BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Sophomore Tiana McQueen (Mattapan) poured in a career-high 31 points, but the Massasoit women's basketball team came up on the short end of a 63-60 contest to the University of Connecticut at Avery Point (UCAP) on Saturday afternoon.
McQueen made 14-of-29 shots en route to her career-high point performance, along with pulling down 17 rebounds (nine offensive) and swatting five shots.
Stephanie Robbins (Marshfield) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Lauren Callahan (Bourne) chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists in the loss.
Massasoit (0-12) trailed 27-25 at the break, but came out the gates with authority in the second half. The Warriors came out of the locker room on a 6-0 run thanks to a pair of McQueen baskets sandwiched around a Robbins jumper. The shot by Robbins gave Massasoit its first lead since being up 4-2 in the early goings of the first half.
However, UCAP responded with a 13-0 run of its own to take a 41-31 lead with 12:44 remaining as Massasoit was shutout for over six minutes action.
Trailing 53-44, the Warriors fought back again using a 7-0 burst capped by a Callahan layup with 3:48 left. Unfortunately for the Warriors, McQueen fouled out during the late push as Massasoit had pulled within two points, 53-51.
Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the way, as Callahan put in a shot with 11.1 seconds left to bring the Warriors within three, 61-58. But, UCAP's Carynn Bartolucci sank a pair of free throws to ice the game for the Pointers.
Massasoit returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, with a road contest at CCRI set for 5 p.m.
