December 5 vs. Merrimack (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ESPN+) | Game Notes (PDF)
 
December 6 at Boston College (2 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ACCNX) | Game Notes (PDF)
 
LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell women's basketball team is set to begin the 2020-21 season with a pair of games, welcoming Merrimack for its season opener on Saturday, Dec. 5, following a Sunday trip to Boston College.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win against the Warriors would mark the team's first season-opening victory at the Division I level. A win would also improve the team's record to 11-7 against Northeast Conference members since moving to DI, as well.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The River Hawks completed the 2019-20 campaign with a Division I best 16-15 overall record, setting new program records for wins and winning percentage (.516). In America East Conference play, the team went 11-5 to take third place for their best post-season ranking since joining the league in 2013-14. UMass Lowell's season ended in the semifinals of the America East Championship with a tough, 67-54 decision at No. 2 Maine.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Last season, Kharis Idom led the team with 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She was a 2019-20 America East All-Conference Second Team selection, as well. Jaliena Sanchez followed with 9.2 points per game, pacing the team with 95 assists and 60 steals for a second-place conference ranking. Sanchez earned herself a spot on the All-Rookie Team along with an All-Defensive Team nod to round out the awards. Denise Solis boasted a team-best 25 blocks while averaging 5.4 boards per game.  
 
OUT OF THE GATE
UMass Lowell has registered a 22-23 record in season openers since 1975, including a 5-8 mark since the 2006-07 season. In season openers at home the team owns an 17-10 record.
 
SEASON-OPENER SMACK DOWNS
The River Hawks and the Warriors have matched up for four season openers since the team's first saw action against each other in 1976. Lowell has come out on top three out of the four times, with their last victory on Nov. 18 1993, 69-67. Altogether, this will be the 45th matchup against Merrimack and second meeting at the Division I level.
 
NEW TO THE NEST
Garrick's third recruiting class brings four newcomers to the River Hawks in 2020-21. The group includes two freshmen guards (Leilani Rodriguez and Jaini Edmonds) and two forwards (Erin Lofaro and Sydney Coombs). "All of the fresh faces add something to our team we know will accentuate what our current players bring to the table. We've added height, strength, quickness and versatility. Each of the new players brings a level of competitiveness that will challenge the returners and give us greater depth." – Tom Garrick
 
WELCOME BACK
The River Hawks are returning four of their five starters from 2019-20.  Additionally, with seven experienced veterans back, the team returns 69 percent of its scoring.
 
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.
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
The squad ranked second in the America East with a new DI program-best 8.3 steals per game last year. Jaliena Sanchez ranked individually in the top ten with 1.9 steals for second place.
 
ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Worcester, Mass. natives, Leilani Rodriguez and Jaini Edmonds, are the first pair of River Hawks recruited from the same town since the 2010-11 season. The duo come to Lowell after growing up less than eight minutes apart, having no idea who the other was.
 
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.
 
A DIME A DOZEN
Matching her career-high of seven assists in the win over Hartford last season, Jaliena Sanchez averaged a team-best 3.1 assists per game to rank ninth in the America East. As a unit the River Hawks secured a season-best with 18 dimes on 22 made field goals in the battle against Hartford (1.8).
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Last year, the River Hawks accumulated their most home wins since 2014-15 (9), in addition to improving to 95 wins in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
 
BOARDS GALORE
In the semifinal appearance against Maine, Lowell registered a season-high 57 rebounds despite the loss. A feat not having been accomplished in three seasons since the River Hawks grabbed 61 boards against Fisher College (11.27).
 
HOME-SWEET-HOME
Freshman Sydney Coombs is the first home-schooled women's basketball player recruited by Lowell at the Division I level. Coming from Newmarket, N.H., Coombs was with the NH Spartans AAU program for several years.