Jan. 29, 2011

Box Score | O'Neil: 'We have to regroup'

Sophomore F Keshia Primo (Mississauga, ONT) scored 11 points, including a late 3-point field goal, to lift Southern Connecticut over UMass Lowell, 42-38, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The loss was the fifth straight for the River Hawks, who slipped to 6-13 overall and 5-10 in the Conference entering Wednesday's game at Saint Michael's (5:30).

With the win, Southern Connecticut snapped a seven-game slide and improved to 7-13 overall and 3-12 in the NE-10. The Owls visit Le Moyne Wednesday (5:30).

Junior F Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) led UMass Lowell with 12 points and five rebounds while sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and three steals.

Primo converted 4 of 5 field goal attempts for Southern Connecticut while senior C Shelley Pierson (Watervliet, N.Y.) grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds in addition to nine points and two blocked shots.

Neither team shot particularly well, but the Owls did post a 15-6 advantage from the 3-point line and outscored the UMass Lowell bench 22-5.

UMass Lowell forced Southern Connecticut into 31 turnovers while committing 25, enabling for a 15-9 clip on points off mistakes.

"(Southern Connecticut) definitely came out and took it at us," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "Without question you can't take anything away from Southern Connecticut. I also think we did not do a good job taking care of the basketball and had some critical turnovers."

Leading 17-14 at the half, Southern Connecticut built a 28-18 advantage with 14:07 left to play, capped by an offensive rebound and layup by junior G Lauren Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.).

UMass Lowell found its touch, however, and went on a 16-5 run to snatch a 34-33 edge with 6:15 remaining. Bushner keyed the run with eight points, including a long range trey and a conventional 3-point play, while Simmons added four points.

With the score knotted 36-36 with 2:39 left to play, Allen buried a 3-point shot for a 39-36 lead. Despite a turnover, UMass Lowell regained possession and cut the deficit to 39-38 behind a layup by Simmons with 39 seconds left.

Primo, however, converted the back-breaking trey with 19 seconds left to play to secure the win.

Beginning with Wednesday's clash, UMass Lowell plays four of its next five away from home.

"We've got to regroup obviously. We need to take care of the basketball and focus on some of the little things and see if we can pick it up," O'Neil added. "Tonight's game was not a good game."