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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell (2-7) women's basketball team used a big first quarter run to build a 17-point lead and held on to defeat the Holy Cross Crusaders (2-7), 75-67, on Wednesday night.

"What an exciting game to be a part of and come out the other side with a win," said Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. "We've had a slew of exciting games lately, specifically the FIU and Rhode Island games, and the first quarter of the Miami game. It was nice to be able to come out and play a good team with good basketball and see these ladies perform at a high level."

Asia Mitchell-Owens (Roxbury, Mass.) scored a career-high 22 points and added seven rebounds, also a career-best. She added five assists and hit a trio of three-pointers, her nine made free throws were a career-high as well. Lindsey Doucette (Hopkinton, Mass.) recorded her third double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 boards.

After Holy Cross tied the game at 4-4, the River Hawks used a 14-0 run over a 4:15 span to take an 18-4 lead before the Crusaders could get back on the scoreboard.

During the run, Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) scored seven points, including a traditional three-point play, and Doucette added five points. UMass Lowell's defense also caused four turnovers to help facilitate the offense. Mitchell-Owens drained a three to extend the lead to 23-6 with under two minutes remaining in the first. The River Hawks took a 23-8 lead into the second quarter, setting a season-high for most points in the first period.

To begin the second quarter, Holy Cross used a 15-6 run to climb back within 29-23 with 4:21 on the clock until halftime. The River Hawks responded with seven of the next nine to reopen a 36-25 lead. Mitchell-Owens scored five consecutive points, including her second three, to spearhead the attack. Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) dropped a layup in with 15 seconds remaining in the half to give the hosts a 38-29 advantage at the half.

UMass Lowell shot 63 percent (17-27) from the field in the first half to tie its season-high with 38 points in the first 20 minutes. The Crusaders went 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from the field and 0-of-6 from long range in the half.

Doucette led the way at the break with 11 points and six rebounds, and Molly Hourigan scored eight for Holy Cross.

Mitchell-Owens dropped in a traditional three-point play to give UMass Lowell back a double-digit lead at 43-31 minutes into the second half. Melissa Frase (Tamworth, N.H.) drilled her 100th career long ball with 6:03 remaining in the third to extend the lead to 46-35.

Holy Cross' defense kept the River Hawks in check, only allowing five points over the last six minutes of quarter, and cut the deficit to two points at 48-46 with 15 seconds on the clock. Doucette knocked down a three at the buzzer to give her team a little breathing room heading into the fourth with a 51-46 lead.

A three ball from Infiniti Thomas-Waheed brought the visitors within four, 55-49, with 8:20 left in regulation, but that was the closest they could get. The River Hawks built an 11 point lead with 2:13 remaining to close the door.

Frase scored eight second-half points to finish with 10, and Gibbs tallied nine and one block. For the fifth consecutive game, the River Hawks outrebounded their opponent, grabbing 38 to Holy Cross' 30. The team also set a season-high shooting 50 percent (27-54) from the field.

The Crusaders were led by Lisa Mifsud's 17 points, while Katie Doherty chipped in 16. Hourigan recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards, while Thomas-Waheed finished with 11.

 UMass Lowell returns to action with a road contest against Fairleigh Dickinson on December 18 at 5:30 p.m.