Jan. 8, 2011

Box Score

In its best offensive showing of the season, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team defeated the New Haven Chargers, 92-56, on Saturday afternoon in a conference clash in New Haven, Conn.

With the victory, UMass Lowell snapped a three-game skid and the River Hawks improve to 5-8 on the year with a 3-5 clip in Northeast-10 play. The Chargers fall to 2-11 overall and 1-8 in conference action.

The River Hawks were strong from the start, jumping to a 10-1 lead in the first 1:28 of the first half. After winning the initial jump and getting a quick layup from junior Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio), UMass Lowell never looked back.

They continued on in streaks, leading by 31 with just under 5:30 remaining in the first after sophomore Brianna Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) sank a pair of free throws. Their lead grew to as many as 32 points.

It looked as it the Chargers would close in to a 28-point deficit by halftime, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer from sophomore Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) brought the River Hawks back up by 31, as the score was 55-24 entering the break.

In the second, UMass Lowell grew its lead to as many as 36 (65-29) on a layup by Brianna Wilson, and despite the Chargers bringing it back within 30, UMass Lowell was able to hold onto its decisive lead through the rest of the game, to the eventual 46-point victory.

"I thought we played decent in the first half," said Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "In addition to the offense, I think our defense did a good job today."

Simmons finished the afternoon with a game-best 24 points and nine rebounds. She also grabbed two steals and dished seven assists. Bushner was just shy of a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds in the game, grabbing four steals and a pair of assists, as well.

Sophomore Brianna Wilson also came close to a double-double with 17 points and eight boards, while classmate Sarah Bennett (Newark, Ohio) had nine points and five rebounds in the game.

New Haven was led by a pair of 13-point performances by Lauren Boivin and Audrey Cunningham, while Boivin also had a team-best seven rebounds.

UMass Lowell shot 55.5% in the first half, including 61.5% from behind the arc, sinking eight three-pointers in the first frame alone. They finished the game shooting 45.3% and held New Haven to 34.0%, including a 29.6% mark in the second stanza.

The River Hawks forced 28 Charger miscues and outscored New Haven 41-11 off turnovers. They also owned the 50-18 advantage in the paint.

Next up, the River Hawks will take on the Adelphi Panthers for a Northeast-10 tilt at 5:30 on Wednesday evening at Costello Athletic Center.