GORHAM, ME. (February 25, 2025) – The UMass Boston women's basketball team (10-16, 7-10 Little East Conference) outscored the University of Southern Maine Huskies (17-9, 12-4 LEC) 37-30 through the first three quarters. Still, a 29-point fourth-quarter surge from the Huskies outpaced the Beacons as UMass Boston ultimately concluded their season following a valiant effort on the road.

Sophomore Vanessa Bucha (Aschnuet, Mass.) led all UMass Boston scorers with 13 points including three three-pointers, followed by Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) with 12 points, and Samora Merchant (Brookfield, Conn.) with 10 points.

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Huskies struck first and scored 10 points in the first six minutes to spring out to an early eight-point lead.
• Berrios halted the run with back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit to four before back-to-back layups from Hialeah Turner-Foster (Mashpee, Mass.) and Jordis Tautalatasi (Springfield, Mass.) knotted the scoring level at 10 apiece.
• The Huskies went 1-2 at the free throw line to close out the quarter with a slim one-point advantage.

Second Quarter:

• Sibayla Jensen (Portland, Ore.) opened the scoring for UMass Boston to begin the second quarter with a finished layup off the dish from Merchant, keeping the Beacs to within one point.
• Back-to-back layups from Merchant put the Beacons on top by one point, their first lead of the game, with five minutes remaining in the first half.
• Bucha's first triple of the night kept the Beacons at a one-point advantage with the second quarter game clock winding down.
• A steal from first-year Ashleigh Lagor (Millbury, Mass.) led to a score from Tautalatasi to close out the quarter, with the Beacons ahead by two points (25-23) heading into the halftime break.
• Merchant led all UMass Boston scorers at halftime with eight points, going 3-5 from the field and 2-3 from the stripe in the first half.

Third Quarter:

• Berrios opened the third quarter box with a midrange jumper that extended the Beacons' lead to four.
• Bucha connected on her second three-pointer, followed by a layup on the next possession for a quick five-point surge to put the Beacons on top by seven points.
• Fevry's layup at 1:38 in the third gave the Beacons their largest lead of the game at eight points.
• Merchant made one more contribution with a finish in the paint to give the Beacons 37 heading into the fourth ahead by seven points (37-30).

Fourth Quarter:

• The Huskies surged for 29 points in the fourth quarter on seven field goals including four triples, and 11 free throws.
• Berrios and Bucha combined for 11 points in the final quarter, with Berrios connecting on three of four shots for six points, and Bucha lacing her third triple on 2-3 shooting for five points in the quarter.

The Beacons were one quarter away, but a desperation push from the University of Southern Maine eclipsed the Beacons, as UMass Boston ultimately bowed out of the LEC Tournament following a valiant effort against the Huskies.

By the Numbers:

• Three Beacons scored double figures led by Bucha's 13. Berrios raked in eight rebounds to pair with her 12 points, and Merchant recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds to pair with one block and two steals.
• First-year Tajeiha Madison (Brockton, Mass.) was the primary point guard with three assists to go with two steals and three rebounds.

With the loss against the Huskies, the Beacons 2024-25 campaign comes to a conclusion, and will return for another run in the postseason tournament in 2025-26. Until then, for all things UMass Boston Athletics, stay tuned at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website.