Jan. 10, 2009

Box Score

PLEASANTVILLE, NY - Sophomore G Courtney Keegan scored 15 points as Pace University defeated UMass Lowell, 68-54, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Goldstein Fitness Center.

With the loss, the River Hawks slipped to 6-8 overall (3-6 in the NE-10) and host Southern Connecticut Wednesday at 5:30. Pace improved to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Conference.

The loss spoiled another stellar effort by junior Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) who led UMass Lowell with 19 points and five rebounds while converting 8 of 11 field goals. Senior F Antonnea Robinson (West Haven, CT) added 14 points and four rebounds, shooting 5 of 9 from the floor.

Freshman F Brittany Shields added 13 points and seven rebounds, hitting 6 of 8 field goal attempts while postgraduate F Sheila McCollum and junior G Laura Mooney each chipped in 12 points. McCollum also grabbed eight rebounds and converted 6 of 9 field goals while Mooney shot 5 for 7, dished eight assists and snatched five rebounds.

The River Hawks shot .483 in the first half (14-29) but lost their touch in the second half, shooting .229 (8-35). Pace took advantage in the second stanza, shooting .500 (15-30), up from .406 in the first half (13-32).

The Setters also outscored UMass Lowell from 3-point range (21-3) and off turnovers (30-9) despite a mild difference (UML 19, Pace 15).

UMass Lowell led 32-30 at the break, but the Setters opened the second half with a 20-6 run to establish a 50-38 lead with 11:54 left in the game. Keegan scored seven of her points in the run while Shields scored six. The Setters never let UMass Lowell with eight points the rest of the way.

In the first half, UMass Lowell had the momentum and raced out to a 21-10 cushion with 9:02 left until the break with Valente scoring eight points in the run.

Trailing 31-24 with 1:22 in the half, Shields completed a conventional 3-point play and Mooney meshed a trey to bring the Setters within two, 32-30.