AMHERST – Kristin Williams scored 19 points for the UMass women’s basketball team in a 64-52 win over UMass Lowell at the Mullins Center Sunday afternoon.
The victory over the River Hawks (0-9) snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Minutewomen (2-9). It also marked their first game back in Amherst since Nov. 16.
“We needed the win,” UMass coach Mike Leflar said. “They showed up for practice two days ago in preparation for Lowell, locked in and working hard. They deserved the win today. I was really proud of them and happy for them.”
Stefanie Kulesza had eight points and five assists with 14 rebounds — her fifth game this season with double-digit rebounds. Williams’ 19 points, meanwhile, tied a career-high with the program.
“It’s really good to come back home and finally get a win,” Kulesza said. “No doubt about it. We have been facing a little bit of adversity. So, it’s a good feeling, after a while to come home and get a win.”
The Minutewomen play one more time on Dec. 20 against the University of Albany at home before they begin play in the Atlantic 10.
UMass held the River Hawks to four transition points, which was a point of emphasis going into the game.
“Our transition defense was much better,” Leflar said. “It’s something we have been talking about and we really broke it down. We can’t beat ourselves. If teams make tough shots or make contested shots, I get that. But we can’t give up easy ones. That was big for us.”
UMass pounded the paint most of the game with a size advantage over the River Hawks. Freshman center Lilly Taulelei added eight points. Chinenye Odenigbo added six points and six rebounds.
“We have really bonded and we’re starting to understand each other’s games a bit better,” Taulelei said. “I am just trying to keep it simple and do my job.”
The game against an in-state rival did not create any extra motivation, as the team had already lost nine straight games.
“I don’t care who we would have played today,” Leflar said. “We were desperate for a win.”
The match up with UMass Lowell was the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs. UMass has a 6-1 lead over the River Hawks in the all-time series.
The in-state rivalry also didn’t mean much to Taulelei, who is from New Zealand.
“I am kind of impartial,” Taulelei said. “I am not from here, obviously. I would have liked to beat anybody.”
UMass went into the fourth quarter with a 47-40 lead. Williams scored eight points in the final frame to help secure the victory.
Dallas Pierce came off the bench to score a career-high 10 points for the Minutewomen. Pierce went 2-for-2 from the 3-point line and 4-for-5 overall. Anytime the River Hawks got close it seemed that Pierce was there with a timely bucket. Pierce hit one of her 3-pointers at the beginning of the fourth quarter when the River Hawks had closed the deficit to 47-44.
Both offenses started slowly, but the Minutewomen ended the first quarter on a short run punctuated by a put-back bucket by Odenigbo. UMass led 14-11 going into the second quarter.
Back-to-back baskets by Taulelei and Tori Hyduke gave UMass its biggest lead of the game early in the second quarter at 18-11. The River Hawks made a small run to get closer, but Jermany Mapp’s jumper put UMass ahead 22-17 later in the quarter. Williams followed with a mid-range swish that increased the lead to 24-17.
Pierce hit a 3-pointer for the Minutewomen to increase the lead to 27-17 late in the second quarter. It was the first 3-pointer of the game for UMass.
The Minutewomen went into halftime with a 30-24 lead. UMass opened the second half on a 6-2 run to take a 36-26 lead.
