Dec. 4, 2010

Box Score

Sophomore F Sarah Bennett (Newark, Ohio) compiled 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead UMass Lowell over Saint Anselm College, 55-53, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.

 

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s clash at No. 14 Franklin Pierce (5:30), Saint Anselm slipped to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the Conference.

Bennett converted 7 of 11 field goals and grabbed four offensive rebounds while sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) added 16 points – including five points in the pivotal final 1:19 – along with seven assists and five rebounds.

Junior F Sha’Nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) chipped in 12 points and three rebounds.

“We played with intensity,” said UML Head Coach Kathy O’Neil. “Sarah and Bianca came up strong for us. Everyone contributed. It was a good effort.”

Junior G Epiphany Smith led the Hawks with 17 points.

Led by Bennett, UMass Lowell had its way in the paint, evidenced by a 34-14 scoring advantage. Additionally, the River Hawks outrebounded Saint Anselm 45-36 overall and 18-10 on the offensive glass.

Saint Anselm led 53-50 behind a 3-point shot by senior G Jennifer Gureckis with 2:00 to play. After missed field goals by both teams, Simmons meshed a pair of free throws to pull within one (53-52) with 1:19 to play.

After a UMass Lowell timeout, Simmons converted a conventional 3-point play with five seconds left to seal the win.

In the first half, UMass Lowell opened with a 20-6 run, led by eight points from Bennett. The Hawks, however, found their touch and battled back with a 20-6 run of their own behind a pair of treys from Gureckis and six points from junior F Megan Howard to knot the score at 26-26 with 1:21 left in the half.

UMass Lowell led at the break, 29-26.