Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

Junior F Stacy Boisvert scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead American International College over UMass Lowell, 42-39, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at the Butova Gymnasium.

The loss was the third straight for UMass Lowell, which slipped to 8-17 overall and 5-15 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s regular season home finale against New Haven (2:00). AIC improved to 19-9 overall and 15-6 in the Conference.

The loss also dimmed the hope of a NE-10 Tournament bid for the River Hawks, who sit two games behind Merrimack (7-13 in the NE-10), a 78-70 winner over Saint Rose Wednesday night, for the final tournament bid.

UMass Lowell must win both of its remaining two games (Saturday against New Haven; Tuesday at Southern New Hampshire) to have a chance at the postseason.

Junior Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) led UMass Lowell with eight points while junior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) added seven points and three assists. Senior C Revital Carmon (Bat-Yam, Israel) grabbed 13 rebounds in addition to six points.

Sophomore G Laechia Conley added 12 points and five rebounds.

Both teams were off the mark from the field, UMass Lowell to the tune of .320 (16-50) and AIC .294 (15-51), particularly in the second half in which the River Hawks shot 5-21 and the Yellow Jackets 7-24.

AIC had a marginal lead from the free throw line, shooting 9-18 while UMass Lowell shot 5-7. The Yellow Jackets forced 23 turnovers while committing 15, but only posted a 12-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

AIC held a 37-35 lead with 7:22 left to play when junior G Jeanette Johnathan hit a jumper and Boisvert the second of two free throws for a 40-35 lead. The River Hawks were limited to one field goal over the final 4:12.

UMass Lowell led at the half, 27-23.