FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) recorded her fourth consecutive double-double with a game-high 25 points, but the UMass Lowell women's basketball team saw the Fairfield Stags complete a second half comeback for the 78-67 win on Wednesday night.
The River Hawks (2-5) took a 42-34 lead into the final 20 minutes, but the Stags (2-5) were able to outscore the visitors, 44-25, to spoil UMass Lowell's bid for a road win.
For the second straight game, Gibbs netted 25 points as she added a game-high 13 rebounds.
Paula Lopez (Leon, Spain) and
Brianna Rudolph (Lynn, Mass.) chipped in 10 points a piece.
Fairfield's Samantha Cooper recorded 23 points, and had support from Sam Kramer's 19 and Casey Foley's 11.
UMass Lowell weathered a quick start for the Stags in the third, as they scored five of the first seven points of the half.
After taking a 48-39 lead with 6:43 on the clock, the River Hawks saw Fairfield go on a 12-2 run to take a 52-50 advantage in a four-minute span. The Stags carried the momentum into fourth, building a 68-61 lead with 3:44 left in regulation.
Behind early baskets from
Brianna Rudolph (Lynn, Mass.) and
Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) UMass Lowell took a 6-5 lead, but the Stags went on a 7-0 spurt to hold a 12-8 advantage at the media timeout.
After the River Hawks knotted it up, Fairfield rebounded with a 11-5 run to take a 23-17 lead into the second quarter. Gibbs and Rudolph led the way for the visitors with six points a piece.
A fast start in the second saw UMass Lowell cut the deficit to 29-26 with 6:10 on the clock, capped by a three from
Linda Svenne (Riga, Latvia).
With three minutes left in the half, a pair of
Megan Hendrick (Alexandria, Va.) free throws gave the River Hawks their first lead since 6-5, at 32-31. With help of 10 straight points, UMass Lowell capped off its 23-7 run to take a 42-34 lead at the half.
Lopez led the spurt with eight of her 10 first-half points as the visitors outscored the Stags, 25-11, in the second period.
The River Hawks continue their four-game road swing with a non-conference tilt at Colgate on December 2 at 2 p.m.
