November 17 vs. Fairfield (7 p.m.)
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Game Notes

November 20 vs. Longwood (2 p.m.) - Tsongas Center
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Game Notes
Twitter: @RiverHawkWBB @RiverHawkNation

LOWELL, Mass. -- After opening the 2016-17 campaign on the road, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team returns home for two games, entertaining the Fairfield Stags and the Longwood Lancers. The matchup against the Lancers will be the first tilt of the new year to take place at the Tsongas Center.

Last Time Out
Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) led the team with 17 points at No. 6 Maryland, scoring 15 second-half points in the 100-44 setback. Katherine Smith (Canterbury, Ind.) added six points and four rebounds, and Kiana Batagelj (Hamilton, Ontario) hit her first two River Hawk career three-pointers to finish with six points, as well. Freshman Shawnkia McCallum (Perry Hall, Md.) grabbed a team-high seven boards. 

Leading the Flock
Through two games, Hayner leads the offense with 11.0 points per game, while Hendrick adds 10.0 in support. Smith has chipped in 7.0 ppg and has recorded team-highs with seven total assists and 6.5 rebounds per game. Around the rim, Tyshay Britten (Norrristown, Pa.) has recorded two blocks in two games. As a unit the River Hawks are shooting at a 37.3 percent clip (38-102) from the field, and are 12-of-41 (29.3%) from beyond the arc.

Scouting Fairfield
The Stags (1-1) are coming off a 58-57 overtime win against Loyola (Md.) on November 15, led by Casey Smith's 19 points, including the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining. Smith is averaging 15 points per game to lead the attack, and is second on the team with 7.0 boards behind Samantha Cooper's 7.5. Kelsey Carey adds 13.5 ppg, while Casey Foley has dished out seven assists. As a unit, Fairfield is connecting on 35.6 percent (37-104) of its field goals and 23.1 percent (6-26) of its three pointers. 

Scouting Longwood
The Lancers enter Sunday's contest at 0-2 after dropping a pair of contest last weekend to open the 2016-17 season. Longwood will continue their four-game road trip with a stop in New Jersey to battle Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, Nov. 18 before trekking to UMass Lowell for a Sunday matinee. Jada Russell is pacing the squad averaging 12.0 points per game while teammate Kemari Jones leads the way with 8.0 boards per game. As a team, the Lancers are shooting 28.7 percent (31-108) from the floor and 25.0 percent (11-44) from long range, in addition to grabbing 69 rebounds and causing 23 turnovers.

Starting the Series
This weekend consists of two of three consecutive games against new opponents for the River Hawks. This season, UMass Lowell will begin five all-time series with opponents (Towson, Longwood, Fairfield, Colgate, Keene State). UMass Lowell went 0-4 in such games last season. 

H Squared for Three!
The sharpshooting duo have combined for 10 of UMass Lowell's 12 three-pointers, shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. Hendrick's five triples at Towson were the most in a single since Hayner hit five last season against Maine. In 2015-16 Hayner led the team with 46 three-pointers and a 39.7 percentage. She ranked third in the America East with in percentage and fourth in triples made per game with 2.0.

Do You Even Bench?
Through two games, the River Hawks' reserves have scored 43 points and have outscored the opponent's bench once. Hendrick and Britten are leading the charge with 33 points. Last season the River Hawks' bench scored 341 points, and outscored opponents 12 times. 

Sharing Is Caring
Through two games, UMass Lowell has recorded 29 assists to lead the conference with 14.5 per game. In the season opener at Towson, the River Hawks dished out 20 assists, led by Smith's career-high six. Last season's team only had 20 or more helpers in one game, coming in the final game at UAlbany.

Racing to 70
In Coach Harris' three seasons her team is 12-2 when the River Hawks score 70 or more points.