Nov. 14, 2006

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AMHERST, Mass. -- Massachusetts (2-0) had a 21-3 first-half run and never looked back en route to a 60-38 win Tuesday night over New Hampshire (0-1) in the home opener at the Mullins Center. Junior Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) recorded her second straight double-double with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds while freshman Kim Benton (Springfield, Pa.) added 11 points and four assists. UMass is now 2-0 for the first time since 2002-03. The Minutewomen zone defense held UNH to 25 percent (13-53) shooting from the field including 6-of-30 (20 percent) from three-point range.

New Hampshire took a 14-8 lead with 10:55 left in the first half, but UMass caught fire from the outside and used a 21-3 run over the next 8:18 to build a 29-17 lead with 2:38 left in. Benton was 3-for-3 on three-pointers during the run. The teams traded baskets for the next two minutes and UMass took a 31-21 lead into halftime.

UMass shot 46 percent (11-24) from the field and was 4-of-6 (67 percent) from three-point range in the first half. The Minutewomen held a slim 17-14 edge on the glass, but did pull down eight offensive boards. UMass committed just four first-half turnovers while forcing eight by the Wildcats. UNH shot 35 percent (7-20) and was 3-of-10 from three-point range.

UNH continued to struggle offensively and UMass was able to stretch its lead to 16-points at 37-21 by the 16:21 mark of the second half. The Wildcats finally got on the board at the 14:26 mark with a three-pointer by Whitney Edwards. UMass began to struggle on the offensive end, but the Wildcats were unable to cut into their deficit at all. Despite scoring just two points in six minutes, UMass still led by 13 points at the 12 minute mark.

UMass' 2-3 zone continued to frustrate the Wildcats as they were unable to score on consecutive possessions. UNH got as close as 12 points but five straight points by junior Whitney McDonald (Ossining, N.Y.) gave UMass its largest lead of the game at 17 points, 49-32 with just over five minutes left. UMass ended up closing out the game on an 18-4 run.

Mills got her 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and was also 6-for-7 from the free throw line and blocked three shots. Senior Tamara Tatham (Brampton, Ontario) also grabbed 10 boards. UMass shot 41 percent (21-51) for the game and committed just nine turnovers. The Minutewomen defense held the Wildcats to just 25 percent (13-53) shooting from the field and 20 percent (6-30) from three-point range. UMass held a slim edge on the boards, 42-35, and shot 65 percent (13-20) from the free throw line. Benton was 3-for-5 (60 percent) from behind the arc and made three consecutive trifectas during the Minutewomen's decisive run in the first half. Junior Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) added eight points, three assists and three steals for UMass while McDonald chipped in with seven points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Freshman Diatiema Hill (Queens, N.Y.) scored her first career basket late in the second half.

Danielle Clark led the Wildcats with 11 points. She scored the Wildcats' first nine points of the game.

The Minutewomen head right back out on the road to participate in the Aeropostale Seton Hall Basketball Classic Nov. 17-18. The Minutewomen will face Navy in the first round on Friday, Nov. 17, at 8:00 PM and then either Seton Hall or Howard on Saturday, Nov. 18. The consolation game is at 1:00 PM followed by the championship game at 3:00 PM. The game will be broadcast on WMUA, 91.1 FM in Amherst, and online at www.umassathletics.com beginning one half-hour before tip-off. Live stats will also be available via Gametracker at www.umassathletics.com.