Nov. 21, 2009

 

Box Score

 

 

 

Freshman Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished three assists as UMass Lowell defeated Caldwell College, 54-48, Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Valley Cup Classic Women's Basketball Tournament at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 1-1 entering Sunday's clash against Bloomfield College (3:00). Caldwell slipped to 1-1 and meets Bentley Sunday at 1:00.

In the earlier matchup, Bentley defeated Bloomfield, 70-55.

Simmons scored 12 of her points in the second half while senior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) added 12 points - all in the second half - eight rebounds and three assists. Freshman C Sarah Bennett (Newark, OH) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds in addition to six points.

Junior G Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) led the Cougars with 18 points while freshman G Torey Jones (Providence, RI) added 12 points, hitting 5 of 10 field goals. Freshman C Gillian Felix (Mahopac, NY) chipped in 10 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds and blocked two shots.

"We competed today," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "It was good to come out on top in a close game."

Behind Simmons, the UMass Lowell reserves outscored those of Caldwell, 34-5. Also chipping in off the bench was freshman G Brianna Calver (Shelby, OH) and senior Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA) who had six points apiece.

UMass Lowell trailed 39-36 with 8:26 left to play and scored 10 straight points to forge a 46-39 lead with 4:59 remaining. Simmons, Valente and McGrew each scored three points in the run.

The Cougars came within three points on two occasions the rest of the way, including on a runner by Leedham with 33 seconds left, but Calver hit one of two free throws with 14 seconds left and Simmons followed with two more with one second left to preserve the win.