LOWELL, Mass. – After three games on the road, the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (3-17, 3-6 AE) returns to Lowell to open a three-game home stand. The River Hawks host the UMBC Retrievers (8-13, 4-5 AE) on Thursday night before welcoming the NJIT Highlanders (8-13, 0-8 AE) on Saturday afternoon.
 
February 8 vs. UMBC (ESPN+ -- 6:00 p.m.)
 
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
February 10 vs. NJIT (ESPN+ -- 1:00 p.m.)
 
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks went 0-2 last week, dropping road games at Maine and New Hampshire. UMass Lowell is on a five-game losing skid and will look to bounce back with three straight home games. Abbey Lindsey scored 23 points over two games last week to lead the team. Sydney Watkins tallied five steals and four assists in those two contests. Baylee Teal and Alex Gitchenko made their return to the floor, each seeing limited minutes last week. The River Hawks defeated the Retrievers on the road on January 13, a 59-46 win behind Rayne Durant's double-double.
 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC comes to Lowell after a 1-1 week, defeating Bryant and falling to UAlbany. The Retrievers have won two of the last three games and sit fifth in the league. Anna Blount leads the team averaging 12.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. UMBC is 8th in the conference in scoring offense and defense, but leads the league in free throws, shooting 73% as a unit.
 
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
NJIT has struggled in league play, going 0-8 so far this season. The Highlanders will travel to Vermont on Thursday night before making their way to Lowell for Saturday's contest. NJIT is ninth in the league in scoring offense and defense, as well as field goal percentage. They are third in the conference in three-point shooting at 32% and second in blocks, averaging 4.38 per game. Alejandra Zuniga leads the team averaging 15.5 points per game while Trinity Williams averages 6.7 rebounds per game.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would snap a five-game losing streak.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Mili Carrera leads the squad averaging 9.9 points per game while Sydney Watkins and Rayne Durant lead the rebounding unit with 5.5 per game. Rayne Durant is the team's leading blocker with 21 on the season. Mili Carrera, Leilani Rodriguez and Cire Worley are shooting over 31% from three. Worley leads the team at the free throw line shooting 85% going 17-20. Watkins leads the team with 61 steals and 62 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.