Feb. 3, 2010

Box Score

Freshman G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, CT) compiled 10 points, including the game-winning jumpshot with 1.6 seconds left, to lead UMass Lowell over Saint Michael’s College, 64-62, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The victory was the second straight for the River Hawks, who improved to 13-7 overall and 9-7 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s game against Stonehill (1:00). The victory was also the 399th career win for Head Coach Kathy O’Neil, a 1981 alumnae of Saint Michael’s.

With the loss, Saint Michael’s slipped to 7-12 overall and 5-11 in the Conference and hosts Bentley Saturday at 1:30.

The game also marked the second straight time UMass Lowell had five players score in double figures.

Simmons grabbed eight rebounds (four offensive) and dished out three assists while senior G Krissy Little (Concord, NH) scored a team-high 12 points on 6 of 8 field goal shooting.

Senior Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) also had 10 points in addition to seven rebounds while senior G Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Senior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) had 10 points and six assists.

The loss spoiled a stellar effort by senior F Michelle Otey (Southborough, MA), who led all scorers with 18 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7-10 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. Junior F Logan Pintka (Schenectady, NY) added 16 points and five rebounds while senior G Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, NJ) chipped in 13 points, hitting 5-10 field goals.

Simmons meshed a pair of free throws with 4:07 left to play to give the River Hawks a 62-58 lead, but the Purple Knights knotted the score behind a layup by Pintka and a jumper by Keller with 1:39 left to play. Following a Saint Michael’s turnover with 31 seconds left, the River Hawks ran the clock down to :02 when Simmons’ jumper from right of the free throw line inside the 3-point arc was on the mark.

Following a pair of timeouts, the Purple Knights were unable to launch an attempt by the horn.

UMass Lowell built a 52-44 lead with 10:47 left to play, but Saint Michael’s stormed back with a 12-4 spurt to knot the score at 56-56 with 7:16 left. Otey led the run with five points.

Turnovers were virtually even – Saint Michael’s 22, UMass Lowell 21 – but it was the River Hawks who benefitted, outscoring the Purple Knights off turnovers, 25-14.

UMass Lowell also had a 38-26 edge in the paint and 14-9 on second chances, the result of a 17-5 edge on offensive rebounds.