BURLINGTON, VT – The UMass Lowell women's basketball (6-10, 3-7 AE) team fell to the Vermont Catamounts (13-9, 7-4 AE) in a 56-55 contest in Burlington on Saturday afternoon.
 
Senior Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) led the team with 19 points, shooting 6-11 from the field and 4-6 from behind the arc. Junior Shamyjha Price (Pittsburgh, Penn.) scored 11 on 5-8 shooting. Freshman Amaya Dowdy (Wonnsocket, R.I.) picked up a team-high five rebounds.
 
It was a high scoring, back-and-forth start to the game, as Vermont started the scoring, but UMass Lowell had an answer every possession. Junior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) completed the three-point play to give the River Hawks the lead at the media break of the opening quarter. The offense on both sides slowed a bit after the timeout, as UMass Lowell held a 18-14 after 10 minutes.
 
Both teams got the offense going once again at the beginning of the second quarter. Freshman Baylee Teal (Penfield, N.Y.) knocked an early three to get things going for the River Hawks. Dowdy and junior Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) battled in the paint to give UMass Lowell several second and third chances to score. The River Hawks pushed their lead to seven at the media break of the second quarter. Both offenses continued to make shots, but Vermont's defense came up with a few stops to allow them to cut into the lead. UMass Lowell led 32-28 at the break, with seven River Hawks picking up points.
 
Vermont quickly tied the game at 32 before both teams hit offensive cold streaks. Dowdy got the River Hawks on the board in the second half with a pair of free throws with 6:26 remaining in the quarter. Both teams struggled from the field to start the second half with the teams tied at 34 at the media break. Vermont took the lead with a 9-5 run, taking a 39-34 lead into the final frame.
 
The Catamounts led 45-37 early in the fourth quarter before a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one possession. A Vermont basket answered by a pair of free throws from Idom kept the River Hawks within three points at the media break. Idom continued to carry the UMass Lowell offense, knocking down a three to tie the game just out of the timeout. The senior caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring five more points to give UMass Lowell a 54-49 lead with 42 seconds left in the game. A foul and technical foul on the same play allowed Vermont to tie the game after four free throws and gave them the ball with nine seconds to play. Anna Olson hit one of two from the line to give Vermont a 56-55 lead with three seconds remaining. The River Hawks could not find the net as time expired, falling to the Catamounts by just a point.
 
Up next for the River Hawks is a visit to West Hartford to take on the Hartford Hawks on Monday, February 7. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. at the Chase Arena.