ALBANY, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team fell to UAlbany in an overtime thriller in America East action, 63-56, on Wednesday night.
 
The River Hawks (6-12, 2-3) could not convert on two chances to win in the final seconds, and the Great Danes (5-12, 2-2) pulled away in the extra period.
 
Brianna Rudolph (Lynn, Mass.) reached double digits for her ninth straight game, leading the way for UMass Lowell with 13 points, while Ren'Cia Rolling (Lansing, Ill.) added 12 in the effort. Bri Stiers (Denver, Colo.) set a career high with five assists, as well.
 
"This was a tough loss. I feel bad for the ladies, they put their hearts and soul into tonight," remarked Head Coach Tom Garrick. "It is never easy to win on the road and we had a great opportunity to do that even with the missed free throws, 12 turnovers in the second half and being out rebounded by 10. I know those numbers do not indicate that you outplayed someone, but I felt that we outplayed Albany for the better part of the game, and credit to them for continuing to fight."

 The River Hawks began the first quarter by hitting four of their first six three-pointers as they took a 12-8 lead with just 2:22 remaining in the period, paced by a pair from Linda Svenne (Riga, Latvia).
 
After UAlbany held an 8-6 lead at the first media timeout of the night, UMass Lowell closed out the first with a 10-0 run over the final 3:16, and held the hosts scoreless for the final 5:49 of the period.
 
Rudolph connected on a three to put the visitors on top, 9-8, sandwiching Svenne's triple with a jumper from Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.). Svenne hit two from the charity stripe to close out the scoring in the opening quarter and give UMass Lowell a 16-8 buffer.
 
The Great Danes ended their 7:07 scoring drought with the first bucket of the second, but a Rolling triple extended the gap to double-figures for the first time at 20-10 moments later.
 
With over three minutes left in the first half, UAlbany cut the deficit to six points twice but a 5-1 spurt brought the UMass Lowell back to 10 heading into the intermission.
 
UAlbany came out in the second half on a 9-3 run and trimmed the visitor's lead to 32-28, before four straight points for the River Hawks. With 3:19 left in the third, the Great Danes were within one possession, but UMass Lowell again answered with a mini run and Rudolph's bucket in the final seconds had the River Hawks on top, 43-36, heading into the fourth.
 
The hosts began the final period of regulation with an 11-1 run and took a 47-44 lead, their first since the opening minutes, with 5:52 to play. Rudolph and Stiers combined to give the visitors the lead back over a minute later.
 
With 2:08 on the clock, a pair of Rolling free throws put the River Hawks on top, 52-50, for the final time and set up late dramatics. The Great Danes drew even with under 30 seconds to play, allowing UMass Lowell a chance for the win.
 
The River Hawks take on first-place Hartford at Costello on January 19 (1 p.m.).