University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
3-15,1-5Atlantic 10
Loyola Chicago
9-8,3-3Atlantic 10
Women’s Basketball Falls 79-66 To Loyola Chicago
January 17, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Kulesza dropped a team-best 17 points and registered a career-high eight steals.
AMHERST, Mass.– University of Massachusetts women's basketball fell 79-66 to Loyola Chicago at the Mullins Center on Wednesday evening. Four Minutewomen finished in doubles figures on the evening, as Stefanie Kulesza posted a team-high 17 points.
In addition to her point total, Kulesza came down with six rebounds and added a career-best eight steals. It marked the 12th game for Kulesza and the fifth consecutive contest in double figures. Kristin Williams secured 15 points for her 10th double figure game and sixth in the last nine games. Lilly Taulelei and Alexsia Rose followed with 10 points apiece, as Rose led the team in assists with seven.
The Minutewomen jumped to an 10-4 lead early with four straight layups, including four points alone from Lilly Taulelei. Back-to-back three-pointers for Loyola Chicago made it a 10-10 contest, before the game was knotted up once more at 12 apiece. Another triple by the Ramblers gave them a 15-12 lead. Massachusetts crashed the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds while only allowing Loyola Chicago to four in the first quarter.
The two teams kept the score close throughout the second quarter with UMass holding the lead at 35-33 to end the first half. Stefanie Kulesza put up 11 points, going 3-for-4 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, while hitting all three of her free throws in the quarter. Kulesza's point total pushed her into double figures, marking her 12th game of the season and fifth straight contest with double digit scoring.
In the third, Loyola Chicago had a 16-2 run over six minutes and 43 seconds to take a 57-45 lead at the end of the frame. Kristin Williams notched five points in the quarter, going 2-for-2 from the field and knocking down one three-pointer. The Minutewomen went on an 8-0 run that elapsed a minute and 29 seconds as Williams scored five points to make it a 74-63 contest, but the Ramblers were able to close out the fourth in the lead, 79-66.
UMass concludes its two-game homestand on Sunday against George Mason at 4 p.m.
