Box Score
Senior G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) compiled 32 points while junior G Danielle DePierro (Tewksbury, Mass.) added 17 as UMass Lowell defeated Southern New Hampshire University, 96-82, Sunday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball game at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday's clash at American International (5:30).

Southern New Hampshire slipped to 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Conference and visits Le Moyne Wednesday (5:30).

Simmons' output marked her second 30-point effort during the week. On Wednesday, she compiled a career-high 38 points in an 84-76 victory at Palm Beach Atlantic.

Simmons converted 13 of 22 field goals (.590), 2-4 from 3-point range and all four free throws. She also had three rebounds, three assists and three steals. DePierro converted 7-10 field goal attempts, including 2-3 from long range.

Senior G Ashley Rivera (Lowell, Mass.) chipped in 12 points, hitting 6-10 field goal attempts.

“We had three players in double figures, and we haven't had that a whole lot this season,” said head coach Sarah Behn. “Many, many other people, including our bigs, contributed. Ashley made some very poised key jumpshots in either half, and Danielle went off today.”

Senior G Michelle DeRoma led Southern New Hampshire with 23 points as she hit 8-13 field goals while senior F Sloane Sorrell added 12 points and five rebounds. Junior F Victoria Wiseman chipped in 11 points.

Turnovers were nearly even – UMass Lowell with 20 and SNHU with 23 – but it was the River Hawks who capitalized, outscoring the Penmen 29-19 off miscues. Led by DePierro, the UMass Lowell reserves outscored those of SNHU, 42-20.

The River Hawks shot .521 for the game (38-73) while SNHU converted at a .456 clip (26-57). UMass Lowell shot .556 (20-36) in the first half while the Penmen struggled to a .353 clip (12-34).

SNHU was much improved in the second half (.609, 14-23) compared to UMass Lowell's .486 (18-37).
UMass Lowell used a pair of runs in the first half to jump out to a 53-38 lead at the break. Leading 16-14 about eight minutes in, the River Hawks used a 12-5 spurt – fueled by 3-point baskets by junior G Lauren Fiola (Fall River, Mass.) and DePierro – to grab a 28-19 lead.

UMass Lowell had a 40-31 cushion with 4:04 left in the half and went on a 10-1 run to post a 50-32 cushion right before the break. Simmons hit a layup, jumper and a pair of free throws to lead the surge.

Southern New Hampshire cut the lead to 10 (70-60) midway through the second half on a layup by Sorrell, but could get no closer.

“I think things are coming together,” Behn added. “We can still tighten up our defense and we need to cut down on our fouling. We need to clean that up right away. We can tighten up our fouls with better defense.”