Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team was setback in their home-opener against Rhode Island Wednesday night, 75-66, at Costello Athletic Center.
 
Jenerrie Harris made her home debut as the head coach of the River Hawks (0-2) in front of 411 in attendance. The team got off to a quick start with junior forward Lindsey Doucette (Hopkinton, Mass.) winning the opening tip, leading to an elbow jumper by Jasmine McRoy (Gaithersburg, Md.)
 
Sophomore guard Asia Mitchell-Owens (Roxbury, Mass.) was perfect from field, connecting on all five of her three pointers and finishing with 15 points.
 
Freshman Brianna Rudolph (Lynn, Mass.) made her first career start and logged six points.
 
Mitchell-Owens nailed a triple, expanding the River Hawks lead to 31-20, but the Rams would respond with a 14-3 run to knot the game at 34 going into the half.
 
After a block by Lauren Parra (Islip, N.Y.), Samuels weaved her way through the URI defense and converted a tough layup in traffic to make it a 63-60 contest. On the ensuing possession McRoy drew a charge on Samantha Tabakman.
 
Mitchell-Owens hit back-to-back triples to shave the Rams' lead to a single point with just under a minute to play, but the Rams Symone Bullard made a layup and drew the foul to push the Ram lead to 69-66, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
 
The River Hawks will continue their four-game homestand on Saturday with a matchup against Central Connecticut State at 2 p.m.