Box Score (PDF) | Harris Postgame

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Markayla Sherman (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored a career-high 15 points and Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) recorded her 11th career double-double, but the UMass Lowell (3-14, 0-4) women's basketball team was topped 80-59 by the Hartford Hawks (12-4, 3-0) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sherman led the River Hawks with 10 points in the first half, and Gibbs recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds in the second half to pick up the double-double.

"The story of the game was turnovers," commented Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. "We got some solid minutes of the bench but we have do a better job taking care of the ball and get ready for Stony Brook."
 
Hartford had six players, including all five starters, reach double figures led by Deanna Mayza's 16. Darby Lee and Lindsey Abed added 15 and 14, respectively, while both Janelle Harrison and Sierra DeCosta chipped in 11 points. The non-starter to reach double figures was Alyssa Reaves and her 10 points.
 
The visitors jumped out to slim 5-2 advantage in the opening minute following an Asia Mitchell-Owens (Roxbury, Mass.) three-pointer and a layup by Tyshay Britten (Norristown, Pa.) with 8:58 on the clock. The Hawks went on a 22-5 run the rest of the period to take a 24-10 buffer into the second frame.
 
Behind four points from Sherman and another Mitchell-Owens' three, UMass Lowell pulled with 30-19 with less than five minutes remaining in the half. The hosts were able to counter every push by the River Hawks, and despite shooting 50 percent in the first half, UMass Lowell trailed 40-24 at the break.
 
In the first six minutes of the third quarter, Gibbs scored 10 points to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 14 consecutive games. Trailing 65-47 entering the fourth, the River Hawks closed to the gap to 65-52 before Mayza connected on a three with just over six minutes remaining in regulation
 
UMass Lowell wraps up its road swing at Stony Brook on January 16 at 2 p.m.