Jan. 29, 2009

Box Score

Junior G Casey Miller (Fairbanks, AK) scored 19 points as Merrimack College defeated UMass Lowell, 68-55, Thursday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The loss was the fourth straight for the River Hawks, who slipped to 7-12 overall and 4-10 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's home clash against Southern New Hampshire (2:00). Merrimack halted a three-game slide to improve to 6-13 overall and 5-9 in the Conference and visits Bentley Saturday at 1:30.

The loss spoiled a stellar night for junior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) who led UMass Lowell with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists while shooting 6 of 11 from the floor. Junior G Megan Berry (Ipswich, MA) chipped in nine points and four assists.

Senior G Amanda Shannon (North Andover, MA) registered 15 points for the Warriors, converting 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range. Freshman G Gennifer Roy (Granby, MA) added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists while sophomore G Tiffany Colon (Lawrence, MA) chipped in 10 points.

UMass Lowell committed 22 turnovers (opposed to the Warriors' 17), enabling Merrimack to outscore the River Hawks 30-5 off mistakes. Merrimack also had the touch from long range, hitting 12 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc while the River Hawks meshed 8 of 25.

The Warriors led at the break, 38-26, but UMass Lowell came out with a 12-4 run to close the gap to 42-38 with 14:44 left to play. Berry and sophomore G Tamaria Menefee (Dorchester, MA) each converted 3-point shots to spark the rally.

Merrimack, however, used a 7-1 spurt, to build a 49-39 cushion with 12:39 remaining. The River Hawks closed the deficit to seven points on three occasions, but were unable to muster any closer.

In the first half, Merrimack raced to a 22-8 lead - led by Roy's seven points - but the River Hawks found their touch and cut the deficit to 28-23 with 3:39 left to play. Valentine led the run with a 3-pointer and a conventional 3-point play.