January 9 at Hartford (1 p.m.)
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January 10 at Hartford (1 p.m.)
Live Stats | Watch Live (ESPN+) | Game Notes (PDF)
Twitter: @RiverHawkWBB | @RiverHawkNation
 
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (5-4, 4-2 AE), who is in the midst of a two-game win streak, looks to keep their momentum going when they travel to Hartford (3-3, 3-3 AE) for a battle with the Hawks on Saturday Jan. 9 and Sunday Jan. 10.
 
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 HARTFORD
The Hawks enter Saturday's contest with a 3-3 record in America East action. The squad is coming off of a split weekend, defeating Binghamton, 64-54, on Jan.2 before dropping a 52-44 decision against the Bearcats the following day. Senior Breyenne Bellerand leads the squad averaging 9.8 points, in addition to forcing a team-high eight steals. Junior Sierra Smith is posting a team-best 8.5 rebounds to rank third in the league, while classmate Charlette Leurs posts eight blocks to sit in third place, as well. As a team, Hartford is putting up 55.2 points a game, while shooting 37.6 percent (123-327) from the field, including 28.3 percent (28-99) from beyond the arc and 61.3 percent (57-93) from the line.
 
WINS WOULD...
A pair of wins against Hartford would give the River Hawks their second series sweep of the season and improve their conference mark to 7-2.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore Shamyjha Price and senior Tiahna Sears each turned in 10+ point performances to help propel the UMass Lowell women's basketball team to a closely contested, 58-53 victory against conference newcomer NJIT on Saturday evening at the NJIT Wellness & Events Center. Price knocked down a career-high eight free throws en route to a game- and season-high 16 points, while Sears picked up her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The following day, Sophomores Denise Solis and Jaliena Sanchez combined for 26 points as the squad completed the series sweep, finishing off the Highlanders, 53-47, on Sunday afternoon at the NJIT Wellness & Events Center. 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. Shamyjha Price rounded out the scorers with 10 points.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK  
Through nine games in 2020-21, three different River Hawks have bounced between top standings. Forward Denise Solis paces the offense with 9.6 points and a team-best nine blocks. Kharis Idom, who follows closely with 9.4 points, has dished out a team-high 20 assists. Senior Tiahna Sears boasts a team-high 6.9 rebounds on the season. As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 33 percent (166-495) from the floor, 27 percent (40-146) from beyond the arc, and 64 percent (98-153) from the foul line.
 
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, while Kharis Idom secured a season-high of four in the outing.
 
SOLIS FROM THE START
So far in 2020-21, the River Hawks have gone 4-0 after winning the opening tip with Denise Solis being in the center of it all. The 6'1 forward has won 22 of 40 openers for a 55 percent average over her career.
 
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Dominating both offensively and defensively, Shamyjha Price, had another standout weekend for the River Hawks. The sophomore guard went 8-for-8 from the line on Saturday to lead all River Hawks this season with an 80 percent average (20-25). Price also set a career-high in points, posting a team-best of 16 in the Saturday victory over the Highlanders.
 
DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
Tiahna Sears and Denise Solis are the only two River Hawks to have recorded a double-double this season. Sears posted 14 points and 11 rebounds in the recent victory over NJIT, while Solis had a team-best 16 points and 12 rebounds against Vermont.
 
SEARS DOWN UNDER
After Tiahna Sears posted her first double-double (14 pts., 11 rebs.) of the season, the senior from Bunbury, Australia, matched her season-high of 11 rebounds the following day to move her up the conference ranks. She currently sits in sixth place overall with 6.9 rebounds.
 
TIC-TAC-TOE: THREE IN A ROW
With the River Hawks Dec. 19 win against Vermont the squad has secured three-straight America East opening victories. Overall, Lowell holds a 3-5 mark since joining the league in 2013.
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Denise Solis saw plenty of action during her first year in a River Hawk uniform. The 6'1 forward was the only River Hawk to start in all 31 games for an average of 26.8 minutes per game. She has continued her run into her sophomore season, making a start in all nine games to average 28.1 minutes.
 
LOOKIN' FINE FROM THE LINE
Making an appearance in all 31 games last season, Kaylen Banwareesingh continues to be a force on both ends of the court. With her recent performance against NJIT, the 6'1 sophomore has tallied 20 trips to the free throw line, sinking all but two for a 90 percent average over her career.
 
LINE EM' UP
Out of their nine games, the River Hawks have used four different starting lineup combinations. Kharis Idom and Denise Solis are the only players to have collected nine starts on the season.