November 24, vs. Bryant (6 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team hosts the Bryant Bulldogs, as part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team, at 6 p.m. on November 24.

Looking at the River Hawks
UMass Lowell came out of gates to take an 8-4 lead, but the Columbia Lions battled back to earn a 67-57 win on November 20. Kayla Gibbs (Albany, N.Y.) scored a career-high 23 points, and recorded her first career double-double with 10 rebounds. Gibbs leads the team with 15.7 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game with a 65.6 FG%. Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) is second with 12.7 ppg, and is dishing out 3.0 assists per game. On the defensive side of the ball, Lindsey Doucette (Hopkinton, Mass.) has three blocks and Hayner has nine blockers. As a unit, UMass Lowell is shooting 62-of-186 (33.3 %) from the field and 23.5 percent (12-51) from three-point range.

Scouting Bryant
The Bulldogs are 1-2 after defeating Vermont, 68-52, their last time out on Nov. 21. Three Bryant players are scoring double figures this season, Ivory Bailey (17.0 ppg), Breanna Rucker (13.0 ppg) and Tiersa Winder (10.0 ppg). Rucker is also grabbing 11.7 rebounds per game for the double-double, and leads the team with six steals. As a team, the Bulldogs 33.9 percent (62-183) from the field and 19-of-67 (28.4%) from three-point range.

Head Coach Jenerrie Harris on Bryant
"Bryant is a good team, who is coming off a 20-win season and being picked second in the Northeast Conference preseason poll. The Bulldogs have a bunch of starters returning with five players on the court at all times who are offensive threats. They like to use the transition and are a good solid team, and outside of Maryland will be the best team we have seen so far. It's going to be a tough game for us, but we'll up to the challenge."

Series History
Bryant holds a 20-12 advantage in the all-time series. In the teams' last meeting on Dec. 10, the River Hawks won a thrilling 86-85 comeback decision, after Shannon Samuels hit two free throws with 9 seconds left to tie and take the lead. UMass Lowell was down 52-40 at halftime, and trailed 66-58 with 12:31 remaining before going on a 9-0 run for their first lead of the night. Samuels scored a game-high 31 and Jasmine McRoy added 23 points.

Stealing Second
After finishing last season at the top of America East with 10.3 steals per game, the River Hawks are currently second with 10.0 per game. The squad is led by Nicole Hayner's 3.5 steals per game, and nine overall.

Double Trouble
Since the programs began Division I play, the women's basketball team is 4-4 in games played  as part of a double header with the men's team, including 3-3 last season. Following this twin bill, the teams will play in two more doubleheaders, with one at the Tsongas and one at Binghamton.

Home Sweet Home
In the friendly confines of either the Costello Athletic Center or the Tsongas Center, the River Hawks were 10-6 last season, including a 6-2 mark in non-conference play.

Time To Bounce Back
Last season, Coach Harris' squad showed resilience and only suffered two losing streaks of more than two games. Outside those skids, the River Hawks were 6-0 after a single loss. The squad was also 1-1 after three consecutive losses.

Controlling the Boards
Last game, Melissa Frase (Tamworth, N.H.) grabbed two rebounds to reach 101 in her  career. She joined Lindsey Doucette (593), Kayla Gibbs (130) and Lauren Parra (107) as the only active players with over 100 career rebounds.

Notables
Freshmen Nazarae Butler (Columbus, Ohio) and Katherine Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.) made their collegiate debuts against No. 6 Maryland …