Tuesday, December 4, 2012 (Newton, Massachusetts) - The Mount Ida College women's basketball team snapped a two-game winning streak dropping a 72-55 non-conference loss to visiting UMASS-Boston Tuesday evening in the front end of a double header with the men's team at Mount Ida Athletic Center. The Mustangs struggled heavily underneath the basket unable to win the rebounding game while the Beacons flourished with 45 offensive boards for the game and 72 for the contest. The hosts were outmatched with only nine offensive rebounds on the evening.
Mount Ida falls to an overall record of 3-4 while the visitors improve to 5-1 for the season after dropping their first Little East Conference (LEC) loss of 2012/2013 to Western Connecticut State University last Saturday.
UMB never trailed going ahead by seven points (12-5) through the opening six minutes of the contest capped off on a lay-in by freshman forward Olivia Murphy (Canton, MA/Canton). The scoring was scarce through the beginning of the first stanza on both sides of the court.
The Mustangs chipped away eventually cutting the Beacon lead down to four points after a successful lay-in by senior guard Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley). Acosta led all scorers with 18 points and a game-high eight dishes.
With 6:21 remaining before the midway point, Mount Ida cut the UMB advantage down to one point (20-19) after a good trifecta from sophomore guard Sierra Legge (Schodack Landing, NY/Maple Hill). Legge buried three shots from downtown riding the hot hand to keep the hosts within striking distance.
The Beacons lead inflated back to seven points (26-19) after a 6-0 run with 4:34 to go in the first half finalized on a jumper by UMB freshman guard/forward Meghan Agger (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy).
After the Mustangs cut the lead down to a basket (26-24) on a good three pointer by junior forward Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield), the visitors bumped their advantage back to six points heading into the locker room up 32-26.
The Beacons came out strong in the second stanza up 11 points (40-29) through the first three minutes of action capped on a lay-in by senior guard Teresa Pina (Boston, MA/Charlestown).
UMB's advantage teetered on double digits eventually going ahead by 12 with 14:49 to go in the final half up 45-33 after another good lay-up by Pina.
The visitors maintained the lead through the next six minutes up 54-41 following a three point play the hard way by junior guard Andrea Suffredini (Milford, CT/Milford) heading into the final stretch of the contest.
UMASS-Boston's advantage grew to 14 points, after another successful basket by Pina, up 58-44 at the cusp of the six minute mark.
The Beacons would eventually close out the 72-55 non-league win finishing the game on a lay-in by sophomore center/forward Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, MA/North Reading).
Along with a solid performance from Acosta, the hosts were led by Fedigan chipping in 14 points on 6-11 shooting adding three blocks. Sierra Legge was again solid for Mount Ida with nine points, all on three point conversions, adding six assists and four boards.
Four Beacons landed in double figure points led by Suffredini pouring in a team-high 17 with seven boards and three steals. Pina was impressive, especially in the second half, adding 15 points and 10 rebounds going 5-17 from the floor. Sophomore forward/center Brittany Moore (Billerica, MA/Billerica Memorial) recorded the only double-double of the game with 11 points and 11 boards.
Mount Ida women's basketball will travel to non-league Gordon College this Thursday evening with game time slated for 6:00 p.m. The visitors will travel to non-conference Tufts University that same night with tip-off coming at 7:00 p.m.
