LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (2-17, 1-8 AE) fell to the New Hampshire Wildcats (6-14, 1-7 AE) 56-51 on Saturday night. Prior to tip, three River Hawks were honored as seniors Kalkidan Mamo (Cambridge, Mass.), Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) and Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) celebrated their senior night at Tsongas.
 
Graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru) led UMass Lowell with 20 points on the night, her best offensive output for the River Hawks, and had a team-high three steals. Kaylen Banwareesingh grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and added eight points and two assists. Jaliena Sanchez scored nine and dished out three assists.
 
Banwareesingh got the River Hawks off to a good start to the game, knocking down a three to put the hosts in front early. New Hampshire responded with a 5-0 run, holding UMass Lowell scoreless for over three minutes before Mili Carrera's triple fell. The River Hawks took the lead at the media break and extended that lead out of the timeout. The Wildcats turned the ball over four times in the first but battled back and led 11-10 at the end of the quarter.
 
Shooting woes continued into the second half for both sides, with the game going scoreless for the first two minutes of the quarter. At the media break, UMass Lowell led 18-17 with the teams combing for just three made field goals in the quarter. Back-and-forth action saw the lead alternate before a three from Jaliena Sanchez gave the River Hawks a bit of breathing room. New Hampshire had nine first half turnovers and shot 24% from the field, while UMass Lowell shot 21% with just four turnovers. The River Hawks led 26-22 at the half and Kaylen Banwareesingh had grabbed 10 first half rebounds.
 
The second half was much like the first as both teams failed to find an offensive rhythm. UMass Lowell's foul trouble allowed New Hampshire to tie the game at the free throw line before jumping in front by a point at the third quarter media. Junior Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) hit a three to restore the UMass Lowell lead before Mili Carrera knocked down back-to-back shots from deep to give the River Hawks a 36-31 lead. New Hampshire cut the lead to just one heading into the final frame.
 
Mili Carrera continued to be the spark for the River Hawks in the fourth and an early layup brought her up to 15 points. Kaylen Banwareesingh picked up her 15^th and 16^th rebounds in the fourth, setting a new career high. The Wildcats tied the game at 42 following a three-point play, setting up a dramatic finish with the visitors in front by one at the final media. The intensity picked up in the final minutes of the game and the River Hawks held a 50-49 edge before New Hampshire jumped back in front with 1:01 left to play. The Wildcats hit free throws down the stretch and earned their first conference win of the season, defeating UMass Lowell 56-51.
 
The River Hawks return to action on Wednesday, February 1 with a visit to UAlbany. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the SEFCU Arena in Albany, New York.