February 19 vs. Binghamton (7 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – For the final homestand of the 2019-20 regular season, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (13-13, 9-4 AE) welcomes Binghamton (17-8, 6-6 AE) to Costello Athletic Center on Spread Respect night this Wednesday.
 
SPREAD RESPECT
The America East Conference and its member institutions proudly support the Spread Respect initiative to ensure equality and safety for all without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. In honor of the annual Spread Respect night, the River Hawks will wear special warmup shirts against Binghamton on Wednesday.

LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
After completing their first series sweep over Hartford this past Saturday, the River Hawks improve to 13-13 overall and 9-4 in conference play. Lone sophomore Kharis Idom continues to dominate the offensive end with 11.2 points on the season, shooting 34 percent from the field. Freshman Jaliena Sanchez ranks second with 9.0 points, while consistent starter Denise Solis has knocked down 63 free throws for an average of 3.7 per game. Senior Bri Stiers paces the defense, posting 5.6 rebounds to lead all River Hawks. As a unit, UMass Lowell is shooting 35 percent from the field and 65 percent from the line. 
 
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
Coming off a 76-53 victory against Vermont the Bearcats improve to 17-8 overall and 6-6 in conference action. Senior guard Kai Moon recorded a game-high of 21 points to earn her America East Player of the Week, putting her first in the conference and 10th in the nation in scoring with 20.2 points per game. Senior guard Karlee Krchnavi has 6.4 boards on the season, while Carly Boland ranks fourth in the conference with 1.1 blocks. As a unit, Binghamton is shooting 40 percent from the field, while averaging 38.6 rebounds per game. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. BINGHAMTON
The River Hawks will look to complete a series sweep on Saturday after defeating the Bearcats, 66-56, on Jan. 11. 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 Kharis Idom. Every River Hawk that hit the court recorded a rebound for the team's season-high of 48 boards. Overall the Bearcats lead the series with a 5-12 advantage, winning eight of the last nine matchups. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Three different River Hawks finished in double-digits, including Kharis Idom's 15th consecutive game scoring 10 or more points to complete the series sweep of Hartford in a nail-biting 64-56 victory on Senior Day. Idom led all scorers with 17 points, going 3-for-6 outside the arc. Jaliena Sanchez tallied multi-point efforts for the 12th time this season, finishing with 12 points while matching her career-high seven assists and six steals. UMass Lowell was able to claw their way out of 19 different lead changes, topped off by a 13-4 run to secure the home court victory.
OH, HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED
Staring the season 0-7, the River Hawks have bounced-back with their wins over all but one America East opponent (Stony Brook) to start conference play with a solid 9-4 record for the first time in Division I history. UMass Lowell last saw opening conference wins against Palm Beach Atlantic (84-76 2OT), Southern New Hampshire (96-82) and Southern Connecticut (77-74) back in the 2012-13 season where the River Hawks ran out on a nine-game win streak.
 
STREAKS AND SWEEPS   
For the first time since joining Division I the River Hawks ended multiple losing streaks against America East opponents; New Hampshire, UAlbany and Maine, including their first series sweep over the Wildcats and Hawks.
 
BIRDS EYE VIEW
UMass Lowell was spotted last in the preseason poll with only twelve points compared to the top contender, Maine, with 64 points. After their seven-game streak the River Hawks now sit in second place overall just behind Stony Brook who is undefeated at 12-0.
 
FIRST HALF SUCCESS = WINS
UMass Lowell has found its way into the win column more times than not when having a strong first half effort. The River Hawks are 7-0 when leading at the break
 
A DIME A DOZEN
Matching her career-high of seven assists in the win over Hartford, Sanchez is averaging a team-best 3.0 dimes per game this season. As a unit the River Hawks secured a season-high with 18 assists on 22 made field goals in the battle against Hartford (1.8).
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
As a unit the River Hawks sit at the top of the conference standings in steals per game with 8.65 on the season. Both Jaliena Sanchez and Kharis Idom rank individually, with Sanchez recording 2.0 for third place, while Idom comes in at number eight with 1.6 per game.
 
SOLID 70
Junior transfer Tiahna Sears has made a splash off the bench, appearing in 22 games this season to shoot 5-for-7 outside the arc, averaging 71 percent. From the line she's knocked down 23 extra points for a 74 percent average.
 
COOL UNDER PRESSURE
In the contests against UMBC and Stony Brook the River Hawks saw a season low of nine turnovers. The two games mark the first time this season the squad recorded a single-digit performance.
 
SHOOT YOUR SHOT
Despite the loss to Stony Brook the River Hawks recorded their best percentage in the paint, going 26-59 for 44 percent.
 
FREE POINTS
In the win against UNH six different River Hawks registered points from the free throw line for the team's best performance of the season, draining 33 collectively. Bri Stiers and Tiahna Sears each went 4-for-4 in the first quarter to lead all River Hawks.
 
'TWAS A WHILE AGO
With their game-high of 33 made free throws against UNH the River Hawks were able to top their performance from the 1992 season. On January 15, 1992 the River Hawks notched a record-high 31 made free throws to defeat Bridgeport, 88-74.
 
TWICE IS NICE
For the second time this season Tiahna Sears posted multi-point efforts with 14 rebounds and 10 points to grab her second-career double-double in the victory against Vermont.
 
RIVER HAWKS FOR 500
Averaging a .500 win percentage, the River Hawks have seen their most successful year in Division I, resulting in the latest in the season they have ever been at .500, including their highest conference percentage at .692.
 
DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
In both victories over UMBC and FDU, three different River Hawks tallied first-career double-doubles. Tiahna Sears (17 pts, 10 rebs) and Kharis Idom (15 pts, 11 rebs) each posted multi-point efforts in the 75-64 win against UMBC, while Denise Solis grabbed 21 points and 14 rebounds in the overtime victory against FDU, including the game-tying free throws. Solis is the first rookie River Hawk to notch a double-double, since the 2008-09 season where Bianca Simmons posted 28 points and 12 rebounds in the 73-64 win over Le Moyne.
 
CONNECT FOUR
In five contests this season, five different River Hawks have found themselves in double-digit point territory.
Massachusetts: Solis (17), Price (11) Sanchez (10), Rolling (10)
Yale: Rolling (16), Sanchez (12), Solis (10), Willis (10)
Cornell: Solis (14), Price (11), Sanchez (10), Rolling (10)
FDU: Solis (21), Sanchez (18), Idom (11), Rolling (10)
Maine: Solis (12), Stiers (12), Sanchez (11), Idom (11)
 
PROTECT THE HOUSE
Bri Stiers currently leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game for the River Hawks, which ranks 14th among America East players. Denise Solis leads the offensive end with 2.3 rebounds per game and is ninth in the conference, helping the squad earn the third spot overall with 13.4 offensive rebounds per game.
 
FINDING THE RIGHT COMBO
The River Hawks used a different starting lineup combination in the first five contests this season, with Denise Solis being consistent through every game. The most recent lineup saw the addition of Kaylen Banwareesingh and Felicia Korte for their first career starts.