December 27 vs Stony Brook (1 p.m.)
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December 28 vs Stony Brook (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ESPN+) | Game Notes (PDF)
Twitter: @RiverHawkWBB | @RiverHawkNation
 
LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell women's basketball continues its 2020-21 conference slate on Sunday when it hosts the Stony Brook Seawolves at Costello Athletic Center at 1 p.m.
 
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.
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks, who are 2-3 so for this year, will welcome Stony Brook for their first set of America East home games this season.
 
SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves enter Sundays matchup in the midst of a four-game streak. Most recently, Stony Brook opened conference play with a pair of victories over Binghamton on Dec. 19 (61-52) and Dec. 20 (55-47). Asiah Dingle is currently first on the team as the only player to register in double figures with 11.0 points per game. India Pagan leads the squad with 5.8 rebounds per game, as well. Hailey Zeise boasts a team-high 11 steals and eight blocks. As a team, Stony Brook is shooting 37 percent from the field, including 24 percent on threes, and 67 percent from the line.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would give the River Hawks their first victory against Stony Brook at the Division I level. The Seawolves have an overall advantage, leading the series 16-6 with the River Hawks last win occurring during the 1999 season, defeating the visitors, 71-69.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks opened America East action with a pair of road games at Vermont on Dec. 19 and 20, splitting the series 1-1. Sophomore Denise Solis posted her first double-double of the season to help propel the squad to a 66-50 victory over the Catamounts on day one.  Three River Hawks finished the day in double-digits paced by junior Kharis Idom, who turned in a season-high 18 points. Solis chipped in 16 points and a team-best 12 rebounds, while classmate Shamyjha Price added 10 of her own.
 
The following day, redshirt-senior Niya Johnson logged a career-high 21 points, despite the squad facing a 61-56 setback. Johnson shot 53 percent (7-13) from the field and 71 percent (5-7) from outside the arc in the contest. Freshman Jaini Edmonds pulled together her first double-digit performance with 10 points, and sophomore Kaylen Banwareesingh led all River Hawks defensively with eight boards and two blocks.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK  
After five games in 2020-21, Kharis Idom is first on the squad with 10.0 points per game, going 20-for-62 on the floor. Tiahna Sears is contributing 5.6 points per game and paces the River Hawks with 7.0 rebounds. Denise Solis tallies a team-high five blocks while averaging 9.6 points per game for second on the squad. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 33 percent (98-291) from the floor, 25 percent (22-88) from beyond the arc, and 64 percent (34-53) from the foul line.
2013-14. Additionally, junior guard Kharis Idom was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team
 
TIC-TAC-TOE: THREE IN A ROW
With the River Hawks Dec. 19 win against Vermont the squad has secured three-straight America East opening victories. Overall, Lowell holds a 3-5 mark since joining the league in 2013.
 
CAREER DAY
Niya Johnson made her first-career start in a River Hawk uniform against Vermont after being ineligible last season due to the NCAA transfer rule. The Redshirt senior from Brooklyn, N.Y., turned in an impressive performance despite the loss against the Catamounts, setting new career highs for points (21), field goals (7), three-point field goals (5), assists (3) and steals (2).
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Denise Solis saw plenty of action during her first year in a River Hawk uniform. The 6í1 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 five games to average 29.0 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 (ë18) who saw 19 consecutive games in double-digit territory from Nov. 20, 2016, to Feb. 1, 2017.
 
LINE EM' UP
Out of their five games, the River Hawks have used three different starting lineup combinations. Tiahna Sears, Kharis Idom and Denise Solis are the players to have collected five starts on the season.
 
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 Vermont, the 6í1 sophomore has tallied 18 trips to the free throw line, sinking all but two for a 88 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 victory against Northeastern, bringing her career total over the 100-mark at 102.