 seconds remaining. The Rams hit a three-pointer to pull ahead 18-15, but a buzzer-beating layup from Mayo brought the Minutewomen back within one, heading into the second quarter with a score of 18-17.
An 18-9 run for Fordham, elapsing for five minutes and 37 seconds of the second quarter, gave the Rams a 10-point lead at 36-26. Mayo hit a triple to bring the Minutewomen within seven, but Fordham's Anna DeWolfe answered back with a three of her own. Massachusetts began a 10-2 run in the final two minutes and 23 seconds of the first half, including back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from Sydney Taylor, Breen and Philoxy, and bringing UMass back within two at 41-39.
At the 8:41 mark of the third quarter, the two teams were tied, 43-43, before tying again at the 6:50 mark at 48-48. Both the Minutewomen and Rams traded four more points apiece, bringing the game to a 52-52 draw. In a close battle, each team put up six more points each to knot the contest up at 58-58 with 1:01 left in the third. Massachusetts tallied five more points to Fordham's two, seeing one more tie with 10 seconds remaining, before the Minutewomen held a 63-60 lead.
A back and forth start to the final frame saw UMass and Fordham trade eight points apiece, with the Minutewomen holding on to a 71-68 lead. A small 5-0 run allowed the Rams to regain the lead, 73-71, but a triple from Philoxy gave the Minutewomen the 74-73 lead. Massachusetts and Fordham scored six points each with 1:36 left in the third quarter, as Mayo made a layup with only 11 seconds remaining to edge the Rams and win, 80-79.
Massachusetts hits the road for a matchup against George Mason on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Fairfax, Virginia. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballCoach Leflar on HUGE jump from year 1 to 2.
Monday, September 29
Plant the Flag with UMass WBB Coach Mike Leflar
Monday, September 29
Plant the Flag with UMass WBB Coach Mike Leflar
Monday, September 29
UMass WBB | Highlights vs Stonehill | 03.20.25
Thursday, March 20