LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (2-20, 1-11 AE) returns to action on Wednesday, February 15 to take on the Bryant Bulldogs (7-19, 1-12 AE) at 7:00 p.m. at the Costello Athletic Center.
 
Wednesday's game will be the Black History Month game for the River Hawks, with UMass Lowell's step team, Steppin' In Unity performing during halftime.
 
February 15 vs. Bryant (ESPN+ -- 7 p.m.)
 
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All-Time Series: UMass Lowell is 15-23 against Bryant in program history.
 
First Meeting:      February 18, 1983 (BRY, 66-47)
Last Meeting:       January 22, 2023 (UML, 76-63)
 
The River Hawks and Bulldogs meet for the 39th time in program history. UMass Lowell won the previous meeting this season in Smithfield. 
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks fell in a fifth straight conference game after dropping a home contest to Vermont on Saturday by a score of 58-39. Amaya Dowdy recorded her second double double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The sophomore has led the league in blocks virtually all season and has been a key figure for the River Hawks. Fellow sophomore Ivory Finley added 12 points of her own, hitting double figures for the 11th time this season. UMass Lowell will look to pick up a second win over Bryant this year and improve its league record.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Bryant enters Wednesday's contest at the bottom of the league standings, but with a talented and organized team. The Bulldogs lost a fifth straight contest after falling to UMBC 75-69 at home on Saturday. Mariona Planes Fortuny leads the team averaging 15.9 points and grabs 6.0 rebounds per game. Nicole Gallagher has been a key figure on both ends of the floor, averaging 10.2 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs lead league in scoring with 62.7 points per game and have the best free throw percentage in the league at 74%. Bryant also leads the league in combined team rebounds and offensive rebounds.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would snap a five-game losing streak for the River Hawks. A win would also complete the season sweep against Bryant.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
A pair of sophomores have been key on both ends of the floor for the River Hawks this season. Ivory Finley leads the team averaging 9.2 points per game while Amaya Dowdy leads the team and the league with 2.0 blocks per game and 43 total blocks this season. Dowdy has recorded two double double this year with eight games in double figures while Finley has hit double figures in 11 games. Jaliena Sanchez been the main distributor for UMass Lowell this season with 76 assists in 22 games. Sanchez also leads the team with 31 steals. Kaylen Banwareesingh and Amaya Dowdy have eclipsed 100 rebounds this year with 157 and 120, respectively.
 
WATCH THOSE HANDS
Through 22 games this season, UMass Lowell has tallied 148 steals. Jaliena Sanchez leads the team with 31 while Ivory Finley has tallied 27. Mili Carrera has 19 and Kaylen Banwareesingh, Amaya Dowdy, Ella Ner and Jaini Edmonds have tallied double digits steals. As a unit, UMass Lowell had a season-best 14 steals against Boston University.
 
CONFERENCE RANKS
The River Hawks rank first in the conference in blocks per game with 3.9 through 22 games. Amaya Dowdy leads the league averaging 2.0 blocks per game. The team sits fourth in the league with 6.7 steals per game and Jaliena Sanchez is ninth in the conference with 1.4 steals per game. Kaylen Banwareesingh is fourth in the league with 7.9 rebounds per game.
 
FREE THROWS
UMass Lowell is 73% from the free throw line as a unit and second in the league. Ivory Finley also sits second in the conference from the line, shooting 78% on 55 makes from 71 attempts. Jaliena Sanchez is close behind, shooting 52-70 for 74% from the line.