Dec. 12, 2004

Box Score |  Notes

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Sophomore Tamara Tatham (Brampton, Ontario) posted a double-double with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to lift the University of Massachusetts (6-3) over Siena (3-6), 59-49, Sunday afternoon. The Minutewomen head into a 17-day break for the holidays and final exams on a five-game winning streak for the first time in two years. In addition, the Minutewomen are 4-0 on the road for the first time since the 1979-80 season and have matched last year's win total.

"We came out trying to run and get the ball inside," said Massachusetts head coach Marnie Dacko. "We missed too many lay-ups and had a chance to put the game away early in the second half. Overall, I am very pleased with our effort tonight, especially from the free throw line. If we can't score from the perimeter then we need to stop them and we had a couple of lapses out there tonight."

The Minutewomen were down by four points, 26-22, with 3:34 left in the first half. Freshman Kate Mills (Elkton, Md.) then got a lay-up at the 3:10 mark. That sparked a 14-0 run by the Minutewomen over 7:06 to give them a 10-point lead early in the second half. Massachusetts continued to play stingy defense and led by 16 points, 46-30, at the 9:32 mark of the second half. Siena hit a couple of quick three-pointers to cut the deficit into single digits, but were unable to get any closer than seven points as UMass hit clutch free throws down the stretch.

Massachusetts shot a season-high 80 percent from the free throw line for the game (20-for-25). It was 13-for-15 (.867) from the charity stripe in the second half. UMass held the Saints to a .237 (14-59) clip from the field and .188 (6-32) in the second half. That was the third straight game that the Minutewomen have held their opponent under 30 percent shooting from the field. Massachusetts shot .346 (18-52) from the field in the game. The Minutewomen committed 16 turnovers and forced the Saints into 15.

Tatham set a new career-high in points and tied her career-best on the boards. She was 7-for-15 from the field, 7-for-10 from the free throw line and also added two assists and three steals. Senior Brooke Campbell (Baltimore, Md.) had four points, eight rebounds and tied a career-high with five assists. Freshman Pam Rosanio (Southampton, Pa.) added 10 points and a career-high six rebounds. She has now reached double-figures in seven of her nine career games. Mills chipped in with four points, a career-high five rebounds and three blocked shots. She has now blocked eight shots in the last four games.

Massachusetts will now enjoy a 17-day break for the holidays and final exams before heading to College Park, Md., Dec. 28-29, for the Terrapin Classic. The Minutewomen will face No. 19/21 Maryland in the first game at 7:00 p.m. Elon and Marshall are also participating in the tournament.