Feb. 17, 2010

UMass Lowell hosts its final regular season home games against Bentley University tonight in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s and men’s basketball twin bill to be aired free of charge on www.northeast10.tv.

Watch Live
Women's Live Stats
Men's Live Stats

The women’s clash is slated for 5:30 while the men tipoff at 7:30. Long-time NE-10 basketball aficionado Steve Zerdelian will call the play-by-play while Ben Altscher will provide the color.

Prior to each game, UMass Lowell’s seniors will be honored in a brief ceremony at center court. Playing their final home regular season games will be Liz Desir (East Taunton, MA), Jen Valente (Prospect, CT), and Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) as well as Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA) and Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA).

The men will honor six seniors: Kevin Carr (Lancaster, OH), Craig Heatherly (Mishawaka, IN), Ali Kanaan (Montreal, QUE), Kingsley Onyechi (Lowell, MA), Terrel Randle (Concord, MA) and manager A.J. Reid (Peabody, MA).

The UMass Lowell women (15-8 overall, 11-8 in the NE-10) have won four of their last five games and sit in sixth place in the NE-10 behind Saint Rose (13-11, 12-7) and Stonehill (18-8, 13-6). The River Hawks look to solidify home court advantage for the first round of the NE-10 Tournament, and with a little help, possibly sneak into the top four to receive a bye into the quarterfinal.

Bentley (18-6, 16-3 NE-10) enters the game having won four straight games and 12 of its last 13 and currently sits in second place just ahead of Pace (18-6, 15-4) and behind Franklin Pierce (23-0, 19-0).

The Falcons won the first meeting this season: 79-59 in Waltham on Dec. 2.

On the men’s side, UMass Lowell (15-9, 12-7) currently sits in a tie for fourth place with Saint Anselm (16-8, 12-7) and Le Moyne (16-8, 12-7). With three games left, the River Hawks look to clinch a place in the top four to earn a first round bye and quarterfinal home game for the NE-10 Tournament.

Bentley (21-3, 16-3) is currently chasing Stonehill (20-4, 17-2) for the NE-10 regular season championship and enters tonight’s clash winner of two straight and 16 of its last 17 games.

The Falcons, ranked No. 10 in the latest NABC Division II Poll, won the first clash, 81-56, in Waltham on Dec. 2.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. Students with valid identification are admitted free of charge.