LOWELL, Mass. – Recording a career-high 25 points, sophomore Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) led all scorers to help propel the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (16-14, 12-5 AE) to a 66-58 victory over UMBC (10-18, 6-11 AE) in the America East Quarterfinal round on Wednesday night at the Tsongas Center.
 
With the win UMass Lowell advances to the semifinals for the first time in Division I history where they will take on No. 2 Maine on Sunday, March 8 at 1 p.m.

Idom's standout performance marked her 19th consecutive game in double-digit point territory while freshman Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) set a personal-best with two blocks. Forward Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) ran both ends of the court picking up 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, followed by senior Brianne Stiers (Denver, Colo.) matching her career-high five assists while grabbing seven boards, respectively. 

The Retrievers had two players reach double-figures, as well, with Te'yJah Oliver scoring 23 points and Janee'a Summers pitching in 15. 
 
"We came out exactly as we should have," stated head coach Tom Garrick. "Focused with defensive intensity and the ability to execute on the offensive end. When you're as talented as they are and make plays as focused as we are capable of, then we'll be a problem for anybody."
 
Opening the matchup with an attack from the Retriever offense the River Hawks would use their first triple of the night at 6:07 from Banwareesingh to set the tone for the rest of the contest. Jumping out on a 7-0 run, UMass Lowell would hold a 18-9 edge by the end of the first quarter.
 
The River Hawks offense remained hot to start the second quarter on another 7-0 run, behind five points from Idom and three from Banwareesingh to extend the lead to 25. Holding strong after the second media timeout, Stiers would pitch in four points of her own to give the home team a 13-point buffer, 31-18, heading into the half.
 
After kicking-off the third with a jump shot by Solis the Retrievers would counter with jumpers of their own from Te'yJah Oliver and Janee'a Summers to chip away, 37-32, by the first media timeout. Idom would go to the line in the final minute to keep the River Hawk lead at five, but UMBC's Lyric Swann would post a jumper in the remaining seconds to cut the lead, 42-39.
 
The opening minutes of the fourth would see a solo 5-0 run by Idom, giving the River Hawks a six-point lead with 8:00 minutes left to play. Using a 7-0 run of their own, the Retrievers would counter the River Hawk attack to take their first lead of the contest 52-51 with 2:35 remaining.
 
Ten seconds later freshman Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) would sink her first free throws of the night followed by another Banwareesingh triple to tip the favor back in the River Hawk hands at 56-52.
 
Adding on points in the paint from Idom and Solis the River Hawks would use an 11-0 run over the remaining minute to seal the victory, 66-58.
 
Up Next: The semifinal round will take place on the UMaine campus at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gymnasium. For tickets, please visit GoBlackBears.com or call the UMaine Athletics box office at 207-581-BEAR.

How to Watch: All 2020 #AEPlayoffs action can be watched on ESPN networks. The semifinals will air on ESPN+ as part of The AE on ESPN, while the championship game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. All rounds will also be available via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app on smartphones and tablets.