Box Score

Senior G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as UMass Lowell defeated Southern Connecticut, 77-74, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The win was the fourth straight for UMass Lowell, which improved to 9-4 overall and 6-3 in the NE-10, inching to a tie for fourth place. The River Hawks host Adelphi Tuesday at 5:30.

Southern Connecticut slipped to 4-8 overall and 1-8 in the Conference.

Simmons also had five steals and two assists while senior G Ashley Rivera (Lowell, Mass.) added 13 points and sophomore F Demetria Bell (Braintree, Mass.) 11 points on 4 of 6 field goal shooting.

The River Hawks also received eight points and six rebounds from freshman C Lindsey Doucette (Hopkinton, Mass.), who hit all three field goals and a pair of treys in 20 minutes.

Freshman F Jackie Beathea led Southern Connecticut with 18 points, 16 rebounds and three steals while senior G Camille Fantini added 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophomore G Mariah Hankton chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and three steals.

Southern Connecticut committed 30 turnovers to UMass Lowell's 23, resulting in the River Hawks' 25-18 scoring edge off turnovers. Led by Doucette, UMass Lowell's bench also outscored Southern Connecticut's, 21-14.

The advantages were significant, considering the Owls outrebounded UMass Lowell, 61-36 overall and 31-10 offensively. Southern Connecticut made the most of it, outscoring UMass Lowell 29-6 on second chances.

UMass Lowell led 53-49 midway through the second half and embarked on a 14-3 run to post a 67-52 cushion with 6:13 to play. Simmons led the run with eight points.

The River Hawks led 75-59 with 2:41 left to play, but the Owls used a 15-2 spurt to close the game, yet fell short. Fantini and Hankton led the run with six and four points, respectively.