Box Score Rhody Starters:
Kerry Wallack, Teneka Whittaker, Emilie Cloutier, Sherrie Session, Chari Lehnertz
Massachusetts Starters:
Emilie Teuscher, Megan Zullo, Shakia Robinson, Emily Mital, Jasmine Watson
Rhody Leaders:
Points: Emilie Cloutier (18)
Rebounds: Chari Lehnertz (8)
Assists: Teneka Whittaker (4), Sherrie Session (4), Ashley Rivera (4)
Steals: Megan Straumann (1), Kerry Wallack (1), Sydney Lewis (1)
Blocked Shots: Emilie Cloutier (1)
Minutes Played: Teneka Whittaker (38)
Massachusetts Leaders:
Points: Jasmine Watson (15)
Rebounds: Jasmine Watson (4), Megan Zullo (4), Emilie Teuscher (4)
Assists: Megan Zullo (6)
Steals: Shakie Robinson (1), Millie Niggeling (1), Kim Pierre0Louis (1)
Blocked Shots: Jasmine Watson (1), Emilie Teuscher (1)
Minutes Played: Megan Zullo (40)
Inside the Box Score:
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With the loss, Rhode Island drops to 1-27 overall and 0-13 in the Atlantic 10. URI also falls to 30-39 in the all-time series vs. UMass, which improves to 8-20 (3-10).
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URI shot 40.4% on the night, hitting 21-of-52 attempts from the field. UMass, meanwhile, connected at a 54.4% (24-44) clip. The 54.4-percent showing is the best from any Rhode Island opponent this season. It also was the Minutewomen's best shooting percentage this season, and just their second time finishing better than 50-percent from the floor.
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Cloutier led the Rams in scoring with a game- and career-high 18 points while Lehnertz pulled down a game- and career-best eight rebounds.
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Rivera netted 13 points to finish in double figures for the team-leading 17th time this season.
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UMass built up a 21-7 lead over the opening seven minutes, thanks in part to five early three pointers. However, Rhody charged back and outscored the Minutewomen, 16-5, throughout the remainder of the frame, limiting UMass to just 1-of-11 shooting from the field. URI also forced eight turnovers during that span to cut Massachusetts' lead to three (26-26) at the break.
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UMass went on to outscore Rhode Island, 42-34, over the second 20 minutes of play.
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Watson led the Minutewomen in scoring with 15 points. Zullo also scored in double figures with 13 points and a game-best six assists.
What's Next:
Rhode Island returns to the Ryan Center to close out the 2011-12 season against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the Rhody vs. Saint Louis men's game. URI is 23-22 in the all-time series vs. the Bonnies, having dropped each of the last three contests between the teams. Rhody's last win over St. Bonaventure was a 61-49 opening-round victory at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship in Philadelphia. The last time URI faced SBU (Jan. 22, 2011), the Bonnies picked up a 66-52 win at the Reilly Center. In that game, Megan Shoniker scored a team-high 17 points while Sherrie Session also scored in double figures with 12 points and two steals. As a team, the Rams shot a season-best 91.7% (22-of-24) from the free throw line, connecting on 14 consecutive attempts in the second half. Over her 24+ years as a head coach, Cathy Inglese has compiled an 0-3 record against St. Bonaventure, going 0-1 at Vermont and 0-2 at Rhode Island.