LOWELL, Mass. -- Three different River Hawks (13-13, 9-4 AE) finished in double-digits, including sophomore Kharis Idom's (Orlando, Fla.) 14th consecutive game scoring 10 or more points to complete the series sweep of Hartford (0-26, 0-13 AE) in a nail-biting 64-56 victory on Senior Day at the Tsongas Center.
 
Idom led all scorers with 17 points, going 3-for-6 outside the arc. Freshman Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) tallied multi-point efforts for the 12th time this season, finishing with 12 and a team-high seven assists and six steals.
 
"It's tough to play against a team that has nothing to lose," commented head coach Tom Garrick. "They came out and gave a formidable effort in the first half which put a little hesitancy in our step, but in the second our players gathered themselves and played for their seniors to finish the game well."
 
The River Hawks stayed within one possession in the opening minutes until a three-pointer from the visitors sparked an 10-2 Hartford spurt that stretched until the final minutes of the first. Freshman Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) and Idom countered with triples of their own to give the River Hawks a one-point buffer, 15-14, heading into the second.
 
After striking off points from Banwareesingh to open the second, the visitors would counter with a 7-2 run to take 22-19 lead with just under six minutes to go. UMass Lowell battled right back, though, with a 5-0 run of their own that was capped off by a fast break run from Sanchez to put the squad on top, 24-22, before the media timeout.
 
The River Hawks would battle five lead changes in the closing minutes of the half, only to have the Hawks pull away off a trip to the line, as the visitors headed into the second half with a 31-29 lead.
 
Continuing their run into the third, Hartford would take their biggest lead of the game off a layup from Sierra Smith to give the Hawks a four-point buffer at 33-29. Back-to-back triples from Idom were all the River Hawks needed to spark a 10-2 run, capped off by a Sanchez three-pointer to give the home team a three-point lead, 42-39, going into the final stretch.
 
Hartford saw opening points from Sierra Smith and Carmen Villalobos to regain the lead once again, 48-46, but the River Hawks would use a 13-4 run, including key free throw opportunities from both Sanchez and Idom to secure the victory, 64-56.
 
Up next, the River Hawks will welcome Binghamton for their last home game of the season with a tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Costello Athletic Center. The program will highlight the America East #SpreadRespect initiative, proudly standing with coaches, student-athletes and fans to Spread Respect by ensuring equality and safety for all without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.