University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Delaware
Late Layup Lifts Delaware Past UMass, 57-55
December 30, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2009
NEWARK, Del. - Despite erasing a seven-point lead in the second half, the UMass women's basketball team was unable to complete the comeback as the squad fell to Delaware, 57-55, on Wednesday evening at Acierno Arena. Freshman Elena Delle Donne dropped in the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds remaining in the contest to help the Blue Hens improve to 8-3 on the season. The Minutewomen fall to 6-7 overall following the setback.
Redshirt junior Megan Zullo shot 5-for-8 from three-point range and finished with 15 to pace UMass, while sophomore Kristina Danella had 13 points, including a 5-for-5 showing at the free throw line. Danella also chipped in a team-best nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Junior Cerie Mosgrove added nine points off the bench and sophomore Nicole Jones had seven. Seniors Kim Benton and Diatiema Hill had five rebounds and three assists apiece, as well.
Early on, neither side was able to gain more than a four-point lead until Danella sunk a layup at 10:22 to give the Minutewomen a 17-12 first half advantage. Then with 6:38 on the clock, Danella converted a pair of free throws to make it a six-point edge, UMass' largest lead of the night.
However, the Minutewomen did not make a field goal in the final 8:30 of the opening period as the Blue Hens crept back in front and led 26-23 at the intermission. UMass took full advantage of Delaware miscues in the opening period, with a 13-4 margin in points off turnovers.
Zullo broke up the drought with three straight threes to begin the second half and put the Minutewomen on top once again, 31-32 with 16:39 remaining. A basket by Jones tied the score for the sixth time moments later, but the Blue Hens proceeded to go on an 11-6 run and built their largest lead of the night, seven, with 7:36 on the clock.
In the final five minutes, the Minutewomen proceeded to chip away at the deficit. Then Zullo drained a dramatic trey to bring UMass within one at 54-53 and 1:05 remaining. Jones had a layup to tie the score at 55 with 31 seconds left, but Delle Donne hit the game winning shot for the Blue Hens on the next possession.
Delle Donne finished with a team-best 21 points and 11 rebounds for Delaware, on 8-for-18 shooting. Tesia Harris followed with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Kayla Miller contributed six points and five assists.
UMass recovered from shooting 6-for-25 (24.0%) in the first half by making 10-of-25 (40.0%) in the second and was 16-for-50 (32.0%) on the night overall, 9-for-26 (34.6%) from three and 14-for-18 (77.8%) at the free throw line. The Blue Hens were 20-for-60 (33.3%) overall, 6-for-22 (27.3%) from three and 11-for-17 (64.7%) at the charity stripe.
Delaware out-rebounded the Minutewomen, 43 to 35 and led in points in the paint, 24 to 10.
UMass will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 3, against Maine at noon at home in the Mullins Center.
