LOWELL, Mass. – The three-game home stand concludes for the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (4-19, 4-7 AE) when the Bryant Bulldogs (12-13, 5-7 AE) visit Lowell for an afternoon conference matchup.
 
Saturday's contest will be the River Hawks' annual Spread Respect Game, where the teams will wear special shirts during the warm-up.
 
February 17 vs. Bryant (ESPN+ -- 2:00 p.m.)
 
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks went 1-1 last week with a 71-60 win over UMBC to complete the season sweep before falling to NJIT to split the season series at the weekend. Abbey Lindsey had a standout game against UMBC, scoring 21 points, just one shy of her career-high, to lead the team. The freshman added four rebounds and two assists while also tallying nine points and nine rebounds against NJIT, both team highs. The River Hawks totaled 17 assists against UMBC, the third-highest tally this season. Rayne Durant, Mili Carrera and Sydney Watkins all hit double figures in the win over the Retrievers the three combined for 21 points against the Highlanders. UMass Lowell will take on Bryant for the first time this season in a pivotal America East matchup. 
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Bryant fell to Maine on Thursday night, 80-57, and fell to 5-7 in conference play. The Bulldogs had won back-to-back games against New Hampshire and Binghamton prior to Thursday's loss in Orono. Mariona Planes Fortuny leads the team averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Mia Manicini has impressed in her rookie campaign, averaging 13.4 points and 2.6 assists per game. The Bulldogs won the last matchup between the teams which took place last season, a 63-54 win in Lowell.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would be a fifth conference win of the season and a fifth in the last six matchups between the teams for the River Hawks.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Mili Carrera leads the squad averaging 10.1 points per game while Sydney Watkins leads the rebounding unit with 5.6 per game. Rayne Durant is the team's leading blocker with 26 on the season. Mili Carrera is shooting over 36% from three to lead the squad with 33 made 3FGs. Worley leads the team at the free throw line shooting 83% going 19-23. Watkins leads the team with 65 steals and 68 assists.
 
INTO THE RECORD BOOK
Sydney Watkins has led the squad in assists all season, dishing out 55 on the year to sit fourth in the league. The redshirt-junior tallied 10 assists against NJIT on Thursday, January 11 to become the first River Hawk to do so in six years. Watkins is now tied for first in Division I program history and tied for sixth in program history for her performance against NJIT.
 
PLAYING LIKE VETS
Abbey Lindsey has been a key figure for the River Hawks all season in her rookie season. The Staten Island native has seen action in all 23 contests this season while making five starts. Lindsey's totaled 209 points, hitting double figures 11 times and surpassing 20 points twice. She's added 25 assists and 22 steals to round out her game and give the River Hawks plenty of help off the bench. Rayne Durant's presence as a freshman has been felt with the New Haven native making 17 starts and 23 appearances this season. Her 26 blocks leads the team and put her in the top five in the conference all season. Durant is second on the team with 122 total rebounds, 90 coming on the defensive end.