NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 23, 2024) – The UMass Boston women's basketball team took second at the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament from Hunter College in New York, N.Y. Following their big win over Saint Elizabeth University on Friday, the Beacons fell just short against the Hawks on Saturday in a hard-fought championship game.

The Basics:
UMass Boston 57 – 71 Hunter College
UMass Boston (1-3)
Hunter College (3-2)

How it Happened:

• The first quarter was tightly contested and saw both offenses come out swinging. Junior captain Sibayla Jensen (Portland, Ore.) picked up a block in the first minute and 15 seconds into the contest, as Sophomore forward Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) got the first two points for the Beacons off a jumper in the paint. Sophomore forward Samora Merchant (Brookfield, Conn.) scored with under two minutes remaining to give the Beacs a two-point lead (14-12).
• Sophomore guard Vanessa Bucha (Aschnuet, Mass.) connected from downtown to begin the second quarter scoring column, her first of two. The Hawks regained their groove and took back the lead at the six-and-a-half-minute mark. A pair of free throws from sophomore guard Hialeah Turner-Foster (Mashpee, Mass.) closed out the first half, with the Beacons facing a six-point deficit. In round one, the Hawks scored 50 points at the halftime break. In the Championship game against UMass Boston, the Beacons' defense held them to just 35 at the break.
• Junior guard Tatiannah Fevry (Dracut, Mass.) kicked things off out of the halftime break with a fast-break layup. She struck again on the following possession off of a jump shot to cut the lead to two points. Junior guard Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson (BJP) (London, Eng.) brought the game back to neutral with a jumper from beyond the arc to tie the game at 41, just under halfway through the third. The Hawks began to go on a 12-point unanswered run from this point to close out the quarter.
• The Beacs continued to rely on paint scoring and free throws, but the Hawks caught fire from the field and closed out with a late run to seal the victory on their home stage.

By the Numbers:

• Defensively, the Beacons forced 19 turnovers, swiped 10 steals, and rejected seven total shots. Jensen had a team-high three steals. She also joined Merchant and Berrios with two blocks. In her fifth game played as a Beacon, Turner-Foster has continued to figure it out. Today, she led all Beacons offensively with 12 points. Merchant was just behind her with 11 points to couple with eight rebounds, and Berrios added a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. BJP added a season-high eight points off two three-pointers.  

Who's Next:

• The Beacons will resume action on Wednesday, November 27, on the road against Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, at 1:00 p.m.