KINGSTON, R.I. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (0-2) fell to the Rhode Island Rams (2-0) on Friday night at the Ryan Center.
 
Freshman Abbey Lindsey (Staten Island, N.Y.) led the team with 11 points and went 3-6 from behind the arc. Graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru) added 10 points and five rebounds while redshirt-junior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds.

"Tonight we played against a talented Rhode Island team," said head coach Denise King. "I liked how our team responded and competed in the second half of the game. We will continue to build and get ready for Monday."
 
The River Hawks started the game slowly, turning the ball over three times in the opening two minutes. The Rams built a 7-0 lead, forcing UMass Lowell into an early timeout. Out of the break, the River Hawks struggled to find a rhythm offensively as Rhode Island stretched the lead to 12 points. Sydney Watkins scored the first basket for UMass Lowell with 4:31 left to play in the first quarter. Rhode Island pushed the lead to 22-7 after one.
 
Rhode Island continued to press the River Hawks high up the court and pushed the pace of play in the second quarter. The hosts stretched their lead to 23 at the media timeout of the second, leaving the River Hawks with work to do to get back in the game.
 
The Rams shot 63% from the field in the first quarter and 55% in the second to take a commanding lead into the halftime break at 48-12. UMass Lowell shot 29% from the field and turned the ball over 19 times in the first half.
 
The third quarter was another slow start for UMass Lowell with the River Hawks getting their first make of the half with 5:13 to play. Rhode Island continued to knock down shots and pushed the lead to 55-14 at the media timeout. UMass Lowell went on an 10-2 run over five minutes to close the third quarter, knocking down five of seven field goals while Rhode Island went one from their last 17 from the floor. The River Hawks outscored Rhode Island 10-9 in the third quarter.
 
UMass Lowell found life again early in the fourth quarter behind Abbey Lindsey's two triples. Mili Carrera added a three of her own as the River Hawks started to heat up from behind the arc. Rhode Island held a 67-31 lead at the final media timeout. Freshman Gabby Ross scored her first collegiate basket in the fourth quarter, a nice jumper off the glass. The Rams closed the game with a 7-0 run to win the game 78-38.
 
The River Hawks return to action on Monday, November 13 at Holy Cross.