LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) posted her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (11-15, 8-9 AE) over the Hartford Hawks (4-25, 4-14 AE) on Monday night.
 
Sophomore Baylee Teal (Penfield, N.Y.) added 14 points and two assists while senior Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) scored 12 points and five boards to bolster the River Hawk offense. Junior Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) picked up 10 rebounds, five on the offensive glass and five on the defensive end and scored six points.
 
UMass Lowell had four offensive boards in the first three minutes of the game and seven total in the first quarter. A 9-0 run to open the game for River Hawks gave them complete control. The Hawks responded by cutting the lead to 14-7, but UMass Lowell led 16-11 after one. Teal scored 10 points in the opening frame, going 4-4 from the field.
 
It was a physical battle and the River Hawks continued to dominate on the glass, extending offensive possessions. However, unforced turnovers gave Hartford an opportunity to get back into the game, cutting the lead to 24-21 at the media break. The River Hawks found themselves in foul trouble, giving the Hawks free throws to take the lead, but free throws from Solis evened the score. The teams would head into the halftime break tied at 27. Hartford shot 12-12 from the free throw line in the first half. River Hawks shot just 26.5% from the field.
 
Idom knocked down a three to kick off the second half for UMass Lowell, putting the River Hawks back in front.  The third quarter saw back-and-forth scoring, but the River Hawks had a 36-33 at the media break. Idom knocked down another triple to push the lead to six out of the break and gave the hosts some breathing room. Freshman Amaya Dowdy (Woonsocket, R.I.) broke a scoring drought for the hosts with strong play down low and UMass Lowell bumped the lead to 41-35 after three.
 
The Hawks scored five quick points to cut the UMass Lowell lead to 46-42 with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Teal answered immediately with her third triple of the night, pushing the lead back to seven. Hartford then cut the lead to four with 2:02 left in the game, forcing the River Hawks into a timeout. Idom knocked down a mid-range jumper from the free throw line to give UMass Lowell a six-point lead once again. Big shots from Banwareesingh and Idom secured the win as UMass Lowell closed out the regular season with a 56-46 win at home.
 
Next up for the River Hawks is an America East Quarterfinal matchup with the NJIT Highlanders on Saturday, March 5 in Newark.