LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball fought hard, but eventually fell 71-47 to Providence in non-conference action at the Costello Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Friars (5-3) used a 17-2 second half run to take control of a contest they led 31-26 at the break, building a 48-28 advantage halfway through the third quarter.
 
Brianna Rudolph (Lynn, Mass.) led the River Hawks (3-7) with 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting, as the hosts had an early 4-3 lead and trailed 16-14 after one.
 
"Our focus and our energy fell apart in the second half somehow," remarked Head Coach Tom Garrick. "I thought we fought very hard in the first two quarters and we were on to something there and had it where we wanted to be, to bring some fight and intensity in the third quarter, but just could not execute on either side of the court in the third quarter."
 
UMass Lowell was able to keep the deficit within two possessions throughout the first half and trailed 26-24 late in the second period after a pair of Katherine Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.) free throws. The hosts shot 47.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes
 
Providence's Jovana Nogic led all scorers with 17 points, while Maddie Jolin and Chanell Williams each added 12.
 
In the first ever meeting between the two programs, the River Hawks take on Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H. on December 12 at 7 p.m.