ORONO, Maine – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (1-11, 0-2 AE) fell to the Maine Black Bears (6-8, 2-0 AE) in overtime on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Four River Hawks scored double-digit points and three recorded at least five rebounds.

"Tonight we showed what UMass Lowell women's basketball is all about. I could not be more proud of the way we competed and battled in a tough atmosphere against a well-coached Maine team," said head coach Denise King. "We will regroup and get ready for another battle on Saturday against Albany. I hope everyone continues to come out and support these young ladies who are giving everything they have to the team."
 
Senior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored a team-high 14 points on 6-11 shooting while fellow sophomore Amaya Dowdy (Woonsocket, R.I.) scored 13 points and added seven rebounds and two blocks. Senior Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) had a team-high four assists on the night and junior Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) scored 11 points.
 
Looking to improve to 2-0 in conference play, Maine opened the game shooting 3-4 from three, with Caroline Bornemann hitting all three triples. The River Hawks struggled from the floor as the game hit the first media break, trailing 11-4 and shooting 2-6 from the field. Out of the break, UMass Lowell cut the lead to 11-8 before Maine stretched the lead to eight. A pair of free throws from Amaya Dowdy made it a 16-10 game after one.
 
Both teams struggled to hit shots to start the second quarter, with just one made shot between the sides three minutes into the frame. Kaylen Banwareesingh hit a jumper on UMass Lowell's opening possession to cut the lead to four. Maine's defense kept the River Hawks on the perimeter and the shots from would not fall. UMass Lowell went 0-6 from distance in the first half. Bornemann hit her fourth triple of the night to extend the Black Bear's lead. The hosts would take a 29-18 lead into the halftime break.
 
The River Hawks came out strong in the second half with a 6-0 to make it 29-26, forcing Maine to call timeout early in the quarter. The Black Bears pushed the lead back to four before Jaliena Sanchez knocked down a triple to make it a one-point game. Amaya Dowdy's layup gave the River Hawks their first lead of the night at 36-35 as the game hit the media break. UMass Lowell built a five-point lead before Maine answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead at 42-40. Kaylen Banwareesingh and Dowdy combined to score seven straight points to give the River Hawks a five-point edge after three. UMass Lowell shot 61% from the field on 11-18 shooting in the third quarter.
 
Amaya Dowdy provided another spark early in the fourth, completing a three-point play to stretch the lead to eight. The sophomore made another big layup, forcing Maine into a timeout with 6:49 left to play. Out of the break, UMass Lowell pushed the lead to 10 before Maine battled back with six straight points. Amaya Dowdy picked up her fifth foul with 4:50 left, exiting the game with 13 points and seven rebounds. Adrianna Smith carried the Black Bears in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 to help Maine cut the lead to one with 2:30 remaining. Anne Simon hit a three to put the hosts back in front by two before Ivory Finley tied the score with 30 seconds remaining. Maine held the ball for the last shot, but Kaylen Banwareesingh came up with a late steal to force overtime.
 
Ivory Finley fouled out in the overtime period and with a depleted bench, the River Hawks had few options. Adrianna Smith continued to carry the Black Bears as the hosts took the overtime contest 69-63 in Orono.