Read: Ryan Moloney pitching with confidence for UMass baseball
University of Massachusets Athletics
blog 2015 03
March 2015 Archives
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a piece on UMass baseball sophomore hurler Ryan Moloney. Moloney is off to a great start to his sophomore campaign with two straight wins and a 2.70 ERA through three starts.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story focusing on the NFL Pro Day performances and experiences of UMass football standouts Jean Sifrin, Daniel Maynes and Stanley Andre.
Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian has a feature on Jean Sifrin and his performance at Monday's UMass Football NFL Pro Day. Sifrin showed improvement on his performance earlier this Spring at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and hopes that will help his positioning in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian has a feature story on Angela McMahon recording her 100th career win as a head women's lacrosse coach. In her 5th year at UMass, 81 of those wins have coming coaching the Minutewomen. Senior Katie Ott and junior Anne Farnham talk about the relationship that coach McMahon builds with her players and how that breeds success.
Mark Chiarelli of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass Football Pro Day that was held at McGuirk Stadium yesterday. Nearly two dozen players were on hand to perform in front of over 20 NFL scouts. Jean Sifrin was the top player on hand as he improved on the marks he set at the recent NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Philip Sanzo of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass tennis team's 5-2 win over Albany on Saturday. The win keeps UMass unbeaten at home (6-0) this year, was the Minutewomen's 10th win of the year, and moved senior Chanel Glasper one win away from tying the program's record for career singles victories.
Matthew Zackman of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass women's lacrosse team's 17-7 win over George Mason on Sunday as the Minutewomen opened Atlantic 10 play with a 2-0 record over the weekend. UMass also defeated Duquesne on Friday.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature on the key role Tajae Sharpe will have on the development of freshman wide receiver Lamarriel Taylor. They gray shirt freshman figures to be the heir-apparent to Sharpe's record setting performances on offense.
Dan Malone of MassLive.com has an update from spring practice on how the tough end of the 2014 season has been serving as motivation for the UMass football team throughout winter workouts and in spring camp. That combined with the realization that the pieces are in place for success have the team energized for the upcoming season.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has an update from spring practice for the UMass football team where the focus is on winning the MAC Championship and playing in a bowl game next season. Jovan Santos-Knox, Randall Jette and Trey Dudley-Giles all say the ingredients for success are there for the Minutemen.
The University of Massachusetts faces its second Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest of the season at No. 18 nationally ranked Towson (6-3 overall, 0-0 CAA) on Saturday, March 28 at Noon. The squad is on a three-game winning streak and is looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to the Tigers, one each in the previous two seasons. Below is a preview covering the game:
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes | |
| Game Nine | Massachusetts (3-5 overall, 1-0 CAA) at #18/18 Towson (6-3, 0-0) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, March 28, 2015 | Noon |
| Location | Johnny Unitas Stadium (11,198) | Towson, Md. |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| Watch | Towson Sports Network |
| Listen | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Tied, 4-4. Last meeting: Towson 6, UMass 5; April 5, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts  | Towson |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Towson |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics  | @UMassMLacrosse |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Towson Athletics Ticket Office |
Scouting Towson Men's Lacrosse
Towson men's lacrosse holds a 6-3 overall record entering its first CAA competition of the season. The squad has played well away from home with a 4-1 mark in road games, but is just 2-2 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in 2015. After the squad suffered a three-overtime loss at Navy, 8-7, on March 3, Towson rebounded with wins in three of the last four games, including a 9-8 win at Binghamton on March 21 in its latest action.
Towson relies heavily on four members of the offense to put up points, led by Joe Seider's 24 via 20 goals and four assists. Ryan Drenner adds 21 (12 goals, nine assists) ahead of Spencer Parks' 20 through 13 goals and seven assists. Andrew Hodgson rounds out the quartet with 19 points on 15 goals and four assists. These four Tigers are responsible for 84 of the 113 points recorded through nine games (74.3 percent) while the next-highest scorers have five points each (Max Siskind, Greg Cuccinello and Justin Mabus). However, the Tigers are without Hodgson's services as the redshirt-senior midfielder will miss the remainder of the year due to injury.
Tyler White is in his redshirt-junior campaign - the second for the Elmira Heights, N.Y., native as the starting goalie. White held foes to 63 tallies over the first nine games of the year for a 7.20 goals-against average. He also owns the highest save percentage among CAA goalies at .568 alongside his league-best GAA.
Last Meeting: Towson 6, UMass 5; April 5, 2014
The No. 11 UMass men's lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking setback at home on Garber Field as the squad dropped a 6-5 decision to Towson. Zach Oliveri provided 13 saves in goal while Bob Fahey led the close defense with three caused turnovers and as many groundballs. Nick Mariano tallied twice on attack to pace the UMass offense.
Grant Whiteway opened scoring in the game less than four minutes in, but the Tigers answered with back-to-back-to-back scores to push ahead, 3-1 entering the second.
The Minutemen were unable to overcome the early deficit despite cutting to within one of tying on four occasions the remainder of the way. Jeff George scored the final goal of the game with four minutes, 52 seconds left in the third, which made it a 6-5 game, but neither side converted in the final frame.
More on the program is available on UMassAthletics.com.
UMass men's lacrosse puts its three-game winning streak on the line with a trip to No. 18 nationally ranked Towson this weekend. The Minutemen challenge the Tigers at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland, at Noon on Saturday, March 28. Daily Collegian reporter Jason Kates caught up with head coach Greg Cannella to discuss the contest for a preview.
UMass lacrosse looks for fourth straight victory versus Towson | Jason Kates, Daily Collegian
More on the program can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
Earlier this week Ross Gienieczko had this piece on UMass baseball sophomore catcher Matt Bare who excelled in his first collegiate action last week.
Read: Matt Bare excelling when called upon for UMass baseball
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a preview of UMass Baseball's weekend series at VCU. The Minutemen began the A-10 season 3-0 with a sweep of Dayton last weekend, their best start of conference play since 1998.
Read: UMass hopes to carry momentum into weekend series against VCU
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel and the lessons he took away from being a member of the athletic director search committee which recently hired Ryan Bamford. Frohnapfel says that Bamford's enthusiasm, knowledge and research into UMass gave him insight as he pursues his own professional career into athletic administration when he completes his master's program next year.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a feature story on the experience UMass football quarterback Blake Frohnapfel gained by being a member of the recent athletic director search. Frohnapfel says he hopes to work in athletic administration one day and that the process gave him keen insight which will help him in his professional life.
Jesse Korzen of the Daily Collegian has a preview of the UMass women's lacrosse team's Atlantic 10 opener against Duquesne on Friday. The Minutewomen have won 38 consecutive games against A-10 opponents which is one of the longest conference win streaks in NCAA history.
Adam Aucoin of the Daily Collegian has a preview of this weekend's softball series at Saint Joseph's. The Minutewomen went 1-2 in their first A-10 series last weekend and will look to cut loose against the Hawks Saturday and Sunday.
Former UMass standout Chaz Williams has joined the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League. The Philadelphia 76ers affiliate acquired the point guard from the available player pool after he was released by the Maine Red Claws earlier this month.
While the team's next game is Friday night against Erie at home in UD's Bob Carpenter Center, he is on the inactive list and may not see action in the team's final five games.
Williams saw action in three games for the Red Claws, where he averaged 4.7 points and 6.3 assists in 19.2 minutes per game.
Prior to that, he averaged 10.4 points and 2.0 assists in 22.8 mpg in five outings with Eskishehir Basket in the Turkish Basketball League.
Philip Sanzo of the Daily Collegian has a preview of the UMass tennis team's home match this Saturday against Albany which officially kicks off the 'stretch-run' before the Atlantic 10 Championships. Head coach Judy Dixon spotlights senior Chanel Glasper who needs just three wins to become the program's all-time leader in singles victories.
Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian has a feature looking at the make-up of the UMass women's lacrosse team's defense which is currently ranked as the top unit in the nation. Anchoring the back line is goalie Rachel Vallarelli who is off to her best season ever and is an All-American candidate in goal.
Philip Sanzo of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass tennis team's 2-1 week down in Charleston, S.C. over Spring Break. UMass picked up wins over host-school College of Charleston and Atlantic 10 newcomer Davidson.
Check out all the sights from yesterday's press conference introducing Ryan Bamford as the new Director of Athletics at UMass.
UMass men's lacrosse is on a three-game winning streak with victories over Quinnipiac, Penn State and Hofstra in that order. Mark Dixon highlighted the streak in his weekly "takeaways" column. Here is Dixon's take on the recent success:
What's Happened: UMass won third in a row
Takeaway: The Minutemen had a tough start to the 2015 season, starting out 0-5 against a tough, robust schedule in Army, North Carolina, Harvard, Brown, and Albany. Since the loss to the Great Danes, UMass has rattled off three straight Ws, the latest a tough CAA road win over Hofstra by a count of 9-7. Defensively UMass overcame 11 penalties to earn the victory. Goalie Zach Oliveri led the effort, making 13 saves. Oliveri, a Long Island native, was playing his first game in his home territory since the passing of his father in late 2014. His emotion and effort was a game changer. Offensively Nick Mariano continues to excel and build on his outstanding freshman campaign. He is one of the best players you have never heard of. It looks like the season is back on track in Amherst.
Read all of Dixon's weekly thoughts through InsideLacrosse.com here. More on the Minutemen can be found online through UMassAthletics.com.
Today we have extensive coverage of the introduction of Ryan Bamford as the new permanent Athletic Director for UMass. Bamford was introduced to fans, alumni, student-athletes, staff and the media on Tuesday afternoon at the Football Performance Center. He spoke of his pride to be joining UMass and his hopes to help elevate the program.
- University of Massachusetts turns to Ryan Bamford to be new athletic director - ESPN
- UMass 'home run fit' for new AD | Boston Herald
- New AD Ryan Bamford: UMass is on 'brink of greatness' | Boston Herald
- Georgia Tech's Bamford named new AD at UMass | Boston Herald
- UMass hires Ryan Bamford as new athletic director - The Boston Globe
- Matt Vautour: Plate full for new UMass AD Ryan Bamford | GazetteNet.com
- Ryan Bamford introduced as UMass' new athletic director | GazetteNet.com
- Georgia Tech athletic director thinks his former associate will be a great fit at UMass | GazetteNet.com
- UMass set to name Georgia Tech associate athletic director Ryan Bamford its new AD | GazetteNet.com
- Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy: New AD Ryan Bamford 'an absolutely marvelous fit' for UMass | masslive.com
- New UMass AD Ryan Bamford 'not going to shy away' from challenges facing football program | masslive.com
- Ryan Bamford introduced: 3 impressions from the new UMass AD's opening press conference | masslive.com
- Ryan Bamford named UMass AD: Former bosses weigh in on the Minutemen's new 'rising star' | masslive.com
- New UMass AD Ryan Bamford brings 'intimate knowledge of FBS football' | masslive.com
- Chiarelli: Football the center of attention Tuesday at Bamford's hiring : The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
- UMass names Ryan Bamford as next athletic director : The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
- UMass Names Ryan Bamford New Athletic Director - WGGB.com ABC 40
- UMass welcomes new Athletic Director | WWLP.com
- UMass introduces new athletic director - CBS 3 Springfield - WSHM
- UMass selects Georgia Tech's Ryan Bamford to be next director of athletics
- New UMass AD meets the press | The Recorder
- Former Yale Aide To Become UMass Athletics Director « CBS Connecticut
- UMass names Georgia Tech's Ryan Bamford as its new AD | CollegeFootballTalk
- Ryan Bamford Named UMass Director of Athletics - Atlantic 10 Conference Official Athletic Site
- Tech associate AD Bamford hired at Massachusetts | Georgia Tech Sports blog
Here are a few stories and recaps from today's introductory press conference for Ryan Bamford as the new UMass Director of Athletics.
"I think UMass, academically and athletically, is on the brink of greatness." - @UMassADBamford
-- UMass Athletics (@UMassAthletics) March 24, 2015 "I think UMass, academically and athletically, is on the brink of greatness." - @UMassADBamford
-- UMass Athletics (@UMassAthletics) March 24, 2015 "I think UMass, academically and athletically, is on the brink of greatness." - @UMassADBamford
-- UMass Athletics (@UMassAthletics) March 24, 2015 After his press conference, @UMassADBamford stops by @UMassLacrosse practice to speak to the Minutewomen pic.twitter.com/MXxhiGkoGL
-- UMass Athletics (@UMassAthletics) March 24, 2015 Tom Mulherin of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the softball team's trip to George Mason that kicked off Atlantic 10 Conference play. UMass went 1-2 on the weekend.
The Minuteman lacrosse squad earned a 9-7 win over Hofstra in their first league game of 2015. Here are some thoughts from head coach Greg Cannella and winning goalie Zach Oliveri after the contest.
More from men's lacrosse is available on UMassAthletics.com.
Jason Kates of the Daily Collegian sports staff spoke with head coach Greg Cannella after the UMass men's lacrosse team bested Hofstra on the road at Shuart Stadium, 9-7, Saturday. Kates broke down the win and how the Minutemen earned it in this recap.
More on UMass men's lacrosse is available via UMassAthletics.com.
The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team defeated Hofstra on the road, 9-7, Saturday afternoon. Dave Anderson was there to capture the action for Inside Lacrosse. Take a look at his photo gallery via InsideLacrosse.com here.
More on the Minutemen is available through UMassAthletics.com.
The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team begins CAA play with a trip to Hofstra on Saturday, March 21. Take a look at the preview for the game below:
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes | |
| Game Eight | Massachusetts (2-5 overall) at Hofstra (3-4) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, March 21, 2015 | Noon |
| Location | Shuart Stadium (13,000) | Hempstead, N.Y. |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| Watch | Pride Productions |
| Listen | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 21-18. Last meeting: #12 Hofstra 11, UMass 6; April 19, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Hofstra |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Hofstra |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office |
Scouting Hofstra Men's Lacrosse
Hofstra men's lacrosse rebounded from its slow start with a pair of wins in its most recent action and is 3-4 overall entering play against UMass. The Pride defeated Providence, 15-4 and St. John's, 10-7 in its last two outings. Hofstra also blanked Manhattan College, 18-0, and was defeated by Georgetown, Marquette, Ohio State and Princeton so far this year.
The 2015 season is Seth Tierney's ninth at the helm of the program. He is 76-50 during his tenure with four NCAA Tournament appearances from 2008-11. Prior to taking over the reigns of the Pride, Tierney spent six years as an assistant at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins, after a five-season stint with the Pride as an assistant from 1995-2000.
Sam Llinares, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, provided 40 points on 22 goals and 18 assists during the opening seven games of 2015. Mike Malave is second in the scoring column for Hofstra with 22 points on 19 goals, including seven man-up tallies, and a trio of helpers. Chris Selva backstops the squad, his third year as the starting goalie. Selva limits opponents with a .532 save percentage and 8.59 goals-against average over 405 minutes in the cage.
Last Meeting: #12 Hofstra 11, UMass 6; April 19, 2014
UMass faltered in its final home game of the 2014 season, 11-6, to the No. 12 nationally-ranked Hofstra Pride at Garber Field. Goalie Zach Oliveri tied a single-game season-high with 15 saves for UMass while six different Minutemen scored once, highlighted by Gianni Bianchin's first collegiate goal.
The Pride opened the game with three consecutive goals, including Torin Varn's two scored on the evening, to hold a 3-0 lead by the eight-minute, eight-second mark. The Minutemen responded five minutes later with back-to-back tallies to draw within 3-2. Bianchin ignited the offense on an opportunistic shot from distance with 3:14 left in the quarter. The Stoney Creek, Ontario, native attacked toward the right post before he back-pedaled into the middle of the field where he sized up an attempt that bested Hofstra goalie Chris Selva.
Trailing by one goal after the halftime break, Massachusetts evened the score 3:30 into the third. However, the game only remained tied for 44 seconds until Mike Malave pushed the Pride back in front, 5-4. Sam Llinares added his first of the game with 5:32 remaining in the third to double the lead for the visitors. Hofstra went on to score five of the final seven goals in the game to seal the victory.
More on the squad can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
Peter Lindley has had a great week. The attackman for UMass men's lacrosse was listed as the No. 19 freshman in the Inside Lacrosse top-25 rookie rankings Wednesday. Take a look at the complete list here. The recognition by IL comes one day after the Darien, Connecticut, native took home ECAC Rookie of the Week. He is also the reigning CAA Rookie of the Week.
UMass takes to the road for its next game, a Saturday, March 21 contest at Hofstra. First faceoff is set for Noon. More on the game and the team can be found via UMassAthletics.com.
Today on the Daily Collegian site, Anthony Chiusano has coverage of UMass hockey freshman Brandon Montour signing an NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Chiusano spoke with both Montour and head coach John Micheletto about the signing.
Read: Brandon Montour officially signs three-year entry deal with Anaheim Ducks
UMass men's lacrosse defeated Penn State, 12-8, Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium on the strength of defensive dominance in the second half and five points from Nick Mariano. Check out highlights of the game below:
More on the Minutemen is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Anthony Chuisano of the Daily Collegian staff caught up with UMass men's lacrosse head coach Greg Cannella, senior Andrew Sokol and sophomore Nick Mariano after the win over Penn State. Read about the contest and how the Minutemen earned the win:
More on the program can be found via UMassAthletics.com.
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes | |
| Game Seven | Massachusetts (1-5 overall) vs. Penn State (3-3) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, March 14, 2015 | Noon |
| Location | McGuirk Stadium (17,000) | Amherst, Mass. |
| Live Statistics | | StatBroadcast |
| Watch | UMass All-Access |
| Listen | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 11-6. Last meeting: #14 UMass 8, #5 Penn State 6; March 15, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Penn State |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Penn State |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office |
Scouting Penn State Men's Lacrosse
Penn State sits at 3-3 through six games and is looking for its first road victory of the season when the Nittany Lions head to McGuirk Stadium to face the University of Massachusetts. Former Colonial Athletic Association foes, the game is a non-conference meeting as Penn State left the CAA following the 2014 season for the newly-formed men's lacrosse segment of the Big Ten Conference.
TJ Sanders, a junior with 96 points in his ledger at Penn State, leads the Nittany Lions with 15 goals and six assists. The 2013 CAA Rookie of the Year had 49 points as a freshman before he produced 26 more during his sophomore season. Matt Florence, a redshirt-sophomore transfer from Virginia, is second with 14 points via nine goals and five assists in his first season active with the Nittany Lions.
UMass and Penn State share one common opponent through six games in Harvard. Both sides dropped their respective meetings with the Crimson as the Nittany Lions lost, 12-9 and the Minutemen fell, 14-13. Penn State counts victories against Vermont, 15-8; Penn, 14-11 and Marist, 9-8 while the side also faltered against Loyola Maryland, 8-6 and Villanova, 11-7.
Last Meeting: #14 UMass 8, #5 Penn State 6; March 15, 2014
Goalie Zach Oliveri finished with 15 saves in the cage, including 11 made after the Minutemen took the lead during the second quarter, as UMass men's lacrosse took an 8-6 win from No. 5 Penn State on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Nick Mariano led the offense with three points on two goals and an assist while Connor Mooney tallied twice as well.
The Minutemen used a four-goal spurt - started by one from Grant Whiteway - to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 advantage. Brendan Hegarty capped the streak with his second of the season on a feed from classmate Nick Mariano.
Penn State fought back on the strength of goals from TJ Sanders, who had three over the final two quarters, and Shane Sturgis. Sanders scored man-up to cut the lead to 5-3 but Mooney answered for Massachusetts. After Sturgis had one, Mariano scored back-to-back spanning the third and fourth quarters to put the game out of reach for the Nittany Lions.
More on the men's lacrosse team can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
The UMass men's basketball season came to an end on Thursday as the Minutemen lost to La Salle, 76-69, in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Chmpionship at the Barclays Center.
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME
In today's Daily Collegian, Ross Gienieczko has a preview of baseball's weekend matchup with Army. The Minutemen, after snow and cold resulted in the cancellation of their first five games of the seaaon, will finally open the 2015 campaign this Saturday in Tampa, Fla.
Read: Massachusetts baseball finally ready for season opener against Army
In today's Daily Collegian, Jason Kates takes a look ahead to what the future holds for UMass hockey after promising performances by underclassmen in 2014-15.
Read: Kates: Exciting hockey will return to the Mullins Center
It's game day in Brooklyn! The postseason is upon us. UMass opens play in the Atlantic 10 Championship today as the No. 8 seed, playing No. 9 seed La Salle at Noon.
Don'y forget about the pre game and post game receptions at The Montrose, (47 Fifth Ave in Brooklyn) sponsored by the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. The pre game on begins at 11 am.
| UMass (17-14) vs. La Salle (16-15) | |
| Game Info | Thursday, March 12, 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center) |
| Tickets |  1-866-UMASS-TIX |
| Television |  NBC SN | Channel Finder |
| Online Video | NBC SN Live Extra Stream |
| Listen |  UMass Sports Network | Affiliates| Desktop Stream| MobileTuneIn App |
| Live Stats |  Live Stats |
| Game Notes | UMass Game Notes | La Salle Game Notes |
| Social Media |  Game Day Blog |  @UMassAthletics | @UMassBasketball |
UMass men's lacrosse received five-point performances from Peter Lindley and Nick Mariano as 16 Minutemen recorded at least one point in the 18-5 victory over Quinnipiac Tuesday. Check out highlights of the win from the UMass Sports Network below:
Keep track of the Minutemen via UMassAthletics.com.
The UMass basketball team feel like it has a fresh start with the beginning of the Atlantic 10 Championship this week.
UMass men's lacrosse senior Grant Whiteway scored a ridiculous behind-the-back goal over his right shoulder as he was knocked to the ground against Quinnipiac. Take a look at it courtesy of the UMass Sports Network:
More on the Minutemen is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Men's basketball seniors Cady Lalanne and Maxie Esho don't want Thursday to be their last game at UMass. They both said as much this week when Nick Canelas of the Maroon Musket talked to them about their legacy.
Jason Kates recapped the 18-5 UMass men's lacrosse victory over Quinnipiac for the Daily Collegian. The contest featured strong distribution on attack and a disruptive defensive performance. Read Kates' recap:
Balanced attack leads UMass men's lacrosse to first win of 2015 | Jason Kates, Daily Collegian
Daily Collegian Sports Editor Mark Chiarelli has a column on just how unpredictable this year's Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship is for the 14 teams.
Megan Schneider of LaxMagazine.com has a feature looking at the undefeated start of the season for the UMass women's lacrosse team along with Albany. Both programs jumped into the Lacrosse Magazine Top 20 poll this week and will face each other next week in Albany, N.Y.
Arthur Hayden of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass tennis team's wins over Providence and Saint Louis last weekend as the Minutewomen improved to 7-3 this year. The Minutewomen will be off this week as they prep for a spring break trip to Charleston, S.C., where UMass will play Samford, College of Charleston and Davidson.
Matt Zackman of the Daily Collegian has a preview today of the UMass women's lacrosse team's game on Wednesday at Yale (4 PM). Redshirt junior attack Katie Ott and head coach Angela McMahon both say that a patient offense and focus on defense will be key for the Minutewomen to win.
In today's Daily Collegian, Victor Pusateri takes a look at the NCAA's change to flat-seamed baseballs in 2015 and spoke with UMass head coach MikeStone to get his thoughts on the change.
Jason Kates of the blog One Bid Wonders spent some time with Jabarie Hinds recently and spoke with the junior transfer about his first season of competition at UMass.
C.J. Anderson had gone 17 Atlantic 10 games without scoring a point despite playing nearly 10 minutes per game. That changed on Saturday at George Washington when the rookie from Memphis recorded a pair of baskets. Dan Malone of MassLive.com spoke with the guard at practice on Monday.
Dan Malone of MassLive.com stopped by men's basketball practice on Monday and spoke with Derek Kellogg and Trey Davis about the fresh start the team is experiencing this week with the opening of the Atlantic 10 Championship. He also liked Trey Davis' new haircut.
Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian has a story on the mindset of the UMass men's basketball team with the end of the regular-season and the transition to the Atlantic 10 Championship this week.
Join us tonight from 7-8 p.m. at The Hangar on University Dr. in Amherst for the Bud Light UMass Basketball Show on WEEI. Head coach Derek Kellogg and hosts Josh Maurer and Tim Kenney will be joined by redshirt junior guard Derrick Gordon as the team prepares to take on La Salle in The A-10 Tournament on Thursday in Brooklyn.
Listen live on 105.5 FM (Springfield) and 1440 AM (Worcester). Fans can also access the broadcast at WEEI.com/UMass or on mobile devices by downloading the TuneIn Radio app. A podcast of the show will be available on UMassAthletics.com following the show.
Submit a question for Coach Kellogg by tweeting @UMassSportsNet or by clicking here. Selected questions will be used during tonight's show.
Listen Live | TuneIn Radio App | Show Schedule and Information | UMass Podcasts
Listen live on 105.5 FM (Springfield) and 1440 AM (Worcester). Fans can also access the broadcast at WEEI.com/UMass or on mobile devices by downloading the TuneIn Radio app. A podcast of the show will be available on UMassAthletics.com following the show.
Submit a question for Coach Kellogg by tweeting @UMassSportsNet or by clicking here. Selected questions will be used during tonight's show.
Listen Live | TuneIn Radio App | Show Schedule and Information | UMass Podcasts
UMass football head coach Mark Whipple sat down with reporters last week to preview the start of spring practice which officially began on Saturday afternoon. The Minutemen practiced again on Sunday morning and will have their next sessions on Tuesday and Thursday night before taking off for Spring Break.
Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass women's lacrosse team's 9-4 win over Drexel on Friday. Cyr states that while the offensive unit has received much of the acclaim over the past few seasons, it is the defense that's been spectacular this year in the Minutewomen's 6-0 start.
Strong defensive effort lifts Minutewomen in 9-4 win over Drexel : The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
The Massachusetts men's basketball team suffered an 87-65 loss at George Washington in Saturday's regular-season finale. The Colonials had their best shooting game of the season and made 14-of-18 from outside.
The Hockey News is the latest major news outlet to have coverage of UMass hockey's 5OT win over Notre Dame last night, the longest game in NCAA history. Check out the post from Jeff Doner.
Read: UMass and Notre Dame set record for longest College hockey gameUMass and Notre Dame set record for longest College hockey game
It's game day in Foggy Bottom as UMass and GW meet at the Smith Center in the final game of the regular-season. It's pretty simple math for the teams to go after the 6 seed in next week's A-10 Tourney. Winner gets the 6 seed! If UMass loses, it can end up as the No. 7 or 8 seed depending on a couple of factors. First, if the Minutemen lose and Fordham beats St. Bonaventure, UMass will be the 7 seed., If they lose and St. Bona wins, UMass can still be the No. 7 seed but only if either Dayton or Rhode Island is in first place. If Davidson ends up as the top seed, UMass would be the 8 seed.
But none of that matters if the boys in Maroon (yes, they are wearing the Maroon uniforms today) take care of business in a place they have won two straight. Tune it at 3:30 p.m. on NBC SN or listen to Josh and Tim on the UMass Sports Network, beginning at 3:10 p.m. They'll try to give you the same level of excitement as Cody and Brock did on last night's... I mean this morning's record-setting hockey victory.
| UMass (17-13, 10-7 A-10) at George Washington (19-11, 9-8 A-10) | |
| Game Info | Saturday, March 7, 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Washington, D.C. (Smith Center) |
| Tickets | Buy tickets here |
| Television | NBC SN | Channel Finder |
| Online Video | NBC SN Live Extra Stream |
| Listen | UMass Sports Network | Affiliates | Desktop Stream | MobileTuneIn App |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | UMass Game Notes | George Washington Game Notes |
| Social Media | Game Day Blog | @UMassAthletics| @UMassBasketball |
The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team takes a day trip to the University of Albany for a 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon contest. Here is how to follow the Minutemen:
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes | |
| Game Five | Massachusetts (0-4 overall) at No. 16/12 Albany (1-1) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, March 7, 2015 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | John Fallon Field (2,500) | Albany, N.Y. |
| Live Statistics | NeuLion |
| Watch | America East.TV |
| Listen | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Albany leads, 8-6. Last meeting: #18 Albany 25, #9 Massachusetts 10; March 8, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Albany |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Albany |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Albany Athletics Ticket Office |
Scouting Albany Men's Lacrosse
Albany men's lacrosse defeated No. 19 Drexel, 15-8, in its first contest of 2015 but fell to No. 13 Cornell in its most recent action, 16-9, and enters play against Massachusetts with a 1-1 overall record as a result. The Great Danes are coming off of a stellar 2014 campaign, when the squad went 12-6 overall, won all five America East contests and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Scott Marr is in his 15th season as the head coach of Albany men's lacrosse. He is 121-102 as the program leader, which includes four seasons coaching current UMass assistant Craig McDonald (2005-08).
Albany is without the services of offensive juggernauts and cousins Miles Thomson (119 points, 82 goals, 37 assists) and Ty Thompson (53, 41, 12) due to graduation. However, the squad returns leading scorer and 2014 Co-Tewaaraton Award winner Lyle Thompson (128, 51, 77), who shared the award with his brother, Miles. Lyle set the NCAA single-season points record and matched the NCAA assists mark during 2014 when he was a USILA First Team All-American and the America East Player of the Year.
Lyle Thompson has six points (three goals, three assists) through two games of the 2015 season. John Maloney and Jake Cullen have matched his output and Connor Fields paces all Great Danes with eight points through four goals and four assists.
More on the program can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
While many of you were sleeping, UMass hockey picked up its first victory in a Hockey East Tournament win since 2009, defeating Notre Dame in Game 1 of the best-of-three opening round series, 4-3 in 5OT, the longest hockey game in NCAA Division I history.
The historic contest was covered by many news outlets:
ESPN: UMass, Notre Dame play record game
ABC News: UMass Tops Notre Dame 4-3 in Longest Division I Hockey Game
CBS Sports: UMass beats Notre Dame in longest game in college hockey history
Boston Globe: UMass wins longest game in college hockey history
USCHO: Walsh's fifth-overtime goal wins college hockey's longest game as Massachusetts outlasts Notre Dame
Daily Collegian: Walsh wins it: UMass hockey tops Notre Dame 4-3 in five overtimes, marks the longest NCAA game ever
MassLive.com: Iron Minutemen: UMass hockey survives epic 5-overtime thriller to defeat Notre Dame in longest game in NCAA history
Also check out this clip of SportCenter's coverage of the game:
And this clip (with replays) of Shane Walsh's game-winning goal:
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature story looking at Blake Frohnapfel and the impact he is making not just on the football team but on the University overall. Along with his work for a double graduate degree, Frohanpfel is extremely active with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was recently named to the Search Committee for the next permanent Athletic Director.
Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post has a story on Derrick Gordon and how the season has been after his announcement last April that he was gay. Gordon says he has found more support than anything during the course of the year and that by-and-large everything has maintained the status quo.
Jamie Cushman of the Daily Collegian takes a look at the start of the UMass softball season after the first nine games. Head coach Kristi Stefanoni says the Minutewomen are off to a good start and the team has identified early issues to work on as the year progresses.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a story on yesterday's announcement of the UMass Hall Of Fame Class of 2014. The five inductees are Kole Ayi (football), Carl Boteze (basebal), Billy Brown (swimming), Monty Mack (basketball), and Thomas Poeck (hockey). The induction ceremony will be on May 1, 2015.
Philip Sanzo of the Daily Collegian has a preview of this weekend's matches for the women's tennis team. The Minutewomen head to Providence on Friday night before returning home to the Bay Road Tennis Club to host Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon (12:30 PM).
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a terrific story on UMass legend Lou Roe and his son Sam'i. Vautour looks at how basketball has helped the father/son bond as Sam'i plays for Hopkins Academy during the Western Mass Tournament. The elder Roe talks of the joy of seeing his son play on the same court where he made so many memories and what the experience means to both.
There was extensive coverage following Wednesday's announcement that UMass would be retiring a jersey in honor of John Calipari next season as part of the 20th anniversary of the 1995-96 Final Four team. A jersey in his honor marks the 6th such honor for a member of the basketball program joining George "Trigger" Burke, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Marcus Camby, Lou Roe and Al Skinner.
- Calipari jersey to be retired at UMass - CoachCal.com
- The College Blog » UMass plans to retire jersey in honor of John Calipari
- UMass to retire Kentucky basketball coach Calipari's jersey
- UMass to retire jersey in honor of Kentucky's Calipari | UK News, Recruiting | Kentucky.com
- UMass Is Going To Honor Cal - LEX18.com
- UMass to retire Calipari jersey
- UMass to Retire Jersey in Honor of Fmr. Coach John Calipari - WGGB.com ABC 40
- UMass to retire sixth basketball jersey in school history to honor John Calipari | NCAA.com
- UMass set to announce ceremony honoring former basketball coach John Calipari | masslive.com
- UMass to retire Calipari jersey : The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
In today's Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a preview of UMass' Hockey East Tournament matchup at Notre Dame and focuses on redshirt sophomore Frank Vatrano, who played in his first game as a Minuteman one year ago in the Hockey East Tournament.
Read: Frank Vatrano, UMass hockey eager for Hockey East playoff series with Notre Dame
Today on the Daily Collegian site, Ross Gienieczko has a preview of UMass' Hockey East Tournament first round best-of-three matchup with Notre Dame. The Minutemen and the Fighting Irish open the weekend series tonight in Notre Dame, Ind., at 7:35 p.m.
Read: UMass travels to face Notre Dame in the Hockey East tournament
In today's Daily Collegian, Jason Kates takes a look ahead to UMass' first round Hockey East Tournament matchup with Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. The Minutemen will be facing the Fighting Irish in a best-of-three this Friday and Saturday, with game three on Sunday, if necessary.
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a preview of UMass baseball's season opening series at Kentucky. The Minutemen kick off the 2015 campaign this Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
UMass advanced to the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament with a 55-49 victory over St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, March 4. The Minutewomen now face Richmond in the second round at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. More information on the game is below.
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes | |
| Game 30 | No. 13 Seed Massachusetts (12-17 Overall) vs. No. 5 Richmond (17-12) |
| Date | Time | Thursday, March 5, 2015 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Location | Richmond Coliseum (11,922) | Richmond, Va. |
| Live Statistics | Available on gameday |
| Watch | Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM | Available on mobile devices through TuneIn Radio app |
| Series History | UMass leads, 30-25. Last meeting: Richmond 64, Massachusetts 44; Jan. 24, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Richmond |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Richmond |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassWBB |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Atlantic 10 Conference |
Scouting Richmond Women's Basketball
Richmond women's basketball enters the Atlantic 10 Tournament as a No. 5 seed with a 17-12 overall record. The squad earned a bye through the first round and Thursday's contest marks the first for the Spiders during the championship.
Janelle Hubbard's 14.1 points guides the offense as one of three Spiders scoring in double-figures. Lauren Tolson adds 12.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over a team-high 31.9 minutes played per game. Genevieve Okoro follows with 11.4 points and a Spiders-best 8.1 rebounds.
Michael Shafer is in his 10th season as the head coach at Richmond after an 11-year stint as an assistant at the University of Georgia, during which the Bulldogs reached the NCAA Tournament in each season. Shafer is 174-139 overall with the Spiders and led the team to five WNIT appearances from the 2008-09 season through 2012-13.
More on the women's basketball program is available through UMassAthletics.com.
The UMass men's basketball team suffered a tough 56-53 loss to Richmond on Wednesday, dropping to sixth place in the Atlantic 10 standings with one game remaining.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
UMass hosts Richmond on Senior Night Wednesday in a game that could vault one team into a potential top 4 seed in next week's A-10 Championship and keep the other set for a Thursday second round game.
| UMass (17-12, 10-6 A-10) vs. Richmond (17-12, 10-6 A-10) | |
| Game Info | Wednesday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center) |
| Tickets | Buy tickets here |
| Television | NESN (produced by American Sports Network) | Stations Airing the Game |
| Online Video | Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Listen | UMass Sports Network | Affiliates| Desktop Stream| MobileTuneIn App |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | UMass Game Notes | Richmond Game Notes |
| Social Media | Game Day Blog | @UMassAthletics| @UMassBasketball |
The Atlantic 10 Tournament begins for UMass women's basketball with the team's third meeting with St. Bonaventure this season! The Minutewomen, seeded 13th in the tournament, face No. 12 St. Bonaventure in the Richmond Coliseum on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. Ways to keep track of the Maroon & White follow:
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes | |
| Game 29 | No. 13 Seed Massachusetts (11-17 Overall) vs. No. 12 St. Bonaventure (15-14) |
| Date | Time | Wednesday, March 4, 2015 | 4:30 p.m. |
| Location | Richmond Coliseum (11,922) | Richmond, Va. |
| Tournament Info | Atlantic 10 Championship Central |
| Live Statistics | Available on gameday |
| Watch | Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM | Available on mobile devices through TuneIn Radio app |
| Series History | UMass leads, 30-25. Last meeting: St. Bonaventure 77, Massachusetts 57; Jan. 31, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | St. Bonaventure |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | St. Bonaventure |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassWBB |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the Atlantic 10 Conference |
Scouting St. Bonaventure Women's Basketball
St. Bonaventure's up-and-down regular season ended with the Bonnies at 15-14 overall and 5-11 in the Atlantic 10, which earned SBU the No. 12 seed in the conference championship and a first round meeting with the Minutewomen. After they started 11-3, the Bonnies fell in seven consecutive contests prior to a 77-57 win over UMass in the Mullins Center. St. Bonaventure balanced its play over the final six games following the victory over the Minutewomen and tallied three wins as a result.
Katie Healy's 14.0 points per game paves the way in 2014-15. Nyla Reuter adds 10.8 to the mix while Hannah Little chips in 9.2 on average. Healy also paces St. Bonaventure in rebounding (6.4) ahead of Little's 6.0 per game.
Opponents outscored St. Bonaventure by one points during the 29-game regular season, 1,739-to-1,738 for a 60.0-to-59.9 lead in the category. The Bonnies were outrebounded despite Healy and Little's efforts on average, 38.1-to-35.7 while foes had fewer turnovers, 442-417 and more assists, 343-315.
Last Meeting: St. Bonaventure 77, Massachusetts 57; Jan. 31, 2014
UMass started strong against St. Bonaventure at home, but could not keep pace down the stretch in a 77-57 loss. Kim Pierre-Louis paced the Minutewomen with 14 points while Emily Mital chipped in 10 more to go with a team-best four assists.
Shooting accuracy in all facets of the game buoyed St. Bonaventure. Nyla Reuter and Gabby Richmond combined for 40 points as the duo finished 12-for-20 on field goals and 12-of-12 at the line. As a team, St. Bonaventure hit 45.1 percent of its attempts from the floor (23-of-51) and went 23-of-30 on foul shots (76.7 percent).
For matchup purposes against a smaller St. Bonaventure lineup, UMass switched its starters for the first time this season. Mital served as the No. 3, Timbilla moved to forward and Pierre-Louis started at center in place of Kymber Hill.
Once UMass closed within 25-22, St. Bonaventure answered with eight of the final 10 points in the first half for a 32-24 advantage at the break. The Bonnies continued to roll early in the second half and built their lead to as much as 26 points.
Seven quick points on a Pierre-Louis jumper, Alyx Stiff three-pointer and Rashida Timbilla layup cut the deficit 64-45 with 5:26 remaining, but Massachusetts was unable to edge closer than within 19 until the final minute of play.
UMass In The Atlantic 10 Tournament
The 2014-15 edition of the Atlantic 10 Tournament marks UMass' 31st time participating in the event. The Minutewomen hold an all-time record of 12-30. Massachusetts is 3-2 versus St. Bonaventure in A-10 tournaments, but has only faced the Bonnies once (L, 63-60; March 2, 2007) since four consecutive meetings during the 1988-91 Atlantic 10 tournaments.
This is the second instance of the Minutewomen participating as a No. 13 seed after UMass dropped an 85-75 decision in overtime to No. 12 George Mason in the 2014 Atlantic 10 Tournament Play-In Game. The deepest run the program ever made in the tournament is into the semifinal round, which UMass has accomplished six times - lastly during the 2002 holding of the event.
More on the Minutewomen is available through UMassAthletics.com.
In today's Daily Collegian, Anthony Chiusano has a great profile of UMass hockey assistant captain Zack LaRue.
Read: Years of dedication lead to breakout senior campaign for Zack LaRue
Join head coach John Micheletto tonight at 7 p.m. the Hangar Pub & Grill in Amherst for the Bud Light UMass Hockey Show. Coach Micheletto and host Brock Hines preview this weekend's best-of-three Hockey East first round playoff series at Notre Dame. Seniors Oleg Yevenko and Steve Mastalerz are the player guests.
The live radio show airs from 7-8 p.m. on WHMP (AM 1400/1240, FM 96.9) in the Pioneer Valley. Additionally, fans can listen online at WHMP.com or by downloading the TuneIn Radio app on their mobile devices.
To interact with the broadcast team, tweet your questions for Coach Micheletto @UMassSportsNet or click here to "Ask the Coach". For additional information and a complete show schedule, visit our hockey radio information page.
The live radio show airs from 7-8 p.m. on WHMP (AM 1400/1240, FM 96.9) in the Pioneer Valley. Additionally, fans can listen online at WHMP.com or by downloading the TuneIn Radio app on their mobile devices.
To interact with the broadcast team, tweet your questions for Coach Micheletto @UMassSportsNet or click here to "Ask the Coach". For additional information and a complete show schedule, visit our hockey radio information page.
After a 5-0 start to the season, the UMass women's lacrosse team is listed as receiving votes in both the Lacrosse Magazine/Nike Weekly Poll and the InsideLacrosse.com Media Poll. The Minutewomen host Drexel this Friday at McGuirk Stadium.
Matthew Zackman of the Daily Collegian has a recap of Saturday's 11-3 win at Holy Cross for the women's lacrosse team which improved to 5-0 on the season. With the scored tied 2-2 at halftime, the Minutewomen broke the game open with an 8-to-0 run during the second half and held the Crusaders scoreless for a stretch of 41 minutes.
Join us tonight from 7-8 p.m. at Nathan Bill's (110 Island Pond Rd. in Springfield) for the Bud Light UMass Basketball Show. Head coach Derek Kellogg and host Josh Maurer will be joined by player guest Maxie Esho as they recap the win over Fordham and preview the final week of the regular season.
Listen live on 105.5 FM (Springfield) and 1440 AM (Worcester). Fans can also access the broadcast at WEEI.com/UMass or on mobile devices by downloading the TuneIn Radio app. A podcast of the show will be available on UMassAthletics.com following the show.
Submit a question for Coach Kellogg by tweeting @UMassSportsNet or by clicking here. Selected questions will be used during tonight's show.
Listen Live | TuneIn Radio App | Show Schedule and Information | UMass Podcasts
Listen live on 105.5 FM (Springfield) and 1440 AM (Worcester). Fans can also access the broadcast at WEEI.com/UMass or on mobile devices by downloading the TuneIn Radio app. A podcast of the show will be available on UMassAthletics.com following the show.
Submit a question for Coach Kellogg by tweeting @UMassSportsNet or by clicking here. Selected questions will be used during tonight's show.
Listen Live | TuneIn Radio App | Show Schedule and Information | UMass Podcasts
The UMass men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing skid with a solid 82-74 win over Fordham on Saturday. Four players reached double figures and the team used a 13-0 run that epitomized Derek Kellogg's definition of 'UMass Basketball,' grabbing six steals and forcing seven turnovers in a part of the game that the Minutemen took control of the game.
The Minutemen are tied for fifth place with Richmond in the Atlantic 10 standings, meaning Wednesday's Senior Night title with the Spiders in Mullins is going to be a big one.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
The Minutewomen host Senior Day at the Mullins Center with a 2 p.m. game against Rhode Island on Sunday, March 1. Here is how to follow along with the action if you can't make it to town:
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes | |
| Game 28 | Massachusetts (10-17 Overall, 4-11 Atlantic 10) vs. Rhode Island (16-11, 8-7) |
| Date | Time | Sunday, February 28, 2015 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Location | Mullins Center (9,493) | Amherst, Mass. |
| Live Statistics | |
| Watch | Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM | Available on mobile devices through TuneIn Radio app |
| Series History | UMass leads, 41-33. Last meeting: Rhode Island 70, Massachusetts 58; Feb. 4, 2014 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassWBB |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office |
Scouting Rhode Island Women's Basketball
Rhode Island women's basketball has sustained its resurgent season since the last meeting between these sides, as the Rams hold a 16-11 overall record and 8-7 mark in Atlantic 10 games. Standout freshman Charise Wilson leads the charge with a team-best 16.0 points per game, the most among rookies in the league and the only Ram currently scoring in double-figures.
Wilson is 149-of-402 from the field (37.1 percent), including 54-of-173 on threes (31.2 percent). She has gone 80-of-108 at the foul line (74.1 percent) through 27 games as well and leads the team in assists (72) and steals (50). The Rams have earned their positive record despite being outscored and outrebounded by slim margins. Foes hold a 58.3-to-57.4 margin in the points column and 42.1-to-37.1 edge on the boards.
Daynia La-Force is in her first season with the program after eight years spearheading the Northeastern women's basketball team. La-Force is 128-172 as a head coach, which also includes one season at NCAA Division II-level New Haven in 2005-06.
Last Meeting: Rhode Island 70, Massachusetts 58; Feb. 4, 2014
Emily Mital knocked down five three-pointers and Cierra Dillard scored a team-high 16 points, but the Minutewomen was unable to keep pace with Rhode Island in the second half during a 70-58 loss at the Ryan Center.
UMass started the second half with makes by Dillard and Rashida Timbilla to extend the Minutewomen lead to 34-26, but the Rams rallied with 10 straight points - all of which came from Tabakman and Wilson as the duo alternated conversions.
The Maroon and White went back in front, 39-38 with nine minutes, 41 seconds left in the game after a Kim Pierre-Louis put-back layup and Dillard trey, one of the season-high 10 three-pointers UMass made. Those 10 triples represent the most recorded in a single game since UMass also had 10 against Kent State on Nov. 10, 2012 - a span of 79 games between the outings.
However, Rhode Island replied with an 11-0 run for a 49-39 lead at the 6:48 mark - again spearheaded by Tabakman and Wilson. The Minutewomen could not move closer than within six of tying the remainder of the way.
More on the squad is available through UMassAthletics.com.