HARTFORD, Conn. – Fueled by a dominant fourth quarter, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (7-4, 6-2 AE) completed the season sweep of Hartford (3-5, 3-5 AE) with a 74-52 decision over the Hawks on Sunday afternoon at the Chase Arena.

"This was our best weekend that we put together back-to-back games," commented head coach Tom Garrick. "Were finding out this season that consecutive games are not an easy thing to handle. Teams are very familiar with each other, everybody is making adjustments, so I was very pleased with the focus that our team came out with today. They fought tough on defense and created enough opportunities offensively to get the win today."
 
For the second consecutive game four different River Hawks found themselves in double-digit territory. Junior guard Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) lead the charge, topping her season-high from yesterday with 19 points and five assists. Senior Tiahna Sears (Bunbury, Australia) added 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, while sophomore Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) tallied 14 points and a season-high six assists. Classmate Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rounded out the scorers with 12 points for her third consecutive double-digit performance.
 
With the win, the River Hawks have now won four in a row, good for their longest streak this season, as well as their best conference ranking with six league victories.
 
The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes, before Idom drove in for the layup followed by second-chance points from Price to give the River Hawks an early, 11-4 edge with 5:50 on the clock. Hartford would battle back on an 8-0 run to gain the upper hand after the first media timeout, but a solo 6-0 run by Idom followed by points off the glass from Sanchez would give Lowell a five-point buffer at the end of the first.
 
The home team took control to start the second frame, using a 9-3 run on second chance points and their first shot from the three-point range to equalize the score for the third and final time at 3:14. Sears then laid one in to regain the momentum for the River Hawks and ignite what would be a 6-3 spurt to create a 4-point edge heading into the half at 19-15.
 
The River Hawks extended their lead in the opening minute of the third at 34-25 thanks to back-to-back jumpers and an and1 opportunity by Sears. Hartford would put together a 6-4 spurt in the waning minutes, but Idom would hit her second shot from outside the arc to end the home teams run and earn the River Hawks their first double-digit lead of the day, 43-31.
 
UMass Lowell opened the fourth with a 10-2 spurt to pull away, 55-44. The closest the Hawks would come was within 17 with 3:38 to play, but the visitors followed with a 10-3 run that included a jumper from freshman Erin Lofaro (Marlboro, N.Y.) for her first points as a River Hawk, to seal the deal 74-52.
 
Up next, the River Hawks will return home for a two-game conference series against Binghamton on Jan. 16 and 17. Tip off is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.