Feb. 17, 2002

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts women's basketball team fell to St. Joseph's, 73-50, this afternoon in Atlantic 10 action at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.

In the first half, St. Joseph's went on a 15-2 run that covered 5:02 to take its biggest lead of 16 points at the 4:36 mark, The Minutewomen responded with an 8-2 run of their own and trailed 30-20 at the break. Junior Jennifer Butler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led UMass with eight points and nine rebounds. Junior Nekole Smith (Ann Arbor, Mich.) had 6 points. The Minutewomen had 22 total rebounds, including 10 offensive, while the Hawks pulled down 10 boards.

The Hawks started the second half on a 9-0 run and never looked back en route to their 10th conference victory. Down by 19 at the 18:19 mark, UMass tried to fight back on consecutive three-pointers by junior Ebony Pegues (Columbus, Ohio) and freshman Katie Nelson (Ellicott City, Md.), but the Hawks would not let them get any closer.

Butler recorded her 17th double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Smith finished with 10 points. Pegues finished with seven points, while Nelson had six.

Susan Moran of St. Joseph's led all-scorers with 21 points. Jane Meade of the Hawks had 13 points.

With the loss, the Minutewomen now stand at 8-17 overall and 6-8 in A-10 play. The Hawks improve to 19-6 overall and 10-4 in the A-10.

The Minutewomen return to action on Thursday, February 21, 2002 when they travel to Olean, N.Y. to take on St. Bonaventure. The game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.