It took a little while for the engine to get revved up, but when it did all the cylinders were clicking.

With a strong defensive effort at the start of the second half and another game of effective play from the reserves, the women's basketball team eased its way to a 91-58 win over Massachusetts last night in Rec Hall.

"We just used a man-to-man defense," Coach Rene Portland said. "And we rotated our players to our advantage. We're very fortunate that our starters got to sit and watch. (It shows) that we don't need to depend on the starters."

Even with a 14-point advantage starting the second half, the No. 22 Lady Lions (15-3) hadn't been dictating the pace of the game. The Minutewomen (3-15) connected on two early three-point plays to start the game. Their biggest lead was seven (11-4) and UMass was down by only four with 6:30 remaining until halftime.

The controlled style of play employed by UMass worked until guard Tanya Garner turned up her defense and reserve center Tina Henry entered the game to defend UMass' leading scorer and rebounder, Helen Freeman.

Henry scored only four points, yet she was able to control the more experienced Minutewoman center.

"It was Tina against Freeman," Portland said. "The big kid against big kid; but it was freshman against senior. She did an outstanding job. It was a major-league turning point."

"I had to mark Freeman," Henry said. "I really didn't think about (her experience). I just came in and did my job."

With Henry in the game, Freeman was limited to only four points. She finished with 15, but scored eight of them in the second half.

"It was real important for us to finish (the first half) strong," Garner said. "Massachusetts has improved over the years, but a better team might not have let us back into the game."

One of the reasons the reserves saw so much action was the early foul trouble of the Lady Lions. Kathy Phillips picked up foul No. 2 less than two minutes into the game. Lynn Dougherty committed her second just a minute-and-a-half later. Portland was forced to go the bench.

"When the big girls got in foul trouble, it gave us a chance," Garner said. "It was up to us to capitalize. We rebounded, ran and took it inside."

Once again, Susan Robinson found inside layups and outside jumpers. She scored 14 points in each half and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. On one play midway through the second half, Robinson grabbed three-consecutive offensive boards.

Garner contributed 17 points and Kim Lazor added 12. The Minutewomen were led by Sue Serafini's 18 points and Keyburn McCusker netted 13. Part of the defensive pressure forced on UMass came from the play of Terri Williams.

Portland said Williams wanted to key on Serafini and limit the senior guard's point production. One of the Lady Lions' goals for each game is not to allow an opponent to total 20 points. Williams ended that threat.

Tomorrow night, Penn State plays its third game at home this week when it hosts West Virginia. Last Saturday, a Dana Eikenberg 3-pointer won the game in Morgantown. Last year in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the Lady Mountaineers upset Penn State, 76-64.