VESTAL, N.Y. – Senior Ren'Cia Rolling (Lansing, Ill.) logged a career-high 20 points to help the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (8-9, 4-0 AE) battle five lead changes in the second half to earn a 66-56 victory against Binghamton (12-4, 1-2 AE) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Tied at 52-52 with just under five minutes left on the clock, the River Hawks propelled themselves on a 7-0 run, sealing the win with free throws from sophomore Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.).
 
"I thought it was our most complete game of the year," stated head coach Tom Garrick. "We were up against a very good Binghamton team on the road, so we had to pull out all the stops. I think offensively in the first-half we got the ball rolling with the help of Ren'Cia, then the defense was able to carry us throughout the second."
 
It looked like Binghamton would set the tone for the contest after winning the opening tip and kicking off on 6-0 run with points from the Ramil sisters, Annie and Olivia, but consecutive baskets from freshman Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) and junior Tiahna Sears (Bunbury, Aus.) proved to be just what the visiting team needed, cutting the deficit, 10-6, before the first media time out.
 
After back-to-back shots from outside the arc by Rolling, the River Hawks found their momentum to spark a 14-0 run, finishing out the first quarter, 18-10.
 
With an Idom jumper opening the second the River Hawks continued their run, adding another three-pointer from Rolling to gain a 23-12 advantage. A small 6-0 run by the Bearcats saw the home team cut the deficit by eight points, but senior Brianne Stiers (Denver, Colo.) connected on a layup to jump out on another 7-0 run, securing the lead, 32-21, at the half.
 
With a scoreless three minutes to start the third, the Bearcats found their footing off an Olivia Ramil free throw, scoring 13 of the first 16 points to grab the lead, 42-38, heading into the fourth.
 
UMass Lowell snapped the home team's lead two minutes into the fourth off an and-1 from freshman Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Pa.), but Binghamton's Kaylee Wasco put up points of her own to equalize the score once again, 46-46.
 
Trading points for the better half of three minutes, Idom's free throws were all the squad needed, driving another 5-0 run with the help from Rolling to secure the 66-56 win.
 
Up next, the River Hawks welcome Maine to the Tsongas Center on January 15 for the program's sixth annual Health and Fitness Field Trip Day game. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m.