DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team returns home to host Massachusetts Sunday, Jan. 22 at 12 p.m. at UD Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton hosts UMass with a 3-14 record on the season and 2-4 Atlantic 10 mark. The Flyers are 2-6 at home this year and on a two-game losing streak.
Head coach
Tamika Williams-Jeter is in her first season in charge of her hometown Flyers, coming over after a year at Wittenberg. She has assistant coaching stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Penn State, and Ohio State.
As a team this year, the Flyers are averaging 64.9 points per game and giving up 69.5 points to opponents. Dayton is shooting 40.7 percent overall, 34.3 percent from three point range, and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. UD benefits from a +5.8 rebounding margin.
Dayton is led by redshirt junior
Destiny Bohanon with 12.5 points per game and senior
Mariah Perez with 10.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore
Arianna Smith is adding 9.9 points and 8.6 boards each outing while senior
Sydney Freeman is contributing 10.4 points per game.
SCOUTING MASSACHUSETTS
The Minutewomen come to Dayton for the first time since 2019 and have a 14-4 record on the year. UMass is 4-1 in A-10 play and 6-1 on the road this season.
Head coach Tory Verdi is in his sixth season in charge and guided the Minutewomen to the A-10 Tournament title and NCAA Tournament last season.
As a team, UMass is scoring 74.8 points per game and holding opposing teams to just 62.8 points per outing. The Minutewomen are shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from behind the arc, and 74.2 percent from the charity stripe. UMass has the top scoring offense in the league this season.
Leading the way for the Minutewomen is last season's A-10 Player of the Year Sam Breen, who is averaging 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Sydney Taylor is chipping in 15.4 points per game while three other players are averaging double digits.
LAST TIME OUT
Dayton remained on the road to face St. Bonaventure Thursday and suffered a heartbreaking 54-53 loss after the Bonnies hit the game-winner with five seconds left.
UMass traveled to Fordham Wednesday and left with a 66-57 victory over the Rams. After a low-scoring first half, the Minutewomen exploded for 44 points in the second. Sam Breen led the way with 10 points and 15 boards.
SERIES HISTORY
Dayton and UMass have played 29 times previously with the Flyers holding a 17-12 advantage in the series. The Minutewomen defeated the Flyers in the A-10 title game last meeting on March 6, 2022 in Delaware. Prior to that, UD had won five in a row and 13 of the last 14 match-ups.
UP NEXT
The Flyers return home to host Massachusetts for their third nationally televised game of the season. Tip-off is at noon on ESPNU at UD Arena.
