WILMINGTON, Del. – The Massachusetts Minutewomen won the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship, topping No. 1 overall Dayton by a final 62-56 margin Sunday afternoon at CHASE Fieldhouse.
In a matchup between the Atlantic 10’s top-scoring offense and defense, UMass’s movement won out, earning the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid and advancing to that stage for the third time in program history and its first in 24 years.
"What can you say?" Massachusetts head coach Tory Verdi asked. "I’m super proud of this team, the resiliency. Last year was devastating and we talked as soon as we lost that we had to be different. With this team, nothing seems to faze them, and our experience last year carried over to this season. I thought it was a great team effort. Our sense of urgency from the start was on point and it needed to be there. We wanted to match their physicality and I thought we did that. We finally can get the respect that we deserve."
Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player Sam Breen paced all scorers with 19 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Ber’Nyah Mayo scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half. Fellow All-Championship Team member Sydney Taylor along with sophomore forward Makenna White both finished play with 10 points.
"That’s the best decision I ever made coming here," Breen said regarding her time at Massachusetts. "I’m so thankful, grateful, blessed and everything in between that Coach Verdi recruited me and gave me a chance to come here. I’ve honestly never been happier, and this tops it off."
Dayton was led by All-Championship Team selection Makira Cook’s 15 points while All-Conference Third Teamer Erin Whalen scored 13 points.
"I thought UMass controlled the whole game," Dayton head coach Shauna Green said. "They came out and were playing desperate, like they needed to win to get into the NCAA Tournament. That doesn’t take away from what we’ve done and what the season has been about. You win 25 games and we’ve had a lot of great wins and this season is not over. We deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament and that’s been our goal. It just wasn’t our day, that happens in sports, and we’ll bounce back and be ready to go."
UMass got off to a 15-2 run after conceding the first basket. Breen, a 28.4 percent 3-point shooter over the course of the season, buried a shot from downtown, giving the Minutewomen’s offense their start.
As Dayton tried to find quicker scores and drive inside to force early fouls, UMass’s transition game was key early as Taylor’s skip pass to Breen placed the Minutewomen up by nine points and activated a Flyers timeout
Even when Dayton started to find some offense, Breen once again connected for a 3-point basket, allowing UMass to lead by nine points after the first quarter.
When All-Conference First Team pick Jenna Giacone converted a three-point shot in the second quarter, Dayton found itself down six.
With its lead dwindling and the team in foul trouble, UMass closed the half on a 7-0 run with Angelique Ngalakulondi converting an and-one play with inside of a minute to play, taking a nine-point edge into the break.
Up seven points in the third quarter, UMass went on a 12-4 run and led by 13 points after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Minutewomen saw their resolve tested as Dayton made a comeback. A 3-point shot from Whalen brought the game within four points, but Mayo calmly sank four free throws as time was running out on the Flyers.
When Mayo was fouled the second time, she glanced at the clock, and in front of her hometown fans, let out a shout of excitement, knowing the victory was secured.
"In the back of mind, the job wasn’t finished yet, but to look up on the clock and know we were right there, it was a perfect time to let it all out," Mayo said. "I’m just glad the job is finished, but we’re not done yet."
Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team
Sam Breen – Massachusetts
Laila Fair – Saint Joseph’s
Taya Robinson – VCU
Makira Cook – Dayton
Sydney Taylor – Massachusetts
Most Outstanding Player
Sam Breen – Massachusetts