Women's Basketball Drops 64-39 Decision to UMass Boston

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore forward Olivia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) and senior guard Andrea Suffredini (Milford, Mass.) each recorded double-doubles to lead the visiting UMass Boston women's basketball team to a 64-39 victory over Bridgewater State University in non-conference action on Thursday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The Beacons improve to 9-5 on the season with the win, while the host Bears slip to 7-8 overall.

Murphy tallied 19 points and 24 boards while adding two assists and a pair of blocked shots.  She connected on 9 of 20 field goal attempts and 12 of her game-high 24 boards came off the offensive glass.

Suffredini notched 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting to go along with a game-high ten assists.  She also grabbed five boards and blocked two shots.

UMB senior guard Shelby Buck (Greenfield, Ohio) came off the bench to score nine points (all in the second half) in just 13 minutes of action as she connected on 3 of 7 three-point field goal attempts.

UMass held a 27-19 halftime advantage and led 32-25 with 15:45 remaining in the second half.  Over the next five minutes, the Beacons proceeded to score 18 straight points on the strength of three trifectas by Buck to put the game well out of reach.  UMB got up by as many as 30 points (64-34) before settling for the 64-39 win.

Senior guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) paced the Bears with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Nine of her 11 points came in the first half.  Junior guard Rachel Kusz (Worcester, Mass.) came off the bench to score nine points.

UMass shot 43% (25-58) from the floor and held a decisive 58-29 rebounding advantage including a 16-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Bears shot just to 23% (14-60) from the floor and were held under 40 points at home for the first time in ten years (61-39 loss to Eastern Connecticut in 2004).

The conference schedule resumes for both teams on Saturday afternoon.  Bridgewater travels to Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Worcester State University to take on the Lancers at one, while UMass entertains Little East Conference foe Western Connecticut State University also at one.