University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Duquesne
OT At Duquense Ends In 63-54 Loss For Minutewomen
January 20, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2010
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The UMass women's basketball team erased a double-digit deficit in the second half, but Duquesne outscored the Minutewomen 12-3 in overtime to come away with the 63-54 decision on Wednesday night at the A.J. Palumbo Center. The setback leaves UMass at 7-12 on the year, 1-3 in the Atlantic 10, while the Dukes remain undefeated in conference play (4-0) and move to 14-5 overall.
Sophomore Kristina Danella was the top scorer on the evening for the Minutewomen, totaling 18 points on stellar 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range and a 3-for-3 performance at the free throw line, to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Senior Diatiema Hill followed with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while freshman Jasmine Watson logged eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Nicole Jones matched a UMass single-game record with eight blocks and contributed a team-best eight rebounds and five points, as well. Redshirt junior Megan Zullo registered six assists, five points and five rebounds and junior Stephanie Lawrence chipped in with seven points.
In the first 10 minutes of the opening half, there were four ties and three lead changes as neither side was able to gain more than a four-point advantage. Then a three from the corner by Alex Gensler at 10:00 capped off a 7-0 stretch for Duquesne, giving the Dukes their largest lead to that point, 20-14. With less than three minutes to play in the period, a pair of treys from Danella helped the Minutewomen pull back within a possession and the squad went into the intermission down 30-27.
Back-to-back buckets from beyond the arc by Gensler and Samantha Pollino put the Dukes up by double figures for the first time early in the second, 40-30. Duquesne led by as many as 11, on a jumper by Diana Voynova at 14:09, and still held an eight-point cushion with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
Coming out of the final media time out, UMass began its rally with a pair of free throws by Hill. Zullo knocked down a three at 2:46 and Lawrence drained another from the corner at 2:06, the final basket by either team in regulation, which tied the score at 51.
Watson opened up the extra frame with a layup to put the Minutewomen in front, 53-51, but Gensler hit a three-pointer on the next possession to begin a 12-1 run that sealed the victory for the Dukes.
Pollino finished with a double-double on 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead Duquesne, while Gensler had 14 points and five assists. Rachel Frederick added 10 points and six rebounds, while Vanessa Abel dished five assists.
UMass will be idle this weekend and will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 27, against George Washington on Field Trip Day. Game time is set for 11:45 a.m. at the Mullins Center.
