February 28 vs. No. 6 NJIT (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. --  The No. 3 River Hawks, who finished the regular season 11-8 overall and 10-6 in league games, will host No. 6 NJIT for the quarterfinals of the 2021 Hercules Tires America East Playoffs on Sunday, February 28 at Costello Athletic Center. 
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY
This marks the River Hawks' fourth season eligible for the postseason at the Division I level. The program is currently 1-2 in America East
post-season games.
 
Quarterfinal Appearances:
(2018-19) @ UMBC L, 65-73
(2019-20) vs. UMBC W, 66-58
Semifinal Appearances:
(2019-20) @ Maine L, 54-67
 
A WIN WOULD
A win on Sunday would mark the River Hawks' second post-season win at the Division I level.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
For their efforts in the River Hawks 2020-21 campaign, sophomore Denise Solis was named to the America East All-Conference First Team along with an all-defensive nod, while junior Kharis Idom received Second Team honors.
 
SCOUTING NJIT
The Highlanders finished the regular season at 4-13 overall and 4-9 in conference play, to earn a sixth-place finish in their inaugural season with the America East. The team won two of its last five games, but dropped its regular-season finale, 76-67, against New Hampshire on February 7. Sophomore guard Kenna Squier is currently leading the team in points (10.5) and steals (1.2), while freshman Lyzi Litwinko is first on the team with 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. As a team, NJIT is shooting 35 percent from the field, including 29 percent on threes, and 72 percent from the line.
 
ABOUT THE (RE)MATCHUP
The River Hawks set out for a series with the Highlanders on Feb. 13 and 14, defeating the conference newcomers by slim margins earlier in the 2020-21 season. In game one, Shamyjha Price knocked down a career-high eight free throws en route to a game- and season-high 16 points, while Tiahna Sears grabbed her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, to secure the 58-53 victory.
 
The following day, Denise Solis was hot from the start, tallying 13 points on six made field goals. Jaliena Sanchez added 13 points as well, including a team-high four assists. Price rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points to defeat the Highlanders 53-47.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Kharis Idom totaled a season-best 21 points to pace four double-digit scorers in a 74-40 win against New Hampshire this past Saturday. Idom, who matched her personal-best of nine field goals, was joined in double figures by Denise Solis, who logged her 11th double-digit performance this season with 14 points. Jaliena Sanchez posted 13 points and a season-high six steals, in addition to Tiahna Sears, who finished with 12. Shamyjha Price led the charge defensively with six rebounds and two blocks.
 
On Sunday, Denise Solis tossed in a season-high 20 points as the River Hawks topped the Wildcats by a final score of 73-52. Solis's 20 would be the sixth double-digit point performance from a River Hawk this weekend, as she set the tone with 8-for-12 shooting from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Classmate Kaylen Banwareesingh put together a career-day, picking up a personal-best 18 points off the bench, including a team-high of six rebounds. Kharis Idom added nine points to the River Hawk total, along with a team-best four steals and three assists.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK 
Through all 19 games of the 2020-21, three different River Hawks have bounced between top statistical rankings. However, forward Denise Solis finishes the regular season atop the leader boards, averaging 11.6 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. Kharis Idom follows closely behind with 10.1 ppg, shooting 32 percent from beyond the arc. Jaliena Sanchez is putting up 9.0 ppg, while adding a team-high 51 assists and 30 steals on the season. As a unit, UMass Lowell is shooting 37 percent (388-1035) from the floor, 25 percent (77-303) from beyond the arc, and 67 percent (226-337) from the foul line.
 
NATIONAL NEWS
The River Hawks are ranked fifth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to an average of 23.4 percent this season. Most recently, the River Hawks held the hot-shooting Black Bears to just one triple in the second half of Sunday's contest. Lowell's most notable performance came against UAlbany (1.31), as the Great Dane's went 0-16 from beyond the arc.
 
BIRDS EYE VIEW
Denise Solis has consistently taken the right shots, having gone at least 50.0 percent from the floor in 11 of the 15 times this season. Solis's best performance came last weekend when she matched her season-high of eight made field goals against the Wildcats. Currently, the sophomore is first overall in the league standings with a team-best 56.6 percent clip (81-143) from the field.
 
TURNING MISTAKES INTO POINTS
For the third time this season, the River Hawks matched their season-high of 22 points off of turnovers. Most notably, UMass Lowell forced 13 second-half turnovers en route to their Sunday victory over the Great Danes.
 
TRIPLE THE TROUBLE
Tiahna Sears, Denise Solis and Kaylen Banwareesingh are the three River Hawks to have recorded double-doubles this season. Banwareesingh tallied her first career multi-point performance against UAlbany (1.30), notching 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Sears posted 14 points and 11 rebounds at NJIT (1.2). Most recently, Denise Solis recorded her second double-digit affair of the 2020-21 season, with 17 points and 11 rebounds against Maine. 
 
BENCH PRESSURE
Through all 19 games this season, Kaylen Banwareesingh has been a force both offensively and defensively. The 6í0 sophomore is putting up more points than any other reserve player, averaging 5.3 points per game. On the defensive end, Banwareesingh leads the way with 12 blocks and 4.8 rebounds.
 
SOLIS FROM THE START
So far in 2020-21, the River Hawks have gone 8-1 after winning the opening tip, with Denise Solis being in the center of it all. The 6í1 forward has won 27 of 43 openers for a 62 percent average over her career.
 
LINE EM' UP
Out of their 19 games, the UMass Lowell has used five different starting lineup combinations, their most common comprising of Jaliena Sanchez, Kharis Idom, Denise Solis, Shamyjha Price and Tiahna Sears. Idom is the lone River Hawk to have collected 19 starts on the season.

POINTS GALORE
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the River Hawks scored over 80 points against an America East opponent when they defeated Hartford on Jan. 9, 81-45. The last time UMass Lowell tallied over 80 points against a league opponent was on Feb. 4, 2015 at UMBC, defeating the Retrievers 84-78.
 
SHARP SHOOTING
In the weekend sweep over New Hampshire, the River Hawks set a new season-high of 32 made field goals. With their strong shooting, Lowell recorded their best field goal percentage of the season, set at 57.1 percent.
 
HOLD, PLEASE
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.
 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Denise Solis saw plenty of action during her first year in a River Hawk uniform, as 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 15 games to average 28.9 minutes.
 
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
At least one River Hawk freshman has made an appearance throughout all 19 games this season. 6í3 forward, Sydney Coombs, is the only newbie to have started in four games, averaging a class-leading 11.6 minutes. The Newmarket, N.H. native also ranks third on the team with seven blocks.  Newbie guard Jaini Edmonds, has seen action in 17 games, averaging 10.9 minutes and 2.8 points per game. Overall, the freshman class has contributed 71 points and 43 rebounds for six percent of the River Hawk offense and defense.

FAN ATTENDANCE
Due to health and safety considerations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators will not be allowed to attend UMass Lowell athletic competitions at this time.