LOWELL, Mass. – Four players scored double figures and sophomore Ivory Finley (Minneapolis, Minn.) exploded for a career-high 21 points as the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (4-21, 3-12 AE) picked up a second straight conference with a big win over the UMBC Retrievers (13-14, 10-6 AE) on Wednesday night.
 
"I think they played really well; we were locked in and attentive, and executed plays," said assistant coach John Owens. "We played together and gave the effort to win. We know we can compete with any team in the league and tonight we showed that. We as a coaching staff made some adjustments at the half and got shots to fall. Every game has felt like a playoff game and Saturday will be no different. We're ready to go."
 
Finley's 21 points led all scorers while graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru), senior Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore Amaya Dowdy (Woonsocket, R.I.) each tallied double figures as well, combining for 39 points. Senior Jaliena Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) dished out a career-high nine assists and added five rebounds. Banwareesingh picked up 13 rebounds with her 13 points to record her fourth double double of the season.
 
The game started at a frantic pace, but both sides struggled to get an offensive rhythm going. The Retrievers began to knock down shots and took a 9-4 lead at the first media timeout. Out of the break, UMass Lowell responded well behind six points from Banwareesingh and Finley to cut the lead to one possession. Amaya Dowdy's layup at the buzzer kept the River Hawks within three after one.
 
Junior Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) scored on the River Hawks' opening possession of the second quarter as the hosts picked up their energy and intensity. A 6-0 run from UMBC forced the River Hawks into a timeout, but the team responded immediately with a big block from Dowdy followed by a Sanchez layup. UMass Lowell put together a 10-0 run over five and a half minutes, but UMBC led by four at the half.
 
Needing a win to stay in playoff contention, the River Hawks came out flying in the second half. Mili Carrera knocked down a three to cut the lead to one, but the Retrievers maintained their two-possession edge. Finley's layup beat the buzzer to bring UMass Lowell within four heading into the fourth, setting up a dramatic finish.
 
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth, action-packed 10 minutes. Ivory Finley set a new career-high in points and Kaylen Banwareesingh was heating up from distance. The senior knocked down three threes in the final frame to give UMass Lowell the boost it needed to storm back and take the lead. Carrera and Banwareesingh hit back-to-back triples to give UMass Lowell a 53-50 lead. UMBC would not go quietly and stayed within one possession as time was winding down. Free throws from Carrera and Sanchez down the stretch helped the River Hawks hold off the late rally and secure a massive win late in the season.
 
The regular season concludes on Saturday, February 25 as the River Hawks take on New Hampshire to determine which team will make the postseason. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham.