Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell (3-13, 0-4) women's basketball team suffered its sixth straight loss, falling 68-44 to the UMBC Retrievers on Saturday afternoon.

"Despite the score, I was very proud of the girls' enthusiasm and fight," said Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. "Mel did a great job of leading the charge and keeping everyone focused and playing with the fire I wanted to see. I was pleased with the effort of our bench, scoring 23 points, led by Nicole and Katherine Smith. We just have to shrug this one off and move on to Vermont on Monday."

The Retrievers opened the game on a 12-3 run, and with 1:41 on the clock in the first quarter Nicole Riddick (Albany, N.Y.) converted a traditional three-point play to bring the River Hawks within 12-6. Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) then connected on a corner three as UMass Lowell cut the deficit to 14-9 with 45 clicks remaining. UMBC's Capree Garner netted the last points of the period as the guests entered the second quarter with a 16-9 advantage.

Late in the the first half the River Hawks went on a 5-0 spurt to close the gap to 31-21 with 43 seconds until halftime. Asia Mitchell-Owens (Roxbury, Mass.) recorded her first three of the afternoon and Katherine Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.) added a pair of free throws. Smith scored her fifth point in 27 seconds, draining a three with 16 seconds left. Garner ended the half with a buzzer-beating three of her own, giving the Retrievers a 35-24 lead at the intermission.

UMBC outscored UMass Lowell, 19-8, in the third quarter to open up a 54-32 advantage heading into the final period. Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) recorded her 10th rebound in the the frame.

In the fourth quarter of her 100th career appearance, Lindsey Doucette (Hopkinton, Mass.) extended her double-digit streak to 12 consecutive games. The senior finished the afternoon with a team-high 10 points and eight rebounds. Gibbs and Riddick added eight points apiece, and Gibbs' 11 boards were a team-high.

Garner dropped 22 points for the Retrievers, while Taylor McCarley added 17 and Pandora Wilson scored 14 points. McCarley added a game-high eight assists and steals.

UMass Lowell takes on the Vermont Catamounts at 1 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Costello.