Sydney Taylor made three 3s and scored seven assists in her career when the UMass women’s basketball team won their first postseason game since 1995 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on Saturday. The Minutewomen defeated Charlotte 81-75 in the WNIT consolation class. Courtesy JAY CRAIN
Sydney Taylor and the UMass women’s basketball team won their first postseason game since 1995 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on Saturday. COURTESY JAY CRAIN
Sam Breen had 25 points against Charlotte in the WNIT consolation class on Saturday, which tied the UMass women’s basketball record for points in a national postseason game. The Mintutewomen defeated Charlotte 81-75. Courtesy JAY CRAIN
Sydney Taylor ended a 50-minute, 45-second dry spell for the UMass women’s basketball team from across the arch when they joined a three from the right wing.
The Minutewomen hadn’t made a 3 since it was still Gave 7 minutes and 32 seconds in the Atlantic 10 championship game against VCU. They all missed eleven in the loss to Villanova on Friday in the WNIT opener.
Against Charlotte in the WNIT consolation game on Saturday, Taylor missed her first attempt by 2:41 before connecting with her second. The UMass deficit was reduced to 3 after the 49ers built a two-ball advantage. « In fact, this one felt really good, this one and the next. It got some momentum and energy going and we needed that in the game (on Saturday), ”said Taylor.
UMass didn’t have to wait nearly as long for her second. She splashed another 1:14 later, which brought the minute women to two. Charlotte took the lead with three free throws from Octavia Jett-Wilson, but Angelique Ngalakulodi countered with a layup that finally gave UMass the lead. It sparked a 13-0 run, and the Minutewomen held the lead for the remainder of an 81:75 win at the Bojangles Colliseum in Charlotte, NC. It was UMass’ first national tournament win since 1995 when the Minutewomen defeated the VCU in the NWIT, a tournament that lasted until 1996. UMass will face Ohio University in the Charlotte Regional Consolation Bracket finals at 4:00 p.m. Monday looking for a second postseason win for the first time in program history.
« This is huge. It means a lot to us. We worked so hard to get here. A win gives us a little momentum « said Taylor. » End the season with a win, that would be the main goal. «
Taylor finished the race with 16 points and seven assists. She was one of four minute women in double digits. Senior striker Sam Breen was leading UMass with 25 points and nine rebounds. She scored 16 of them in the second half when the Minutewomen held Charlotte in check. The 25 points tied a UMass postseason record. Octavia Thomas also had 25 against Iowa in the 1998 NCAA tournament. </ UMass (15-8) led by up to 16 points at the end of the second quarter, but Charlotte's Jada McMillan finished the game 40 with two free throws and 4:13 in the third quarter, UMass tore off a 12-5 stretch that was capped by a Breen 3. The 49ers got it for the The rest of the game never achieved a single possession.
The Minutewomen shot 54.7 percent off the field and finished with 15 assists and 13 quick breakpoints.
Ngalakulondi scored 13 of their 16 points in the first half, while Destiney Philoxy had 12 points, six assists and three steals.
“I challenged her after we last spoke. I thought we were playing a full game, ”said UMass coach Tory Verdi. « Was it perfect? No, but I thought we made big pieces on the track. “
Perhaps the greatest game a UMass player has played was avoiding a fifth foul. Three Minutewomen had four fouls in play: Ngalakulondi treated them for the final 4:48 of the third quarter, Makennah White got hers with 6:48 in the game and Breen picked hers a minute later. The Minutewomen only had two bankers available, so any further shortening of the rotation could have been catastrophic.
UMass, who was led by only seven with Breen, whistled at 5:51 in 4th place, and Jett-Wilson cut set it to 5 with a jumper. The Minutewomen made 10 of 13 free throws to seal the victory. You have a day and a half to rest and prepare for Ohio, which defeated Fordham 81-65 in Consolation Class after losing to Delaware in the opening round.
« The best for us is the rest. We need the rest, ”said Verdi, who is familiar with the Bobcats from his time in MAC coaching Eastern Michigan. “How did you beat Ohio? First, you have to let them bounce back and, second, you have to take care of the basketball and you have to contain the intrusion of dribbles. We still have one game ahead of us this year and want to go out and take another postseason win. «
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Associated title :
– WNIT: UMass scores the first postseason victory since 1995 over Charlotte
– Villanova Downs Florida in the second round of the WNIT
– Women& # 39; s Basketball Crushes Florida, WNIT makes quarterfinals
– UMass beats Charlotte, 81- 75, for the first postseason win in 25 years
– UMass women& # 39; s Basketball Edge Charlotte, goes to WNIT Consolation Final
– Women& # 39; s Basketball: Num interesting facts about Ohio&’s 81-64 win over Fordham
– Villanova advances to WNIT regional finals before
– WNIT: Villanova overwhelms UMass women&s basketball in the opening round
– Villanova defeats UMass women&s basketball team
– UMass Minutewomen vs. Ohio Bobcats March 22nd Preview, Playing Time, Matchup Statistics
Ref: https://www.atholdailynews.com