Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score

Junior G Megan Berry (Ipswich, MA) scored 16 points as UMass Lowell defeated Merrimack, 81-69, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at the Volpe Gymnasium.

The victory halted a six-game losing streak for UMass Lowell, which improved to 8-14 overall and 5-12 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s home clash against Stonehill (5:30). Merrimack slipped to 7-15 overall and 6-11 in the Conference.

Berry converted 6 of 8 field goals, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and scored 11 of her points in the pivotal second half. Senior F Antonnea Robinson (West Haven, CT) added 14 points on 6-10 field goal shooting while junior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The loss spoiled a stellar effort by senior G Amanda Shannon, who led Merrimack with 28 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Freshman G Gennifer Roy added 13 points while freshman F Hannah DeGraffinreed grabbed 13 rebounds in addition to 10 points.

UMass Lowell shot .509 for the game (27-53), including .567 in the second half (17-30) while Merrimack shot .417 for the game (25-60) and .407 in the latter half (11-27).

UMass Lowell overcame a 40-26 lead at the half and opened the second half with a 27-8 run to take a 53-48 edge midway through the half. Four players scored six points in the run, including Robinson, senior F Bridgette Hooker (Belmont, NH), freshman F Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, OH) and Berry, who capped the surge with consecutive 3-point shots.

The River Hawks held a 68-65 lead with 1:58 left to play and finished the game with a 13-4 spurt. The Warriors were forced to foul and UMass Lowell responded, converting 13 of 15 free throws in the final 1:58, including six apiece by Valentine and sophomore G Tamaria Menefee (Dorchester, MA).

UMass Lowell outscored Merrimack 55-29 in the second half and also enjoyed advantages in the paint (42-16) and off the bench (26-10).

The Warriors outscored UMass Lowell from 3-point range, 30-18, but the River Hawks compensated by shooting 21-28 from the free throw line, opposed to Merrimack’s 9-10 shooting.

In the first half, Merrimack led 25-23 with 3:41 left until the break and ended the half with a 15-3 run fueled by two treys each from Roy and Shannon.