Jan. 19, 2010

Box Score

Freshman G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) compiled season-highs of 28 points, 12 rebounds and four assists to lead UMass Lowell over Le Moyne, 73-64, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The victory was the fourth straight for the River Hawks, who improved to 11-5 overall and 7-5 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s clash at Saint Rose (1:30). Le Moyne slipped to 6-11 overall and 3-9 in the Conference entering Saturday’s home clash against Bentley.

The win was also the 397th of Head Coach Kathy O’Neil’s career.

Simmons meshed 7 of 13 field goal attempts, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and converted 11 of 13 free throws. She also dished four assists in 36 minutes.

Sophomore F Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, OH) added 16 points and eight rebounds, hitting 8 of 12 field goals, while senior G Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA) chipped in 12 points.

Senior G Muffy Sadler (Cedar Rapids, IA) led the Dolphins with 15 points and six assists while junior G Ashley McFarlan (North Babylon, NY) added 13 points and four rebounds.

UMass Lowell grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, opposed to six by Le Moyne, which enabled for a 20-6 advantage in second chance points. The River Hawks also forced Le Moyne into 22 turnovers (while committing 17) and outscored Le Moyne 22-15 off turnovers.

With the score knotted at 46-46 with 12:24 to play, UMass Lowell went on a 13-2 run – fueled by eight points from Bushner and five from Simmons – to post a 59-48 lead with 5:14 left to play.