December 19 at Vermont (3 p.m.)
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December 20 at Vermont (2 p.m.)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkWBB | @RiverHawkNation
 
LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell women's basketball team, who is currently 1-2 overall in the 2020-21 season, opens its America East Conference slate when they travel to Vermont for a two-game series on Saturday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 20.
 
AMERICA EAST ACTION
As announced on Oct. 19, the America East Board of Presidents approved a scheduling format that prioritizes health and safety for student-athletes, coaches and staff. While the double round-robin format was maintained, teams will play weekend series where a team hosts the same opponent on back-to-back days for two games in order to reduce travel. Starting conference play in December allows for maximum flexibility, including open weekends later in the season to accommodate makeup games.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would give the River Hawks their ninth victory against the Catamounts. It would also give the squad their third-consecutive America East opening win and improve their mark to 3-5 overall. Additionally, a win would secure the River Hawks first road victory of the season.
 
SCOUTING VERMONT
The Catamounts, who were ranked seventh in the America East Preseason Poll, will be opening their season this Saturday. The squad welcomes back four starters from a season ago, including their top three scorers, Josie Larkins, Emma Utterback and Delaney Richardson. Larkins, the lone senior, started in all 30 of the Catamounts games, averaging 13.6 points. Co-captain Sarah Wells returns for UVM after averaging 5.1 boards and a team-high 37 steals. Overall, the Catamounts look to build on last season's 12-18 record, including a 6-10 mark in conference action.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The UMass Lowell women's basketball team totaled 48 rebounds to propel the River Hawks to a thrilling, 69-59 victory against Northeastern in the squad's home opener on Dec. 16. Junior Kharis Idom and sophomore Denise Solis totaled a season-best 13 points each. Sophomores Jaliena Sanchez and Kaylen Banwareesingh rounded out the double-digit scorers for the River Hawks with 12 points apiece, while senior Tiahna Sears added a team-high 12 rebounds for her third consecutive game. A total of eight different River Hawks contributed to the offense on the day for a new season high, as well.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK  
After three games in 2020-21, Denise Solis is first on the squad with 9.3 points per game, going 11-for-19 on the floor. Tiahna Sears is contributing 6.0 points per game and paces the River Hawks with 9.3 rebounds.  Junior Kharis Idom tallies a team-high seven assists, while averaging a team-best 30.0 minutes per game. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 29 percent (50-171) from the floor, 16 percent (8-49) from beyond the arc and 61 percent (22-36) from the foul line.
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Denise Solis saw plenty of action during her first year in a River Hawk uniform. The 6'1 forward was the only River Hawk to start in all 31 games for an average of 26.8 minutes per game. She has continued her run into her sophomore season, making a start in all three games to average 26.3 minutes.
 
IDOM ON THE PRIZE
Idom tallied her 200th field goal during the season-opener against Boston College to record double-digits in 21 straight games. She surpassed the Division I record set by Kayla Gibbs ('18) who saw 19 consecutive games in double-digit territory from Nov. 20, 2016 to Feb. 1, 2017.
 
OUT OF THE GATE
UMass Lowell has registered an even 23-23 record in season openers since 1975, including a 6-8 mark since the 2006-07 season. With their most recent season-opening victory at home against Northeastern, the squad owns an 18-10 record in front of River Hawk Nation.
 
LEVEL UP
After UMass Lowell's season-high 22 offensive rebounds against Northeastern, the squad clawed their way up the conference rankings, moving from sixth to second place. 8-of-11 River Hawks tallied at least one offensive board in the victory.
 
LOOKIN' FINE FROM THE LINE
Making an appearance in all 31 games last season, Kaylen Banwareesingh continues to be a force on both ends of the court. With her most recent performance against Northeastern, the 6'0 sophomore has tallied 15 trips to the free throw line, sinking all of them for a 100 percent average.
 
A DIME A DOZEN
In her inaugural season with the River Hawks, Jaliena Sanchez paced the squad with an outstanding 95 assists, the most of any River Hawk freshman at the Division I level. Sanchez has continued her tear into her sophomore season, tallying five assists in the most recent victory against Northeastern, bringing her career total over the 100-mark at 102.
 
FIRST HALF SUCCESS = WINS
During the 2019-20 season UMass Lowell found its way into the win column more times than not when having a strong first half effort. The River Hawks went 10-1 when leading at the break. This season the squad has continued their first-half trend, leading Northeastern 34-32 at the half.