Feb. 8, 2011

Box Score | O'Neil: 'We executed well offensively'

Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Ct.) compiled 21 point, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals as UMass Lowell defeated Southern New Hampshire University, 92-87, in overtime Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The win was the second straight for the River Hawks, who improved to 8-14 overall and 7-11 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's game at Merrimack (1:00).

Southern New Hampshire suffered its fourth straight loss and slipped to 10-12 overall and 8-10 in the Conference. The Penmen visit Bentley Saturday at 1:30.

Senior G Krissy Little (Concord, N.H.) scored a season-high 17 points - including eight in overtime - on 6 of 9 field goal shooting as well as 2-3 from long range and 3-4 from the free throw line.

"I thought (Bianca) did a great job for us," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "She played a lot of minutes and she's not feeling too well. I was thrilled for Krissy. She's a senior and this is what she has left, so it was nice to see her step up."

Sophomore C Briana Szidat (Pelham, N.H.) added 13 points (4-5 FGs), four rebounds and three blocked shots before drawing her fifth foul with 4:57 left in regulation. Sophomore G Erika Sjoberg (Stockholm, Sweden) chipped in a season-high 11 points. while junior F Sha'Nay (Akron, Ohio) had 10 points (6-6 FTs), seven rebounds and four assists.

The loss spoiled a stellar effort by graduate F Julia Houghtaling (Franconia, N.H.), who compiled a career-high 33 points and eight rebounds while converting 14-25 field goal attempts. Sophomore F Sloane Sorrell (Berwick, Maine) added 21 points and five rebounds, hitting 8-11 field goals and 5-5 free throws.

"We struggled a little bit trying to stop (Houghtaling)," said O'Neil. "Southern New Hampshire did a great job coming back. To their credit they attacked us and got some baskets and we didn't defend the way we needed to. But we hung in there and we battled and it was nice to see that."

UMass Lowell received a significant lift from its bench, outscoring Southern New Hampshire, 25-13, led by Sjoberg as well as a season-high nine points from freshman F Dominique Pagan (Bronx, N.Y.), who meshed 4-6 field goals and grabbed three rebounds.

The River Hawks also had slight edges from 3-point range (21-12) and the free throw line (21-17).

UMass Lowell led 65-57 with 5:59 left in regulation, but SNHU scored seven straight points - a conventional 3-point play and two free throws from Sorrell - to pull within one (65-64) with 4:10 remaining.

The River Hawks held a 73-72 lead with 35 seconds remaining, but Houghtaling converted a layup and senior G Magdala Johnson (Sandown, N.H.) hit the second of two free throws to give SNHU a 75-73 lead with eight seconds left.

Off the in-bound, Simmons broke through a pair of defenders and hit an uncontested layup with a second left to force overtime.

In overtime, UMass Lowell led 85-83 with a minute remaining, but Simmons hit a layup and Little converted a pair of free throws for an 89-83 cushion with 32 seconds left. The River Hawks converted 3 of 4 free throws in the final 11 seconds - two by Sjoberg and one from Pagan - to seal the win.