Box Score

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Despite a game-high 23 points scored from junior G Shannon Samuels (Windsor, Conn.), UMass Lowell could not complete the comeback in a 75-68 setback to the University of New Hampshire in an America East conference clash Sunday afternoon at the Tsongas Center.
 
New Hampshire improves its overall record to 11-8 overall and 5-1 in conference play.  UMass Lowell falls to 2-17 overall and 1-7 in the America East.
 
The Wildcats opened the first half in scoring when Kelsey Hogan nailed down a trey on a dish from Elizabeth Belanger at 19:25 and never relinquished the lead.  The River Hawks scored their first basket on a short jumper in the paint from sophomore F Lindsey Doucette (Hopkington, Mass.) at 18:25. 
 
New Hampshire increased its lead to 16-10 in the half on another three, this time from Kristen Anderson at 11:46.  UMass Lowell climbed back with back-to-back lay-ups from freshman G Brittany Lomanno (Billerica, Mass.) and Samuels to cut the lead to 16-14 with 9:56 to play.
 
New Hampshire responded later in the half with an 8-2 run that increased its lead to 15 (37-22) with 1:22 remaining on the clock.  Doucette scored her second basket of the game and junior G Jasmine McRoy (Gaithersburg, Md.) converted one of two free throws to close out the scoring for the half.  New Hampshire headed to the locker room with a 37-25 advantage.
 
The River Hawks began to chip away with a 9-2 run to start the second half, beginning with three unanswered layups from Samuels and Doucette to bring the score to 39-36 in favor of the Wildcats at 17:16.
 
New Hampshire regrouped its offense and responded with an 8-0 spurt that ended with a layup from Kendall Martenet at 11:53 and increased its advantage to 47-36.
 
The River Hawks kept the game within reach and were within one point (65-64) of the Wildcats following a layup from Doucette with 1:10 left to play in regulation.  New Hampshire held on and closed out the game with a 10-4 run.  UMass Lowell outscored the Wildcats, 43-38, in the half.
 
New Hampshire finished the game shooting 23-58 (.397) from field goal range and converted 25-28 at the line.  UMass Lowell shot 25-67 (.373) from the field and was 15-22 at the line.  The Wildcats won out on the glass with a 53-31 rebounding advantage.
 
Anderson matched Samuels' point total with 23 points, converting 7-of-12 from the field, and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to lead New Hampshire.  Elizabeth Belanger added 18 while Corinne Coia and Kelsey Hogan each added 12 points for the Wildcats.
 
Doucette finished the game with 18 points and led the River Hawks with seven rebounds while McRoy added 16 points and six rebounds.  Lomanno scored seven points and dished out a game-high nine assists.

UMass Lowell returns to action with a road contest at Binghamton University on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.