January 16 vs Binghamton (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ESPN3) | Game Notes (PDF)
 
January 17 vs Binghamton (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ESPN3) | Game Notes (PDF)
Twitter: @RiverHawkWBB | @RiverHawkNation

LOWELL, Mass. -- The River Hawks, who are 7-4 overall and 6-2 in America East play so far this year, will return home to Costello when they play host to Binghamton (3-7, 3-5 AE) on Saturday Jan. 16 and Sunday Jan. 17.

AMERICA EAST ACTION
As announced on Oct. 19, the America East Board of Presidents approved a scheduling format that prioritizes health and safety for student-athletes, coaches and staff. While the double round-robin format was maintained, teams will play weekend series where a team hosts the same opponent on back-to-back days for two games in order to reduce travel. Starting conference play in December allows for maximum flexibility, including open weekends later in the season to accommodate makeup games.
 
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats come to Lowell with a 3-5 record in league play and 3-7 record overall. The squad is coming off a split weekend against New Hampshire, falling 57-52 on Jan.10 before narrowly defeating the Wildcats 58-56 the following day. Sophomore Denai Bowman is tied for third in the conference with 13.0 points per game, including a team-best 1.7 steals. Classmate Clare Traeger is posting a team-best 7.0 rebounds to rank fifth in the league, while senior forward Kaylee Wasco posts 11 blocks to tie for fourth place. As a team, Binghamton is putting up 54.6 points a game, while shooting 38.9 percent (222-571) from the field, including 24.7 percent (36-146) from beyond the arc and 60.0 percent (66-110) from the line.
 
WINS WOULD...
A pair of wins against Binghamton would extend the River Hawks streak to six consecutive victories. It would also be Lowell's third series sweep of the 2020-21 season, improving their mark to 9-4 overall and 8-2 in conference action.
 
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time this season, four different players on the UMass Lowell women's basketball team scored in double figures, as the River Hawks took down Hartford in America East action, 81-45, on Saturday afternoon at the Chase Arena. Kharis Idom put up a team-high 18 points, going 9-for-9 at the free throw line. Tiahna Sears matched her career-high of 17 points, while Denise Solis came close to her second double-double of the season with 15 points and nine boards. Kaylen Banwareesingh rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 second-half points. As a unit, the River Hawks shot their best 45.2 percent (28-62) from the field, while dishing out a season-high 18 assists.
 
The following day, fueled by a dominant fourth quarter, the River Hawks completed the season sweep of Hartford with a 74-52 decision over the Hawks. Kharis Idom led the charge, topping her season-high from the previous day with 19 points and five assists. Tiahna Sears added 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, while Jaliena Sanchez tallied 14 points and a season-high six assists.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK  
Through nine games in 2020-21, three different River Hawks have bounced between top rankings. Guard Kharis Idom leads the charge this week, being the only River Hawk to average in the double-digits with 11.1 points per game. Denise Solis follows closely behind with 9.9 ppg and a team-best 1.2 blocks per game, to place fifth in the conference. Senior Tiahna Sears boasts a team-high 6.6 rebounds on the season, good for seventh in the league. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 36 percent (221-612) from the floor, 29 percent (54-185) from beyond the arc, and 65 percent (129-198) from the foul line.
 
BIRDS EYE VIEW
Following their weekend sweep, the River Hawks are the lone #AEHoops team with six league wins. Starting conference play in sixth place, UMass Lowell has clawed their way through the rankings to now sit in second with a 6-2 record amongst league opponents.
 
NEW YEAR, NEW US
Since ringing in the new year, UMass Lowell has picked up four consecutive wins on the road. The River Hawks recorded their first series sweep against conference-newcomer NJIT on Jan. 2 & 3, followed by their most recent victories at Hartford on Jan. 9 & 10.
 
SHARP SHOOTING
In the weekend sweep over Hartford, the River Hawks set a new season-high of 28 made field goals. Tiahna Sears matched her personal-best of 17 points, shooting 8-for-10 in the paint to top her career-high.
 
SPREADING THE LOVE
In their back-to-back games against the Hawks, UMass Lowell saw four different players in double-digits. On Saturday, Kharis Idom (18) led all scorers, followed by Tiahna Sears (17), Denise Solis (15) and Kaylen Banwareesingh (11). Idom (19) and Sears (15) continued their scoring run the following day, with the addition of sophomores Jaliena Sanchez (14) and Shamyjha Price (12).
 
LOW POINTS
The River Hawks limited Hartford to just five points in the third quarter on Jan. 9. That marks the fourth time under head coach Tom Garrick that UMass Lowell has held an opponent to five points or less in a quarter - the most recent was last season against Binghamton, holding the Bearcats to only four points in the opening stanza.
 
FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT
The River Hawks saw a season-high 13 steals in the victory over the Highlanders. Seven of nine River Hawks came away with at least one steal in the win.
 
NEED FOR SPEED
With the River Hawks Dec. 27 win against Stony Brook the squad saw a season-best 24 points off the fastbreak. Jaliena Sanchez paved the way for the home team, securing nine fastbreak points over the final three quarters.
 
LINE EM' UP
Out of their 11 games, the River Hawks have used four different starting lineup combinations, their most common comprising of Jaliena Sanchez, Kharis Idom, Denise Solis, Shamyjha Price and Tiahna Sears. Idom and Solis are the only players to have collected 11 starts on the season.