by Kevin McCaskill Jr.
11/17/23 * 2:20 PM
(AMHERST, MA) - UMass hosted Harvard on Thursday night, at the Mullins Center. The Minutewomen came into the game 1-2, losing 2 consecutive road games to Northeastern and Maine. The Minutewomen wanted a win yesterday. They don’t play another home game until December 10th.
Harvard got out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. The Minutewomen turned the ball over on their first few possessions and Harvard capitalized.
Harvard is led by Guards Harmoni Turner and Lola Mullaney. Turner is a good ball-handler and shooter. Mullaney is a very good 3-pt shooter.
UMass Freshman Guard Dallas Pierce made two 3s in the 1st quarter to try to give the Minutewomen a spark for a run. After Pierce’s second 3, Turner came down on the other end and made a floater in the lane.
At the end of the 1st quarter, Harvard led 28-8.
In the second quarter, the Minutewomen went on a 12-4 run over 5 minutes. UMass Guard Kristin Williams started to hit shots for the Minutewomen. They also turned up their defensive intensity and they forced Harvard to turn the ball over.
Harvard maintained their lead into halftime. They led 39-26 at the break.
The Minutewomen made their best comeback attempt in the third quarter. Williams made a fast-break layup and got fouled. She made the FT, which cut the lead to 45-35.
UMass Forward Stefanie Kulesza made 2 FTs and scored a layup. Harvard led by seven, 50-43.
Mullaney responded with one of her seven 3s of the night before the end of the third. Her triple put Harvard ahead 53-43.
In the 4th, Harvard’s combo of Turner and Mullaney were too much for the Minutewomen.
Harvard beat UMass 78-57.
Mullaney scored a game-high 23 points. She went 7/13 from 3-pt range. Turner scored 22 points.
In her first start of the season, Williams scored 16 points. Kulesza had another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
After the game HC Mike Leflar and Williams spoke to the media.
Leflar said, “We can’t let out offense inspire or create our defensive activity…We gotta bring it on both ends of the floor every single possession”.
UMass starts their road trip this Sunday @ Monmouth. The game tips off @ 2 PM.
