The UMass women’s basketball team took the momentum early and ran with it, leaving New Hampshire behind Thursday.
“I thought we did a great job coming out,” coach Tory Verdi said. “We had great energy, great focus and a great want-to. Our kids did a really nice job of attacking them, getting downhill, pounding them on the glass, getting second-chance opportunity points. Just really executing on both sides of the ball.”
The first-half effort led the way to a third straight win, 74-55, Thursday night in Durham, New Hampshire.
The Minutewomen led the entire way and by as much as 29 in the fourth quarter.
“Really proud of our effort and I think that it was demoralizing for them because we were having that much success and we were having success on both sides of the ball,” Verdi said. “I loved our effort in the first half.”
Back-to-back 3-pointers pulled UNH within 8-6 with five minutes left in the first quarter. UMass then stepped on the gas. It took a 21-12 lead before the first break, and raced out to a 48-26 at intermission.
The Minutewomen (4-1) outrebounded the Wildcats 25-10 in the first half and scored 32 points in the paint to UNH’s 12.
Sam Breen had 14 points and 7 boards by halftime, while Maddie Sims added all 12 of her points by the break.
“UNH came out and scored a couple 3s right off the bat, but then after that we did a really nice job of executing and obviously the lead started to balloon a little bit.”
Sydney Taylor (three steals) scored 10 second-half points and tied Breen with a game-high 17 points. Breen added 11 rebounds for the Minutewomen, who held a 48-24 edge on the boards. That rebounding edge led to 23 second-chance points.
Guard Destiney Philoxy had 11 points, nine assists and four rebounds, while point guard Ber’Nyah Mayo had nine points and six boards.
Makennah White came off the bench for eight points and eight rebounds.
UMass hosts St. John’s on Sunday. The Red Storm (2-2) fell to Delaware, 93-88, Thursday.