Assistant coach Jill Rooney’s words at the Jan. 23 Sports Luncheon summed up the winter break for the Massachusetts women’s basketball team (4-13, 2-4 Atlantic 10) perfectly.

“We are starting to get there,” the 11-year assistant told the crowd. Hope is something the UMass players and coaching staff are clinging

to and some impressive outings over the break showed signs that this team could be up for a run in the A-10 Tournament.

Here is a look back at how the Minutewomen fared while not having to worry about going to class:

On Jan. 21, the Maroon and White tore past Rhode Island with a 12-0 run that began six minutes into the first half. URI never held the lead after that point. Holding a 5-point lead at the half, UMass began the second frame with a 9-0 run and coasted the rest of the way for the team’s second A-10 victory, 58-49.

Junior center Jennifer Butler dominated the game inside, shooting a terrific 7-for-8 from the field for 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Katie Nelson chipped in with 15 points in 35 minutes of action.

Despite a solid defensive effort that held Duquesne scoreless for seven straight minutes, the Minutewomen fell to the Dukes 60-47 on Jan. 17. Butler pulled down an A.J. Palumbo Center record 21 rebounds in the contest and chipped in with 12 points. For the first time in history, UMass pulled down more rebounds (50) than points scored.

Richmond’s Kristn Gull scored 10 unanswered points in the Maroon and White’s 58-41 loss to the Spiders on Jan. 13. After jumping out to an early 18-4 lead in the first half, UMass struggled the rest of the way. The Minutewomen went 18 minutes without a field goal in the second and shot just 22.8 percent from the floor. Butler and Nelson were a combined 5-for-26 from the field while junior Amber Sneed scored a season-high 15 points in the loss.

The Maroon and White torched La Salle 77-58 in Philadelphia on Jan. 10. Five players scored nine or more points for the Minutewomen in their first A-10 win. Junior Siiri Liivandi led the team with 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting in just 20 minutes of play.

Butler scored nearly half of UMass’ points in its 54-48 loss to St. Joseph’s on Jan. 8. The Minutemen scored just 18 points in the first half and never recovered. St. Joe’s forward Susan Moran paced the Hawks with 19 points.

In the Maroon and White’s first A-10 game of the season, Katie Nelson dropped a career-high 18 points on Temple. The Ellicot City, Md. native drilled four 3-pointers and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, but was unable carry her team to a victory. Butler chipped in with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Temple, which led by as many as 17 in the ballgame, was carried by a 23-point performance by guard Natalia Isaac. The Jan. 3, 67-57, loss was the Minutewomen’s first game of 2002.

UMass dominated Rider in the PNC Wildcat Classic’s consolation game in Philadelphia, 65-54. Butler and junior Nekole Smith dominated the Dec. 30 matchup, combining on the blocks for 29 points and 24 rebounds. The Maroon and White turned the ball over a season-low 11 times in the contest.

Butler was awarded with All-Tournament honors after the championship game later that evening.

The Minutewomen took on Alabama in the first round of the PNC Wildcat Classic, but were the victims of a controversial call that cost them the game and a chance to play host Villanova for the title.

The game tied at 65-65 with just nine seconds left, the Tide inbounded the ball to Katie Sipe at halfcourt. The shooting guard drove to the middle of the lane and was blocked by Butler at the top of the key as the buzzer sounded.

But a questionable foul was called on Butler and Sipe was awarded two shots with just nine-tenths of a second left in the contest. Sipe made the first shot and missed the second, virtually ending the game.

Sipe scored 12 points in the contest. Butler tossed in 15 points and dominated the boards with 12.

The Minutewomen showed pride over the winter session and fought through some tough adversity – a sure sign that this scrappy team may surprise its A-10 foes in the next month.