LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (1-9, 0-0 AE) returns to action to kick off the conference slate on Sunday afternoon. The River Hawks host the NJIT Highlanders (6-7, 1-0 AE) at the Costello Athletic Center at 2:00 p.m.
 
January 1 vs. NJIT (ESPN+ -- 2 p.m.)
 
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LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks returns from the holiday break to begin America East Conference action. Before the break, UMass Lowell fell 60-44 in the final non-conference game of the season at Towson. Jaini Edmonds scored a career-high 18 points to lead the team and added three boards. Ivory Finley picked up a team-high nine rebounds and scored four points. The River Hawks have lost back-to-back games after earning their first win of the season against Central Connecticut in early December. UMass Lowell will look to begin league play with a home victory in the new year.
 
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
The Highlanders come to Lowell after opening their conference campaign with a 54-43 home win over New Hampshire on Thursday night. NJIT has won two of its last three games. Trinity Williams leads the team averaging 10.1 points and sits second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. Aria Myers and Lyzi Litwinko are averaging 9.8 points each, with Myers hitting a team-high 17 threes through 13 games.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would snap a three-game losing streak against NJIT.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Jaini Edmonds leads the team averaging 9.2 points while shooting 35% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. Kaylen Banwareesingh is averaging 9.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Edmonds' 15 made threes is also a team high. Ivory Finley and Jaliena Sanchez lead the team with 17 and 16 steals this season, respectively. Amaya Dowdy has totaled 14 blocks to lead the team, including five against Fairleigh Dickinson. Dowdy is also shooting a team-high 39% this season on 27-69 shooting. Jaliena Sanchez has seen the most game action of all River Hawks this season, averaging 35.1 minutes per game through 10 contests.
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
Through ten games this season, UMass Lowell has tallied 81 steals. Ivory Finley and Jaliena Sanchez lead the team with 17 and 16, respectively, while Mili Carrera and Ella Ner have ten each. As a unit, UMass Lowell had a season-best 14 steals against Boston University.
 
FROM THE FIELD
The River Hawks are shooting 34% from the field this season, with 177 made field goals on 519 attempts. UMass Lowell has faced tough defenses in the non-conference, but the team will look to improve going into the final game of the slate. Amaya Dowdy is shooting a team-high 39% from the field. Jaini Edmonds is shooting 35% this season with a team-high 15 made 3FGs and 40% shooting from distance. Kaylen Banwareesingh is shooting 37% this season as well.
 
FREE THROWS
UMass Lowell is 73% from the free throw line as a unit and second in the league. Jaliena Sanchez has made 27 of her 35 attempts and Ivory Finley is 22-29. Jaini Edmonds is near perfect from the stripe at 15-16 and Kaylen Banwareesingh is 12-17 this season.