Box Score LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (3-7, 0-1 AE) fell to UAlbany (9-4, 2-0 AE) 58-52 on Wednesday night at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
Junior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) led the River Hawks with 10 points. Freshman Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored eight and junior Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Penn.) scored nine for UMass Lowell.
 
After three weeks away from game action, the River Hawks shook off the rust in the opening quarter. Albany held a slim 6-5 advantage at the media break, neither team shooting over 40% to start the game. UMass Lowell shot 36% in the first quarter, trailing Albany 16-12 after the opening frame.
 
Both teams settled down in the second quarter, starting the hit shots more consistently. A three pointer from Banwareesingh gave the River Hawks a 19-18 lead, forcing UAlbany into a timeout. Following the break, UMass Lowell had a few turnovers that gave the Great Danes a 22-19 lead. A 5-0 run saw the River Hawks jump back in front in a back-and-forth second quarter. UAlbany would take a 30-27 lead into the half.
 
The Great Danes opened the second half on a 6-0 run, taking a 36-29 lead into the media timeout. Sophomore Sydney Coombs (Newmarket, N.H) hit the and-1 to bring the River Hawks within four. UAlbany found an offensive rhythm and began to take control of the game, opening a 45-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.
 
UMass Lowell picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter with a 4-0 run to cut the lead to five. On the defensive end, the River Hawks held the Great Danes to just two made baskets at the media timeout. At the break, UAlbany led 49-41. Senior Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) and Solis scored on back-to-back trips to cut the deficit to five with just over two minutes to play. Freshman Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) knocked down a three to bring the River Hawks within two, as UMass Lowell called timeout late in the game trailing 51-49. The Great Danes hit big shots down the stretch and extended the lead to 55-49 before Idom drained another three, cutting the lead to one possession with 37.4 seconds left to play. The Great Danes hit free throws in the closing seconds to secure the 58-52 win.