VESTAL, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (9-13, 6-7 AE) fell to the Binghamton Bearcats (6-18, 2-12 AE) 71-54 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) scored a team-high 16 points, shooting 6-7, and added five rebounds. Senior Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) tallied 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals on the afternoon. Junior Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Penn.) added eight points and three boards.

"The team battled back today after halftime, but we just couldn't get over the hump," said head coach Denise King. "Now we have to turn the page and get ready for NJIT. The opportunity to be better is there, so I'm looking to see us bounce back and respond on Monday."
 
Idom hit a three to get UMass Lowell on the board after a 4-0 start for Binghamton in the first quarter. The Bearcats came out strong, shooting very well and limiting offensive chances for the River Hawks. Binghamton pushed the lead to 15-7, but UMass Lowell battled back and trailed 15-12 after one.
 
Binghamton continued to push the pace in the second quarter and opened a 10-point lead with just under five minutes to play in the half. Banwareesingh knocked down a three, but an immediate answer put Binghamton back up by nine. The Bearcats led 39-22 at the half after a 24-point second quarter. UMass Lowell struggled to hit shots in the first half, shooting 8-27 from the field.
 
UMass Lowell's shooting struggles carried over into the second half and Binghamton found a rhythm, pushing the lead to 21 at the midway mark of the third. Despite difficulties from the floor, the River Hawks fought to cut into the lead. Back-to-back scores from Idom and Banwareesingh at the end of third gave UMass Lowell life, trailing 52-40 heading into the fourth.

Price's driving layup made it a 10-point game early in the fourth. Stops on the defensive end allowed the River Hawks a chance to cut into the lead a bit more. Idom hit another triple to cut the lead to seven with just under seven minutes to play. A pair of made free throws from Banwareesingh cut the lead to eight. Binghamton was able to hold off the UMass Lowell second half surge and went on to win the game 71-54. Four Bearcats hit double-digits points and as a unit, the team shot 53% from the field, including 7-14 from behind the arc. The River Hawks shots 37% from the field and went 4-9 from distance.