2008 Woodie Awards
Minutewomen outshoot women's basketball team
Laila Sholtz-Ames
Issue date: 12/13/07 Section: Maine Sports
Last week, the University of Maine Women's basketball team battled a tough Fairfield University squad in Connecticut. Six days later, the Black Bears traveled to the University of Massachusetts to play the Minutewomen in Mullens Center at Amherst, Mass., in an attempt to win just their second game of the season. This would not be the case, however, as the Black Bears lost to the Minutewomen, 74-55, in their sixth-straight loss of the season.
The University of Maine Black Bears, who played the UMass Minutewomen for the first time since the 1998-99 season, had several positive notes as three UMaine players finished in double figures, including freshman Tanna Ross, freshman guard Emily Rousseau and Center Sandra Vaitkute. In their last meeting, the Minutewomen won 64-56, but this contest was not nearly as close, as UMass dominated both in the paint and in rebounding.
UMaine did have an offensive spark from Ross, who came off the bench and scored a career-high 20 points. This is the third time this season that Ross has scored in double figures. In addition, Rousseau contributed 13 points and Vaitkute, who dominated around the glass and led the team in blocked shots, adding 12 points along with seven rebounds. It was Vaikute who scored UMaine's initial six points in the first half, but after that the lead see-sawed back and forth. The Black Bears held a few one-point leads in the first half but were unable to take advantage.
Near the end of the first period, Rousseau made a jumper with 3:33 left, which pulled UMaine to 27-26, but UMass scored nine unanswered points and took a 36-26 lead into intermission.
UMass held a lead throughout the rest of the game and then took a double-digit lead to round out the final 10 minutes of the game, shooting 50 percent - 14-of-28 - from the floor.
In the end, the UMass offense was too much for the Black Bears, as they only shot 40 percent - 22-of-55 - from the floor.
The Minutewomen had a strong game, with senior guard Pam Rosanio scoring 19 points going 8-of-11 from the floor and Kate Mills chipping in 16 points to lead the Minutewomen to a second straight victory. The UMaine women's basketball team now falls to 1-7 on the season, while the University of Massachusettes improves to 4-5 on the season, with a perfect 4-0 home record.
The Black Bears, currently in the middle of an eight-game road trip, the longest road game stretch since the 1985-86 season, will travel to New York next week to take on St. John's University on Friday and then St. Francis University on Sunday.
The University of Maine Black Bears, who played the UMass Minutewomen for the first time since the 1998-99 season, had several positive notes as three UMaine players finished in double figures, including freshman Tanna Ross, freshman guard Emily Rousseau and Center Sandra Vaitkute. In their last meeting, the Minutewomen won 64-56, but this contest was not nearly as close, as UMass dominated both in the paint and in rebounding.
UMaine did have an offensive spark from Ross, who came off the bench and scored a career-high 20 points. This is the third time this season that Ross has scored in double figures. In addition, Rousseau contributed 13 points and Vaitkute, who dominated around the glass and led the team in blocked shots, adding 12 points along with seven rebounds. It was Vaikute who scored UMaine's initial six points in the first half, but after that the lead see-sawed back and forth. The Black Bears held a few one-point leads in the first half but were unable to take advantage.
Near the end of the first period, Rousseau made a jumper with 3:33 left, which pulled UMaine to 27-26, but UMass scored nine unanswered points and took a 36-26 lead into intermission.
UMass held a lead throughout the rest of the game and then took a double-digit lead to round out the final 10 minutes of the game, shooting 50 percent - 14-of-28 - from the floor.
In the end, the UMass offense was too much for the Black Bears, as they only shot 40 percent - 22-of-55 - from the floor.
The Minutewomen had a strong game, with senior guard Pam Rosanio scoring 19 points going 8-of-11 from the floor and Kate Mills chipping in 16 points to lead the Minutewomen to a second straight victory. The UMaine women's basketball team now falls to 1-7 on the season, while the University of Massachusettes improves to 4-5 on the season, with a perfect 4-0 home record.
The Black Bears, currently in the middle of an eight-game road trip, the longest road game stretch since the 1985-86 season, will travel to New York next week to take on St. John's University on Friday and then St. Francis University on Sunday.
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