Dec. 1, 2006
Box Score
AMHERST, MA - After playing Massachusetts to a 33-33 draw in the first half, the Seahawks fell victim victim to a 23-8 Minutewomen-run over the first 7:12 of the second half, including a 15-1 spurt, that broke the game open and propelled UMASS to a 73-58 victory. With the win the Minutewomen improve to 6-1 while the Green & White fall to 1-4.
After shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first half, the Seahawks shot just 34.5 percent in the second stanza on their way to a respectable 42.1 percent (24-57) for the game. UMASS hit a blistering 55.2 percent of their shots in the second half to finish at 50.0 percent (30-60) for the game. Wagner was outrebounded for their fifth-straight game to open the season 35-29.
With the score tied at 33-33, UMASS hit nine of their first 11 shots during their pivotal 23-8 second-half run while limiting Wagner to just 3-9 shooting during the same stretch. The Seahawks would immediately rip off six-straight points to cut the deficit to nine at 56-47 with a lay-up from sophomore Olivia Nagle (Acton, MA / Acton-Boxborough), a three from freshman Naomi Augustin (Valley Stream, NY / Valley Stream Central) and a free throw from junior Takesha Dye (Boynton Beach, FL / Daytona Beach CC). The Minutewomen would quell that rally as they scored seven-straight points to extend their lead to 16 at 63-47 with 7:11 to go and would never be threatened again, winning 73-58.
In the first half, Wagner came out red-hot hitting seven of their first 10 shots, including 4-4 from behind the arc, yet was still down 22-18 with 10:37 remaining. UMASS extended their lead to 30-22 with 5:38 to go before the Seahawks scored eight straight points to tie it at 30-30 with 3:44 to go. Foreshadowing what would be a common theme all night, the Minutewomen answered with a three pointer to go up 33-30 before the Seahawks tied it up at 33-33 right before the end of the half.
Despite early foul-trouble, Nagle led the Green & White with 12 points on 6-10 shooting. Junior Chelsey Bunyer (Shannon, IL / Eastland) was the only other double-digit scorer for Wagner with 10 points to go along with three assists and two steals. Freshman Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD / Pocomoke) had another stellar game dishing out eight assists, against just three turnovers, while scoring seven points. Dye had nine points and a team-best six rebounds while senior Jessie Collins (Crofton, MD / Arundel) had a season-high nine points, on the strength of three three-pointers, to round out the top performers for Wagner.
Pam Rosanio's game-high 18 points led four double-digit scorers for UMASS.
The Seahawks are next in action on Monday, Dec. 4 at 7 pm when they host Mount St. Mary's in their NEC-opener at the Spiro Sports Center.
NOTES - The Green & White have been outscored 82-43 in the second half over their last two games ... Wagner's six three pointers were a season-high ... Tonight's loss was the Seahawks' 21st in a row on the road dating back to the 2004-05 season ... Wagner water-polo standout Stacey Travous (Sr., New Ulm, MN / Cumberland Valley) made her collegiate basketball debut, grabbing three rebounds in seven minutes.
