The UMass women’s basketball teams losing streak reached four Friday, as the Minutewomen fell 72-69 against VCU at the Ryan Center in Kingston, RI.
UMass freshman guard Ber’Nyah Mayo sank a layup with 35 seconds remaining to cut the Rams’ lead to 1. VCU’s Taya Robinson sank two free throws with 6 seconds left to push it back to 3, and UMass’ Sam Breen missed a potential tying 3 at the buzzer.
Mayo led the Minutewomen (10-6, 6-5 Atlantic 10) with 20 points and added three assists and three rebounds. Breen scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, her 10th double-double of the season.
Destiney Philoxy contributed 14 points and five assists, and Sydney Taylor scored 12.
UMass trailed double digits early in the fourth quarter after Sarah Te-Biasu splashed a 3-pointer to go up 62-51 with 8:55 left. The Minutemen outscored VCU 18-10 over the rest of the game, but it wasn’t enough.
The lead changed hands 19 times in the back-and-forth affair.
VCU’s bench outscored UMass’ 14-4.
New Hampshire 3, UMass 1 – Georgie McTear gave the Minutewomen the lead 3:03 in from Jess Beech and Amelie Green off a penalty corner.
The Wildcats scored three goals in 3:04 of the third period.
Brooke Richards stopped four shots for UMass (0-1).
Williston Northampton grad Tori Palumbo started for New Hampshire.