Box Score (PDF) | Harris Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell (3-13, 0-3) women's basketball couldn't keep pace with the Maine Black Bears (9-9, 2-1) and fell in America East play, 65-44, on Wednesday night.
 
Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) led the River Hawks with 14 points and nine rebounds, extending her double figure scoring streak to 13 consecutive games.
 
"it was a tough game, but Kayla played so well and has been consistent all year and we need that from her, commented Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. "We have to do a better job taking care of the ball and making plays down the stretch, but we did a good job coming out of halftime and made some good adjustments in the second half."
 
Laia Sole scored a game-high 20 points for the Black Bears, and was supported by Julie Brosseau and Fanny Wadling adding 10 points apiece.
 
The River Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Black Bears countered with a 6-0 run over a 40 second span. Gibbs ended the drought to get UMass Lowell within 6-5 with 7:17 left in the first.
 
Maine began the second frame on a 5-0 run to extend its lead to 17-7 in the opening minute, and after a Gibbs basket opened up a 23-9 buffer with 6:53 left in the half. The visitors outscored the River Hawks 16-4 the rest of the half to take a 39-13 into the locker room.
 
UMass Lowell opened the second half with a 14-6 run to cut into the deficit and trailed 45-27 with less than six minutes on the clock in the third. Gibbs reached 10 points in the quarter to keep her scoring streak alive.
 
The River Hawks head out on the road for a two-game swing beginning at Hartford on January 14. Tip is set for 2 p.m.