LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (0-12) fell to the Colgate Raiders (7-4) 65-45 in the final game of the non-conference slate on Friday afternoon at Costello.

Freshman Abbey Lindsey (Staten Island, N.Y.) led the team with 13 points on 5-10 shooting while redshirt-junior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, In.) added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Lindsey and Watkins combined for 10 steals, with four and six, respectively. Freshman Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) went 4-13 for eight points and grabbed five rebounds. 

"I thought we were more disciplined in the first half in our attacks and what we were looking for with the ball," said head coach Denise King. "I thought we were the aggressor in the first half and more patient with our offense. I think [the non-conference schedule] has taught us that when we stay disciplined and stick to our game, we have the ability to get whatever shot we want. When we are locked in, it helps on both ends of the floor."
 
UMass Lowell had good energy in the opening minutes of the game with Sydney Watkins getting the hosts on the board with a steal-and-score. Watkins made another tough layup on the next possession to put the River Hawks in front early. Colgate responded and took a 7-6 lead at the first media timeout.
 
Out of the break, UMass Lowell was held off the board until a strong finish from Rayne Durant in the final minute of the game. Durant's layup as time expired made it an 11-10 game after one with the visitors in front.
 
Three minutes into the second quarter, just one shot fell for the visitors to give them a three-point lead. UMass Lowell burned a timeout looking to talk things over and gets points on the board before the half. Rayne Durant knocked down a mid-range jumper out of the break to end the scoring drought.
 
Colgate extended the lead to five before back-to-back makes from Mili Carrera and Sydney Watkins brought the River Hawks within one and forced the visitors to use a timeout. Carrera's steal and score and Abbey Lindsey's layup gave UMass Lowell its first lead of the afternoon at 22-19. The River Hawks got a big stop in the closing seconds and led 26-23 at the half.
 
The Raiders came out flying in the second half, scoring six points in the opening 1:22 to take a 29-26 and force UMass Lowell into an early timeout. Abbey Lindsey's pair of free throws were the first points of the half for the River Hawks, cutting the Colgate lead to five. The Raiders stretched the lead to 20 heading into the fourth quarter, outscoring UMass Lowell 29-6 in the third.
 
Shooting struggles continued for the River Hawks in the final frame while the Raiders hit shots to extend the lead. Colgate led by 26 at the final media timeout. Abbey Lindsey had back-to-back buckets to spark life in the River Hawks late in the game. UMass Lowell battled to close the gap, but ultimately fell 65-45.
 
Next up, the River Hawks open conference play on January 4 when they host the Maine Black Bears.