Nov. 7, 2009

Box Score

Junior G Megan Shoniker compiled 20 points, six rebounds and four assists as the University of Rhode Island defeated UMass Lowell, 64-52, Saturday afternoon in a women’s basketball exhibition game at the Keaney Center.

UMass Lowell opens the season Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Saint Michael’s (5:30) and hosts the Valley Cup Classic Nov. 21 and 22 against Caldwell College and Bloomfield.

Sophomore G Meghan Kirwan (Melrose, MA) led UMass Lowell with 13 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes while senior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.

Sophomore G Sherrie Session scored 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Rams while senior G Lindsay Harris also grabbed 10 rebounds in addition to four points.

The Rams were buoyed by 8 for 19 shooting from long range while UMass Lowell struggled to a 5 for 23 clip.

URI led 41-25 at the break and built its lead to 20 (45-25) in the early minutes of the second half. UMass Lowell, however, found its touch and scored 12 straight points – including consecutive layups by freshman C Sarah Bennett (Newark, OH) – to cut the lead to 45-37 with 12:02.

The Rams went up 50-37 on a layup and a trey by Session, but the River Hawks responded with an 11-3 spurt to cut the lead to five (53-48) with 6:07 to play. Senior G Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA), who played three years at URI (2005-08), led the run with a pair of treys while Valente connected on one.

URI scored seven straight points – five by Shoniker – to keep UMass Lowell at bay the rest of the game.