BOSTON, MA (February 5, 2025) – Seven total scorers on the UMass Boston women's basketball team (8-13, 5-7 Little East Conference) wasn't enough to come back, as the Beacons went the distance in the second half, scoring 31 points compared to the University of Southern Maine Huskies' (12-9, 8-4 LEC) 32 in a valiant effort against the conference's third seed.

Game Highlights:

• Following the first quarter, first-year Tajeiha Madison (Brockton, Mass.) led the Beacons in scoring, as she closed out the half on a coast-to-coast score with a minute remaining to give UMass Boston their final bucket heading into the break.

• Third Quarter: Junior captain Sibayla Jensen (Portland, Ore.) opened the second half, continuing off Madison's high note, with a steal and score on the opening possession, followed by a second consecutive make to strike the iron first for the Beacons. The Huskies continued to connect from downtown, scoring back-to-back three-pointers to keep the Beacons at bay.
• With two minutes remaining, Jensen's perfect trip at the free throw line initiated a 10-1 run in favor of UMass Boston to close the quarter with signs of strength. The Beacons outscored the Huskies 20-17 in the third.
• Fourth Quarter: A perfect trip at the free throw line from sophomore forward Sabanna Berrios (Providence, R.I.) opened the final quarter for UMass Boston, allowing Madison to follow on the next possession to cut the lead to inside 20 points, the smallest margin since 9:46 in the second quarter. The Huskies continued to find their range and responded with an 11-3 run over the following five minutes. First-year Ashleigh Lagor (Millbury, Mass.) scored the final four points with a layup and a 2-2 trip at the line to close the scoring.
• The Beacons fought hard until the end despite a slow start and were outscored by a single point (31-32) in the second half in a respectable showing against a dominant LEC third seed.

• Berrios once again led the scoring for the Beacons with 11 points and had her way defensively with one block and two steals. This was Berrios' seventh consecutive performance leading the Beacons offensively.
• Merchant was a problem for the Huskies on the defensive end, raking in a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks in a dominant defensive showing.
• Sophomore guard Jordis Tautalatasi (Springfield, Mass.) made her collegiate debut for the Beacons and had her fingerprints all over the stat sheet with two assists, two rebounds, and her first collegiate basket in 16 minutes of action off the bench.
• Jensen posted eight point, five rebounds, and tied Berrios for the team lead in steals (two).
• Bucha added nine points, including her 24^th triple of the season, three rebounds and one steal.
• UMass Boston outscored the Huskies 24-16 in the paint, 13-9 off bench points, and scored 31 points on 43% field-goal shooting in a solid second-half showing.

The Beacons return to action on Saturday, February 8, at 1:00 p.m, against the LEC fifth-seeded Keene State Owls (9-11, 5-6 LEC) in Keene, N.H, with four games remaining in the LEC Regular Season.

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