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LOWELL, Mass. – In a game of runs the UMass Lowell (3-16, 0-6) women's basketball team could not seize control of momentum and fell 61-46 to the Vermont Catamounts (5-13, 2-4) on Thursday night.

"I liked the way we played in the first half with the ball movement, and being able to stick with the defensive plan," said Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. "The third quarter, obviously, was the turning point for them, as we let them get too loose and we couldn't execute the offense when we needed to. I really did like what we were able to do in the first, but we were just unable to sustain it in the second half."
 
The River Hawks held a 35-27 lead with 7:24 on the clock in the third quarter, following a pair of Markayla Sherman (Cincinnati, Ohio) threes. Vermont responded with a 20-2 run to close out the third and take a 47-37 lead into the final period. Kristina White provided the key shot, hitting a three to put Vermont on top, 38-35, while Hanna Crymble netted eight points in the spurt.
 
The Catamount momentum swing continued into the fourth with a Crymble three for a 50-37 lead. Tyshay Britten (Norristown, Pa.) ended the run with a layup to cut the deficit to 54-39 with 6:34 left in regulation.
 
The duo of Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) and Sherman led the way for UMass Lowell, with each scoring 13, while Gibbs picked up the double-double with 12 rebounds. The junior extended her double-digit scoring streak to 16 consecutive games, tying Lindsey Doucette's run last season.
 
Crymble finished the night with 24 points, and Sydney Smith added 20, combing for 14 field goals and 13 free throws. Crymble also picked up a double-double with 10 rebounds, as well.
 
In the opening minutes, the River Hawks fell behind 6-0 before breaking out on a 9-0 run to take a 9-6 lead with 4:10 left in the quarter. Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) scored five points in the run, including a traditional three-point play with the score knotted at 6-6.
 
Following a 4-0 Catamount spurt, Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) three put the hosts back in front 12-10, with 68 seconds on the clock, and an Oda Shackelford (Edinburgh, Ind.) jumper gave the River Hawks a 14-10 buffer heading into the second.
 
At the media timeout, UMass Lowell had its largest lead of the contest at 20-13 with 7:29 on the clock, but the Catamounts battled back to even the score with a 7-0 run. Seconds after the game-tying shot, Asia Mitchell-Owens (Roxbury, Mass.) connected on a corner three to regain the advantage.
 
The Catamounts fought back to trim a seven-point deficit to 27-25 at the half, the fourth time all season the River Hawks led at the half.
 
UMass Lowell heads down to Baltimore for a Sunday matinee against the UMBC Retrievers, on January 22 at 1 p.m.