March 4 at Maine (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. -- With their 66-58 victory over UMBC the UMass Lowell women's basketball team advances to the semifinal round of the America East Tournament for the first time in program history. The No.3 River Hawks will face the No. 2 Black Bears on Sunday afternoon at 'The Pit'.
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY
This marks the first time in Division I history that the River Hawks have made it to the #AEHoops Semifinal round. UMass Lowell made their first postseason appearance in 2018, falling in the first round to UMBC, 73-65.
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
After another nail-biting performance, defeating UMBC, 66-58, the River Hawks improve to 16-14 overall to advance to the next round of the America East Tournament. Sophomore Kharis Idom continues to pace the River Hawk offense with 12.2 points per game, shooting 63 percent from the line. Freshman Jaliena Sanchez ranks second in points, pitching in 9.2 per game while averaging a team-high 1.9 steals for a second-place ranking in the conference. Senior Bri Stiers continues to snatch boards, posting 5.5 rebounds on the season.
 
In the paint, freshmen Kaylen Banwareesingh and Shamyjha Price have combined for 11.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while junior Tiahna Sears has provided the River Hawks with a nice spark off the bench with 4.8 points per contest and 4.1 rebounds.
 
SCOUTING MAINE
Entering semifinal action with an overall record of 17-14 and 11-4 against America East opponents, the Black Bears are led by junior Dor Saar and freshman Anne Simon. Saar has posted a career-best 12.4 points per game this season while adding a conference-leading 4.9 assists per contest. Simon, a seven-time America East Rookie of the Week has assisted on the offensive end with 12.7 ppg, shooting 46 percent from the field and 77 percent from the line.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. MAINE
This will mark the 15th meeting between the River Hawks and the Black Bears. Despite the hosts holding a commanding 1-13 edge in the all-time series, UMass Lowell was able to pick up their first victory over Maine in their initial meeting this season.
 
Defeating the Black Bears, 66-57, four different River Hawks registered double-digit performances (Stiers, Solis, Idom & Sanchez) to take down Maine for the first time in program history on January 15. The Black Bears would then avenge their early-season loss when the River Hawks traveled to Maine, defeating the visitors, 65-52. Despite the loss, Kharis Idom and Chasidey Willis combined for 30 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Backed by a career-high 25 points from Kharis Idom, the River Hawks defeated UMBC, 66-58, in the first home playoff game in Division I history. Idom's standout performance marked her 19th consecutive game in double-digit point territory while Banwareesingh set a personal-best with two blocks. Solis ran both ends of the court picking up 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, followed by Stiers matching her career-high five assists while grabbing seven boards, respectively.
 
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 Jaliena Sanchez 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.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
Three River Hawks garnered America East All-Conference honors. Kharis Idom was named to the All-Conference Second Team, while Ren'Cia Rolling earned a spot on both the Third Team and the All-Academic Team. Jaliena Sanchez topped-off the award winners with an All-Defensive and All-Rookie Team nod.
 
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 blaze through conference play with a 11-5 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 Catamounts, Great Danes, Wildcats and Hawks.
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
As a unit the River Hawks sit at the top of the conference standings in steals per game with 8.37 on the season. Jaliena Sanchez and Kharis Idom rank in the top ten, with Sanchez in second grabbing 1.9 steals and Idom right behind with 1.7 for fifth place.
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Kharis Idom leads the squad with 12.2 points on the season, picking up a career-high 25 points in the most recent contest against UMBC to record double-digits in 19 straight games.
 
HUNDO PERCENT
Through 11 games this season, Kaylen Banwareesingh has made 100 percent of her attempts from the free throw line. Her personal-best of four shots came against UMBC in the most recent postseason victory. 
 
FROM THE FIELD
Ending the regular-season on a high note the squad saw their best shooting percentage throughout the last three games of the season. With their win over UAlbany the River Hawks shot their best 47.1 percent from the field to record a season-high 78 points. Three different River Hawks landed in double-digits with Idom and Jaliena Sanchez each pitching in 19, while Tiahna Sears added 12, respectively.
 
DOUBLE DIGITS
For the first time since 2012-13 season the River Hawks have picked up 11 conference wins for their most successful year in Division I history. UMass Lowell has seen six wins on home court while grabbing five on the road.
 
A DIME A DOZEN
Matching her career-high of seven assists in the win over Hartford, Sanchez is averaging a team-best 3.0 assists per game this season to rank ninth in the America East. As a unit the River Hawks secured a season-high with 18 dimes on 22 made field goals in the battle against Hartford (1.8).
 
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 10-1 when leading at the break.
 
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.
 
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. With their game-high the River Hawks were able to top their performance from the 1992 season where the River Hawks notched a record-high 31 made free throws to defeat Bridgeport, 88-74.
 
RIVER HAWKS FOR 500
Averaging a .533 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 above .500. This also marks their best conference run, recording a .688 win percentage
 
PROTECT THE HOUSE
Bri Stiers currently leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game for the River Hawks, which ranks 15th among America East players. Denise Solis leads the offensive end with 2.2 rebounds per game to rank 9th in the conference, helping the squad earn the second spot overall with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game.
 
SNEAKY SANCHEZ
Jaliena Sanchez set a new personal-best, recording eight steals in the win against Maine. She now joins four other River Hawks tied for second place for single-game leaders in steals. The last time this happened was during the 2012-13 season where Bianca Simmons snagged eight in the 73-62 win against St. Anslem.