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University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 17
Amherst, Mass.
1 PM
University of Massachusetts
3-24,1-14Atlantic 10
49
vs
63
VCU
22-4,11-3Atlantic 10
1
2
3
4
F
VCU
16
17
16
14
63
Massachusetts
12
12
15
10
49
Women’s Basketball Bested By VCU, 63-49
February 17, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Stefanie Kulesza led UMass with 13 points while Lilly Taulelei hauled in a career-high 10 rebounds.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball fell to VCU on Saturday afternoon at the Mullins Center, 63-49. Stefanie Kulesza led the Minutewomen with 13 points on 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc to go along with five rebounds and three assists.
Chinenye Odenigbo tied her career-high in scoring in her first career start with 10 points while Kristin Williams and Tori Hyduke each chipped in nine. Lilly Taulelei finished with a career-high 10 rebounds while Lilly Ferguson added five boards off the bench.
VCU jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before the Minutewomen stormed back with a 7-0 run keyed by a pair of free-throws from Odenigbo to claim a four-point advantage. The back-and-forth action ensued, highlighted by the Rams' sinking two three-pointers to lend them back the lead. Lily Ferguson's free throw with 0:03 on the clock closed the gap to 16-12 heading into the second frame.
Upon a scoreless first two minutes, VCU struck first in the second quarter, adding two baskets at the line to gain their largest edge of the afternoon. Taulelei added a second-chance layup followed by a Hyduke 3-pointer to bring UMass back within three points of the Rams at 20-17 with 5:36 to go in the opening half. After trading baskets, Kulesza added her second triple of the contest to bring UMass closer with a 24-20 score. VCU answered back with an 8-0 run to end the first half, extending their lead to nine points; 33-24.
UMass came out strong with an 6-0 run to begin the second half. After Odenigbo's layup at the 9:13 marker, Kulesza continued her strong offensive performance with a free-throw and second-chance three-pointer to bring Massachusetts back within three-points of the Rams. Williams and Hyduke sunk back-to-back jumpers to make it a five-point game at 41-36 with 2:59 left in the third before VCU finished the quarter with a 49-39 lead.
Williams scored five points in the fourth with Odenigbo adding four on 2-of-3 from the field in the frame as UMass shot 27-percent in the final quarter to VCU's 36-percent. VCU finished the day shooting just over 39-percent while UMass finished at 37-percent from the field.
The Minutewomen hit the road for their final two games away from home in the regular season beginning at Loyola Chicago on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. UMass plays at George Washington on Saturday, Feb. 24 and concludes its regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the Mullins Center against St. Bonaventure.
Chinenye Odenigbo tied her career-high in scoring in her first career start with 10 points while Kristin Williams and Tori Hyduke each chipped in nine. Lilly Taulelei finished with a career-high 10 rebounds while Lilly Ferguson added five boards off the bench.
VCU jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before the Minutewomen stormed back with a 7-0 run keyed by a pair of free-throws from Odenigbo to claim a four-point advantage. The back-and-forth action ensued, highlighted by the Rams' sinking two three-pointers to lend them back the lead. Lily Ferguson's free throw with 0:03 on the clock closed the gap to 16-12 heading into the second frame.
Upon a scoreless first two minutes, VCU struck first in the second quarter, adding two baskets at the line to gain their largest edge of the afternoon. Taulelei added a second-chance layup followed by a Hyduke 3-pointer to bring UMass back within three points of the Rams at 20-17 with 5:36 to go in the opening half. After trading baskets, Kulesza added her second triple of the contest to bring UMass closer with a 24-20 score. VCU answered back with an 8-0 run to end the first half, extending their lead to nine points; 33-24.
UMass came out strong with an 6-0 run to begin the second half. After Odenigbo's layup at the 9:13 marker, Kulesza continued her strong offensive performance with a free-throw and second-chance three-pointer to bring Massachusetts back within three-points of the Rams. Williams and Hyduke sunk back-to-back jumpers to make it a five-point game at 41-36 with 2:59 left in the third before VCU finished the quarter with a 49-39 lead.
Williams scored five points in the fourth with Odenigbo adding four on 2-of-3 from the field in the frame as UMass shot 27-percent in the final quarter to VCU's 36-percent. VCU finished the day shooting just over 39-percent while UMass finished at 37-percent from the field.
The Minutewomen hit the road for their final two games away from home in the regular season beginning at Loyola Chicago on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. UMass plays at George Washington on Saturday, Feb. 24 and concludes its regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the Mullins Center against St. Bonaventure.
Team Stats
VCU
UMass
FG%
.392
.367
3FG%
.353
.263
FT%
.895
.571
RB
35
29
TO
16
20
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
C/F
/ Women's BasketballG
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