AMHERST – It wasn’t the game that the UMass women’s basketball team wanted to play on its opening night against Central Connecticut State.
The first half was an uphill battle, the rebounding was inconsistent and two of the team’s top players were sitting on the bench with injuries. Despite the obstacles, UMass was able to pull out a 72-57 win against the Blue Devils in a non-conference tilt on Monday night at the Mullins Center.
“A win is a win. It wasn’t pretty, but I’m proud of our team we grinded it out and we figured out how to win,” UMass head coach Tory Verdi said. “Everyone expects us to be where we were last year, where we ended, and it doesn’t happen that way. It’s a journey, it’s a process. We’re not there, nor do I want to be there right now, because then it’s going to be really boring… I need something to do, got to get better.”
The game started with a banner-raising ceremony, honoring the program’s first-ever Atlantic 10 Conference championship that the group won last season. The lights dimmed as a hype video was shown on the Mullins Center big screen, replaying the team’s best moments on the court and the celebration when they won the conference title. For Verdi, it was an emotional moment.
“It was special. I really enjoyed it… it’s come full circle,” Verdi said. “I’m just incredibly blessed that I’m surrounded by great players, by a great administration that supports us. I took a second, I got emotional – you guys know me, I’m soft… I sleep really good at night.”
The troubles for UMass started before the team even hit the floor on Monday. At some point after their scrimmage against Assumption College on Oct. 30, both Angelique Ngalakulondi and Laila Fair suffered injuries, and neither played against CCSU. The two are considered day-to-day, and Verdi hopes that the two will be able to get in a practice or two before they face Tennessee on Thursday.
Without Ngalakulondi and Fair, Verdi went with the same five starters he opened last season with – Sam Breen, Sydney Taylor, Ber’Nyah Mayo, Destiney Philoxy and Makennah White. From the start, the team struggled against CCSU, particularly when it came to offensive rebounding. The Minutewomen went into the second half down 22-15 in offensive boards. Taylor, the team’s go-to three-point shooter, was 0-for-6 behind the arc in the first half.
As cold as Taylor was, CCSU’s Dejah Jenkins and Forever Toppin were red hot, posting 10 and six points respectively in the first half. Toppin played in just the first quarter, sitting the second after she got in foul trouble, but Jenkins had no trouble directing the Blue Devils in her absence. Toppin finished the game with 10 points, while Jenkins led the team with 17.
“I just feel like the first half, we got too comfortable. We tend to play to team’s talents instead of playing our own talents. So once the first half ended, we know that keeping this team by us was not the best look, especially going against a big team coming Thursday,” UMass’ Destiney Philoxy said. “So we just tried our best to do what we do and play UMass basketball.”
The Minutewomen came out of halftime with a purpose, slowly but surely pulling away from the Blue Devils. There were moments of brilliance from players – a dominant rebound from White, who stepped in and played 32 strong minutes with Ngalakulondi out; a drive to the hoop from Mayo, Philoxy dishing out assists with ease. The highlight, of course, was Breen, who tied her career high with 31 points in the win, showing up when her team needed her to.
“I’m not surprised,” Philoxy said on Breen’s monster game. “I feel like she should have got the recognition she deserve. But honestly, better late than never. She’s one of the best players I’ve played with, that I ever knew. Thirty-one points – I feel like she (could do) 40 one time.”
The Minutewomen don’t have much time to recover before arguably their most important game of the season. UMass will travel to Tennessee to face off against the No. 5 Lady Vols on Thursday night. It won’t be an easy feat, but the belief is there for the Minutewomen.
“We’re gonna play UMass basketball and our intention is to come in there and come out there with a ‘W.’ I feel like we deserve to be ranked and we’ve shown out we can be ranked,” Philoxy said. “I’m not gonna talk too much, but we gonna do what we do best.”