LOUDONVILLE, N.Y – The UMass women’s basketball team had four scorers in double figures for a third consecutive game to help the squad to the 500th win in program history, a 58-53 victory at Siena on Wednesday afternoon. Following the win, the third straight for the Minutewomen, the team is now 4-8 on the season, while the Saints drop to 1-7.
Pacing UMass, senior Emilie Teuscher (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) scored in double figures for a fifth game in a row, totaling 14 points along with senior Megan Zullo (Greenville, N.C./Farmville/N.C. State) who had 14 as well and was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Zullo also chipped in a game-high five assists and grabbed four steals.
Junior Jasmine Watson (South Bend, Ind./South Bend Washington) logged 10 points and 12 boards to pick up her 12th career double-double, while redshirt-sophomore Carolann Cloutier (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College/Old Dominion) had 10 points to go along with four assists. Junior Shakia Robinson (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) added eight rebounds and three helpers.
In a tightly-played first half dictated by defense, the teams were separated by no more than four points for the majority of the period. UMass held Siena to a 0-for-9 start from the field, but the Saints closed out the half with an 8-2 run to lead by six at the break, 23-17.
Coming out of the intermission, Teuscher, Zullo and Cloutier hit threes on three straight possessions to give the Minutewomen back the advantage, 26-25 with 18:16 on the clock. Siena responded with five straight points to regain the lead and remained in front until Zullo came up with a steal and a layup to level the score at 33 with 15:03 to play.
The teams were separated by no more than three points until Watson came through with a layup for UMass with 1:50 left that put the squad in front by five, 54-49. The Minutewomen, who finished 17-for-20 (85%) at the free throw line, notched 12 of their final 14 points in the contest at the charity stripe.
iena came back to within three of UMass with 1:43 left, but the Minutewomen came up with a pair of clutch defensive stops to help preserve the win.
UMass shot 17-for-52 (32.7%) overall on the afternoon and a blistering 7-for-14 (50%) from beyond the arc. The Saints finished 19-for-54 (35.2%) from the field and 4-for-14 (28.6%) from three-point range, out-rebounding the Minutewomen, 37-36.
Kate Zarotney led four Siena scorers in double figures with 14 points, Tehresa Coles followed with 11 and had three assists and four steals, while Cristina Centeno and Maja Gerlyng added 10 points apiece. Lily Grenci corralled a team-high nine rebounds and had three blocks.
UMass will break for the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 28 at the University of Virginia Cavalier Classic. The Minutewomen open the tournament next Wednesday in Charlottesville, Va., against Elon at 4:30 p.m.
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