LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball fell in the battle of Bay State schools, as the Massachusetts Minutewomen outlasted the hosts, 73-63, at Costello Athletic Center on Wednesday night.
 
Paula Lopez (Leon, Spain) led the River Hawks (3-8) with 17 points and three assists, as she connected on three three-pointers. Linda Svenne (Riga, Latvia) added 11 and Megan Hendrick (Alexandria, Va.) chipped in 10 to round out the leading scorers for UMass Lowell.
 
The Minutewomen (8-4) had four players reach double-figures, paced by Hailey Leidel's 21 points and Maggie Mulligan's double-double by way of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Bre Hampton-Bey and Genesis Rivera contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Trailing 7-2 in the early minutes, Svenne and Lopez brought the River Hawks even, and Lopez put the hosts on top, 11-9, for the first time just over four minutes in. The duo also connected on back-to-back threes to pull the River Hawks within 23-22 after the visitors led 21-16 at the start of the second.
 
Hendrick connected on her first of two triples in the frame to knot up the score at 25-25, and Kayla Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) made it 27-25 with just over seven minutes remaining in the half. Hendrick's second three-pointer gave UMass Lowell a slim, 30-29, advantage with 4:31 on the clock.
 
The Minutewomen road a last minute triple to 39-36 lead at the half, and built a 53-46 lead towards the end of the third, before a Lopez shot with four ticks on the clock trimmed the deficit to 53-49.
 
UMass Lowell made the contest a one-possession game multiple times in the final period, but could not draw back even or retake the lead.
 
The loss marked the first home loss for the River Hawks since November 12, as UMass Lowell ends the non-conference schedule with three straight contests in Lowell.
 
After 15 days off, the River Hawks welcome Morgan State on December 28 at 4 p.m.