LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (1-8, 0-0 AE) fell to the Holy Cross Crusaders (8-2, 0-0 PL) 62-57 on Sunday afternoon at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
Sophomore Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds and added in three steals, two assists and a block. Fellow sophomore Amaya Dowdy (Woonsocket, R.I.) scored 14 points on 7-8 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Senior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) also hit double-digits with 10 points and picked up six boards.
 
"I'm proud of our effort today. We bunkered down and showed some growth," said head coach Denise King. "We settled into the game late, but people stepped up and made some big shots for us. We're going to continue to grow, and we'll take some of this time to regroup for the next game."
 
Ivory Finley knocked down two quick shots in the opening minute to get the River Hawks' offense rolling early on. UMass Lowell created separation over the next few minutes as Kaylen Banwareesignh and senior Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.)  helped stretch the lead to 11-4. At the media timeout, the hosts led 13-6 behind 6-7 shooting to open the game. Holy Cross went on a 7-0 run out of the break to tie the game with two minutes in the first, but Finley's triple gave the River Hawks the 16-13 edge after 10 minutes.
 
Junior Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) knocked down a three to open the second quarter, but Holy Cross battled back to tie the game at 19, forcing the River Hawks to call a timeout. Out of the break, the visitors scoring run continued and they built a five-point lead just over the halfway point of the quarter. UMass Lowell went scoreless over 2:17 while Holy Cross built on their advantage at the free throw line. The visitors led 32-28 at the half after shooting 67% from the field in the second.
 
The River Hawks shot 50% from the field in the first half and out-rebounded Holy Cross19-12, with a 16-10 edge on the defensive glass. Ivory Finley and Kaylen Banwarresingh each scored seven points in the first half to lead the team.
 
Both teams struggled from the floor early in the second half, shooting under 35% to open the half. Holy Cross stretched the lead to 40-32 at the media timeout of the third quarter. The River Hawks were held scoreless for over five minutes in the third as the Crusaders disrupted the hosts' offensive rhythm and built a double-digit lead. Jaini Edmonds hit a three late in the quarter to cut the lead, but Holy Cross built a 47-36 lead heading into the final frame.
 
The River Hawks needed a spark in the fourth quarter and that came from Ivory Finley. The sophomore picked up four quick points before Kaylen Banwareesingh knocked down a three to cut the lead to four points. Finley's second triple of the afternoon to make it a 49-48 game, forcing Holy Cross to call timeout with 7:04 left to play. The Crusaders pushed their lead to 55-48 at the final media break. Amaya Dowdy found her stride and scored six straight points to cut the lead to just one point. Holy Cross hit free throws down the stretch and held off a late River Hawks' surge to win the game 62-57.    
 
UMass Lowell will have 12 days off before the next contest against Towson. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23 at SECU Arena in Baltimore.