LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (6-7, 3-1 AE) picked up a third straight win after taking down New Hampshire (4-13, 1-5 AE) on Saturday afternoon at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
Freshman Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) led all scorers with a career-high 17 points and added seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) scored nine, adding five boards and three assists. Freshman Amaya Dowdy (Woonsocket, R.I.) came off the bench and recorded eight points and seven boards for the River Hawks.
 
UMass Lowell started the same with great energy, as sophomore Baylee Teal (Penfield, N.Y.) knocked a three to start the game. Finley and senior Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) both hit mid-range jumpers to give the River Hawks an early 7-3 lead. New Hampshire responded with a pair of threes to stay in the game. Strong defensive effort from the River Hawks forced the Wildcats into five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. UMass Lowell gained separation at the end of the quarter, with Rodriguez hitting two from behind the arc, giving them a 22-15 lead after one.
 
In the second quarter, solid defensive work forced New Hampshire into more turnovers and difficult shots, leading to points on the other end for the River Hawks. The Wildcats would hang around, keeping the deficit under double digits. After a pair of free throws from the Wildcats, UMass Lowell called timeout to talk things over. New Hampshire gained momentum at the end of the half, cutting the lead to 34-28 at the break.
 
It was a sluggish start to the second half for the River Hawks, but back-to-back scores from Finley gave UMass Lowell a 38-30 lead. The Wildcats continued to hang around, hitting several free throws to cut the River Hawks' lead to 42-35 with just over a minute to play in the third. Strong play down low from Dowdy, picking up an offensive board and getting the put-back to fall, allowed the River Hawks to get a little breathing room heading into the fourth, leading 44-35.
 
The fourth quarter was a physical battle, with five fouls called in the first four minutes. New Hampshire continued to stay close enough to worry the River Hawks, who held a 49-41 lead at the media break. UMass Lowell pushed the lead back to 10 after two free throws from Solis, but back-to-back scores from the Wildcats made it 53-47 with 2:45 left to play. The River Hawks turned the ball over late, allowing UNH to cut the lead to 56-51. The Wildcats had plenty of energy late, sensing a way to tie the game, and called timeout with 30 seconds to play. The River Hawks would hold on and won the game 57-54.