Jan. 9, 2010

Box Score

Sophomore Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, OH) scored 20 points – including 10 in a key second half run – to lift UMass Lowell over the University of New Haven, 74-61, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball tilt at the Costello Athletic Center.

The win halted a two-game slide for the River Hawks, who improved to 8-5 overall and 4-5 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s clash at Adelphi (5:30). New Haven slipped to 7-7 overall and 5-4 in the Conference and host Franklin Pierce Tuesday at 5:30.

Bushner also grabbed seven rebounds and shot 8 for 12 from the floor and 4-4 from the free throw line in 24 minutes. Senior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) added 15 points and six rebounds while shooting 5-8 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line.

Freshman C Briana Szidat (Pelham, NH) came off the bench to chip in a season-high eight points along with six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Freshman F Olivia DeMarco (Watervliet, NY) led the Chargers with 15 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-12 from the field, while senior G Helin Marte (Woodhaven, NY) chipped in 13 points (4-8 FGs), five rebounds and three assists.

Junior G Nicole Pollard (Swansea, MA) added 10 points and five assists.

UMass Lowell shot .517 in the second half (15-29) while New Haven struggled to a .355 clip (11-31).

Led by Szidat, UMass Lowell’s bench outscored New Haven’s, 28-13. The River Hawks also enjoyed a 44-22 scoring advantage in the paint and 14-4 off the fast break.

The score was knotted 29-29 at the half, but UMass Lowell opened with a 22-3 run to post a 51-32 cushion with 11:41 left to play. Bushner scored 10 of her points in the run, including six straight, while Szidat added a layup and a pair of free throws.

The Chargers cut the deficit to 15 (51-36) with 9:53 left to play behind a pair of free throws by freshman C Jill Baranger (Fairfield, CT), but UMass Lowell answered with seven straight points, capped by a trey from freshman G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) for a 58-36 lead with 7:29 remaining.