For the first time this season, the Massachusetts women’s basketball team got off to an early lead and looked like it was going to cruise to a win against William & Mary in the consolation game in the University of Maine Invitational.
However, sloppy play and costly turnovers proved to be the downfall for the Minutewomen once again as they fell to the Tribe 96-88 in overtime on Saturday.
Leading 81-80 with eight seconds left in regulation, Nola Henry went to the free-throw line with a chance to extend the UMass lead to three points. Henry made just one of her two attempts to extend the lead to 82-80 with no William & Mary timeouts remaining.
The last thing the Minutewomen wanted to do in this situation was commit a foul. But on this day, Henry fell trap to the cardinal sin of basketball and sent William & Mary’s Latrice Hunter for a chance to tie the game.
Hunter made them both and the game headed to overtime.
That’s when the Tribe took over, outscoring UMass 14-6 in the extra five minutes to earn their first win of the season.
UMass (2-6) opened the game on an 11-2 run after Jasmine Harris drilled a 3 and then converted an easy transition layup off of a Kymber Hill steal.
But the Tribe (1-6) ended the final eight minutes of the first half on a 19-6 run, forcing the Minutewomen to commit seven turnovers during that stretch.
Statistically UMass had its best offensive game of the season, scoring a season high 88 points, shooting 32-for-64 from the field and hitting 7-of-15 attempts from behind the arc. Four different players scored in double figures for the Minutewomen, including a career day from Rashida Timbilla.
Timbilla played a game-high 43 minutes, finishing the day with a career-high 25 points on 12-of-17 shooting with 13 rebounds and six assists.
At the beginning of the season UMass coach Sharon Dawley expected Timbilla to be one of her most efficient forwards that could play guard if need be. But since returning from an early season injury, Timbilla has been playing primarily on the perimeter with the offense running through her hands.
Dawley gave Timbilla the start at point guard, replacing a struggling Henry. After the performance that Timbilla had, she could be there to stay.
UMass falls to Maine
UMass opened up the University of Maine Invitational on Friday with a 86-56 loss at the hands of the Black Bears.
Co- Captain Emily Mital led the Minutewomen with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line. Jasmine Harris was the only other UMass player in double figures, finishing the game with 11 points.
Maine forward Liz Wood hurt the Minutewomen all game, scoring 24 points while guard Ashleigh Roberts had a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds).
The Minutewomen are back in action Dec. 4 when they host in-state rival Boston University at 7 p.m. at Mullins Center.
Andrew Cyr can be reached at [email protected], and can be followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.
