LOWELL, Mass. – Fresh off its first win of the season, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (1-7, 0-0 AE) will host the Holy Cross Crusaders (7-2, 0-0 PL) on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
December 11 vs. Holy Cross (ESPN+ -- 2 p.m.)
 
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LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks have started the season 0-7 with an 0-3 record at home and 0-4 on the road. UMass Lowell fell to Fairleigh Dickinson 62-48 last time out. Mili Carrera and Jaini Edmonds each scored 13 points to lead the team. Carrera went 3-3 from behind the arc while Edmonds added three rebounds and two assists. The River Hawks had a season-low 13 turnovers against the Knights.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross enters Sunday after defeating Stonehill on Thursday night and the Crusaders are now on a four-game win streak. Through nine games this season, Holy Cross is averaging 60.8 points per game, shooting 41% from the field. Three players are averaging double-digit points per game with Bronagh Power-Cassidy leading with 13.0. The junior has also knocked down a team-high 16 threes this season, shooting 36% from deep. Lindsey Berger averages a team-best 8.0 boards per game and is shooting 50% from the field in eight starts this season.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would be a fourth win over Holy Cross in program history and would snap a three-game losing skid against the Crusaders dating back to the 2016-17 season.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Kaylen Banwareesingh leads the team averaging 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The senior is shooting 36% from the field to lead the River Hawks. Jaini Edmonds shooting 34% from the field and a team-high 41% from behind the arc. Edmonds' 11 made threes is also a team high. Ivory Finley and Jaliena Sanchez lead the team with 13 steals each this season. Amaya Dowdy has totaled 12 blocks to lead the team, including five against Fairleigh Dickinson.
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
Through eight games this season, UMass Lowell has tallied 69 steals. Ivory Finley and Jaliena Sanchez lead the team with 13 each while Mili Carrera have ten 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 140 made field goals on 407 attempts. UMass Lowell has faced tough defenses, but the team will look to improve going forward.  Kaylen Banwareesingh is shooting a team-high 36% from the field. Jaini Edmonds is shooting 34% this season with a team-high 11 made 3FGs and 41% shooting from distance.
 
FREE THROWS
UMass Lowell is 74% from the free throw line as a unit through six games this season, knocking down 98 of 132 attempts. Jaliena Sanchez has made 27 of her 35 attempts and Ivory Finley is 17-20. Jaini Edmonds is perfect from the stripe at 11-11 and Kaylen Banwareesingh is 12-17 this season.
 
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Kaylen Banwareesingh has taken on a bigger leadership role this season and the senior is putting up numbers so far. The Bronx native is averaging a double-double to start the year and has been the River Hawks' best threat on the offensive end. Coach King has been impressed with Banwareesingh's effort and scoring and will look to the veteran to continue to lead the team throughout the season.
 
NEW TO THE NEST
The River Hawks welcome two newcomers to the 2022-23 roster. Graduate student Mili Carrera joins the team after four years at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma where she scored 1,229 points in her career. Freshman Ella Ner enters her first season with UMass Lowell after playing with the Israel National Team throughout her high school career. Carrera and Ner bring a new dynamic to the River Hawks on both ends of the floor.
 
COACHING STAFF COMPLETE
Denise King completed her coaching staff prior to the start of the new season. John Owens joins the staff as an assistant coach, working primarily with the guards on both ends of the floor. King now has a full staff ready for the new campaign ahead.