NEWARK, N.J – Sophomores Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) and Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) combined for 26 points as the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (5-4, 4-2 AE) completed the series sweep, finishing off the Highlanders (2-8, 2-4 AE), 53-47, on Sunday afternoon at the NJIT Wellness & Events Center.

"We did what we set out to do when we boarded the bus this weekend," commented head coach Tom Garrick. "We got two victories and there is something to be said for winning conference games on the road. We have to get better with our attention to detail and our sustained intensity. I have every confidence we can and will."

The River Hawks have now won three of their last five games to improve to .556 overall (5-4). Six different UMass Lowell players scored in the outing, including three in double-digits. Solis chipped in with 13 points on six made field goals, while Sanchez added 13 points as well, including a team-high four assists. Sophomore Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rounded out the scorers with 10 points.
 
The offense for both sides went to work right away, equalizing the score three times in the opening four minutes. Solis added to the visitors total with two baskets down low followed by a free throw from senior Linda Svenne (Riga, Latvia) in the final twenty seconds, giving the River Hawks a 15-14 advantage going into the second frame.
 
Coming out in the second, UMass Lowell used back-to-back buckets from senior Tiahna Sears (Bunbury, Australia) and Solis, and two points from Price to take their first major lead of the night, 22-14, at 7:05. The Highlanders would mount a 6-0 run to make it a two-possession game at 26-22 with less than two minutes left in the period. However, Banwareesingh registered points in the paint followed by a trip to the line by Sears to send the River Hawks into the break on top, 29-22.
 
Coming out of halftime, Price drained a shot from outside the arc to make it a double-digit deficit 32-22, although NJIT would work their way back with three long balls of their own, trimming the gap at 39-31, with 3:23 remaining in the third. Sanchez would take back-to-back trips to the line, followed by a jumper to give Lowell a 43-33 lead heading into the final stretch.
 
Price opened the final quarter with her second triple of the day, followed by a driving layup from Sanchez to give the visitors their largest lead of the contest at 13 points, 48-35. NJIT would respond in a last-ditch effort, jumping out on a solo 7-1 run to trim the gap within four, but the final straw would be a free throw opportunity from Svenne at the 11 second mark to seal the deal, 53-47.
 
With the victory, Lowell holds a 3-1 advantage over the Highlanders in the all-time series. Up next, the River Hawks will continue their road-stand when they travel to Hartford for a matchup with the Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 9 (1 p.m.) and Sunday, Jan. 10 (1 p.m.).