Nov. 25, 2008

EASTON, MA - Senior F Antonnea Robinson (West Haven, CT) scored 11 points, including a jumper with 1.7 seconds left, as UMass Lowell defeated No. 5 Stonehill, 75-73, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Merkert Gymnasium.

With the victory, the River Hawks improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NE-10 entering Sunday's home clash with Bentley (2:00). The loss was the first of the season for the Skyhawks, who slipped to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Conference.

The win was UMass Lowell's first in Easton since a 75-71 win on Nov. 30, 1999.

The River Hawks overcame a 73-70 deficit in the final 49 seconds behind a 3-point shot by junior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) with 27 seconds left. Valentine had an ensuing steal on Stonehill's next possession, drove the court and found Robinson at the foul line extended for the game-winner.

Senior C Revital Carmon (Bat-Yam, Israel) led the River Hawks with 19 points and 14 rebounds while converting 9 of 10 field goals. Valentine added 15 points and six assists while shooting 6 for 12 from the field and 3 for 5 from 3-point range.

Robinson converted all five of her field goal attempts, while junior G Megan Berry (Ipswich, MA) also had 11 points.

Senior C Kelsey Simonds led the Skyhawks with 24 points and 10 rebounds, converting all 11 of her free throw attempts. Sophomore Kristen McWhirter added 17 points, hitting 5 of 10 attempts from 3-point range, while sophomore G Emily Rousseau chipped in 15 points and four assists.

Senior G Bethany Tighe chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.

UMass Lowell outscored Stonehill, 40-8 in the paint, led by Carmon's 19, and also enjoyed advantages on second chance points (15-10) and off the bench (14-2).

The River Hawks also shot .526 for the game (30-57), including .567 in the second half (17-30), while Stonehill shot .365 (19-52). They also thrived from long range (8-16), led by three treys each from Valentine and Berry.

The Skyhawks, however, somewhat negated the advantages by converting 25 of 27 free. throw attempts and 10 of 18 shots from long range.

The River Hawks trailed 32-24 with 3:20 remaining in the first half, but closed the half with an 8-2 run to knot the score 34-34. Berry led the spurt with a pair of treys.

UMass Lowell continued the run in the second half and jumped out to a 47-40 lead with 14:26 to play behind a 13-6 run. Carmon led the spurt with six points.

Trailing 62-57, Stonehill bounced back with a 12-6 spurt to take a 69-68 edge with 3:20 left to play. Rousseau led the run with eight points.