Jan. 11, 2012

Box Score

Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) compiled 23 points, five rebounds and four assists as UMass Lowell defeated Adelphi University, 75-68, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Center for recreation and Sport.

The victory halted a four-game losing streak for UMass Lowell, which improved to 5-9 overall and 4-6 in the NE-10 and host three straight games: Saturday against Pace (2:00); a non-conference clash Monday against Mercy (3:00); and Tuesday vs. Le Moyne (5:30).

Adelphi, which had won four of its last five games entering the game, slipped to 6-8 overall and 4-6 in the Conference.

Sophomore G Danielle DePierro (Tewksbury, Mass.) added 17 points and five rebounds as she converted 5 of 9 attempts from 3-point range. Junior G Brianna Calver (Shelby, Ohio) chipped in a season-high 14 points (4-8 FG shooting).

The River Hawks also got solid efforts from senior Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio), who chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and three steals while junior Brianna Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) came off the bench to score nine points and grab seven rebounds.

"We needed it and we earned it," said head coach Sarah Behn. "The kids worked really hard tonight. In the first half we were relying too much on the 3-pointer on offense. We went to a box and one on (freshman G Kelly Mannix) in the second half and it proved to be effective. They listened to the adjustments and followed the game plan to a `t'."

Sophomore F Jessica Kitrys led Adelphi with 15 points and six rebounds while sophomore G Sade Jackson added 13 points and six assists. Freshman G Kelly Mannix chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds while senior G Amanda Campusano had 12 points and seven rebounds.

"Bri Calver did a great job," Behn added. "She was on (Mannix) the whole second half and didn't let her score. Our zone was very active too. They've got some speed and everyone did a great job ion defense."

UMass Lowell struggled to a .325 field goal shooting clip (13-40) in the first half but found the mark in the second half, shooting .533 (16-30). Adelphi had the hot hand in the first half, shooting .519 (14-27), but lost its touch in the second (10-33, .303).

Adelphi led 41-33 shortly into the second half, but UMass Lowell used a 10-2 run to knot the score, 43-43 with 13:34 left to play. Wilson led the run with five points.

Trailing 56-54 with 8:02 left, the River Hawks used a decisive 15-3 run to grab a 69-59 cushion with 2:58 left to play. DePierro converted a pair of treys in the run while Simmons added four points.

Adelphi got as close as four (72-68) but a layup by Simmons and a free throw by DePierro down the stretch kept the Panthers at bay.

Adelphi led at the break, 39-31.