Jan. 22, 2011

Box Score | O'Neil: 'We've got to stay out of foul trouble'

Junior G Ola Shajuyigbe (Albany, N.Y.) scored 13 points - including 3-point shots to force overtime and to win the game - to lead the College of Saint Rose over UMass Lowell, 72-71, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The loss was the third straight for the River Hawks, who slipped to 6-11 overall and 5-8 in the Conference entering Tuesday's game at Pace (5:30). Saint Rose improved to 13-4 overall and 9-4 in the NE-10 and hosts No. 18 Bentley next Wednesday (5:30).

"We played hard and had our opportunities," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "We've got to stay out of foul trouble. I think defensively we're a good team if we don't foul, and we're learning that."

Both junior F Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) drew her fourth foul with 8:36 remaining while sophomore Sarah Bennett (Newark, Ohio) was limited to only 19 minutes due to foul trouble.

Bushner, however, made the most of her 38 minutes with game-highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds - her third double-double in her last four games - while converting 8 of 15 field goal attempts and all five free throws. Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) added 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

"Sha'Nay played terrific," O'Neil said. "She's been playing better and better and practicing hard. She brings a lot of energy when she plays like that. She is a factor defensively, she's a factor offensively."

Junior G Ashley Rath (Victor, N.Y.) led Saint Rose with 18 points as she meshed 5 of 10 attempts from 3-point range. Senior G Lynsey Timbrouck (Kingston, N.Y.) added 12 points, 12 assists and six rebounds while shooting 4-7 from the field.

Junior F Ali Johnson (Falls Church, Va.) chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Golden Knights outscored UMass Lowell from 3-point range 27-12 and the free throw line 15-9. The advantages nullified the River Hawks' leads on offensive rebounds (16-9, resulting in an 11-6 edge in second chance points) as well as points in the paint (46-22).

UMass Lowell led 63-59 with 3:03 left to play when Bennett converted a layup. Rath, however, cut the lead to one with a 3-pointer with 1:43 left to play, but senior G Krissy Little (Concord, N.H.) put the River Hawks ahead 65-62 with 1:19 left on a layup.

UMass Lowell had a chance to extend its lead but a turnover led to Shajuyigbe's game-tying 3-point shot with 47 seconds left to play. Both teams held possession in the final minute of regulation, only to commit turnovers to force overtime.

"Saint Rose is a very experienced team of seniors and juniors," said O'Neil. "They stay with it, which we knew."

In overtime, UMass Lowell went ahead twice, only for Saint Rose to knot the score both times. The River Hawks took a 71-69 lead on a layup by Simmons with 29 seconds remaining, but Shajuyigbe meshed the game-winning trey with 17 seconds left.

UMass Lowell had a chance to win it at the horn, but Simmons' attempt was off the mark.

UMass Lowell led 29-26 at the half.