LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Abbey Lindsey (Staten Island, N.Y.) went off for 21 points as the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (4-18, 4-6 AE) completed the season sweep of the UMBC Retrievers (8-14, 4-6 AE) on Thursday night.
 
Lindsey also tallied four rebounds, two assists and two steals on the night. Freshman Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) added a career-high 17 points to go with a team-high four blocks, four rebounds and one steal.
 
Graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru) scored 16 points and added four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Redshirt junior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, IN) was all over the box score with 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds and four steals, four assists and two blocks.
 
The teams exchanged buckets to start the game before Rayne Durant's layup gave UMass Lowell the early lead. An early injury and review led to a media timeout just 36 seconds in, setting up a fast-paced first quarter. The River Hawks had an early steal and block to keep UMBC off the board for over two minutes in the opening five minutes of the contest.
 
Sydney Watkins' steal and assist to Lindsey put the River Hawks in front by four at the midway mark of the first. The Retrievers answered to tie the game at 10 before the hosts restored the lead behind a pair of free throws from Watkins. UMass Lowell led 16-13 after one with Durant and Lindsey scoring six points apiece.
 
UMBC bounced back in the second quarter and took the lead with 6:20 to play. Anna Blount led the Retrievers' offense, scoring 15 points in the opening 15 minutes of the game. Abbey Lindsey started the game 5-5 for 11 points and added to her tally with a jumper to tie the game at the second media break.  
 
Mili Carrera's three out of the break put the River Hawks back in front. After a big stop on the defensive end, the graduate student knocked down another three to push the advantage to six for the hosts. Junior Alex Gitchenko (Ashdod, Israel) scored her first basket since her return to extend the lead with just over two minutes to play in the half. Sydney Watkins completed the three-point play just before the buzzer to give UMass Lowell a 36-27 lead, capping off an 11-2 run to close the half.
 
Rayne Durant's three-point play down low gave the River Hawks a 10-point edge early in the second half. UMBC answered on the offensive end, but back-to-back strong finishes from the New Haven native stretched UMass Lowell's lead to thirteen. The hosts led by 10 at the media break.
 
Abbey Lindsey's second triple of the night and another Durant putback out of the timeout extended the advantage to 15 points. The River Hawks were doing the work on the defensive end, grabbing rebounds to keep the ball out of UMBC hands. Durant's jumper with two minutes set a new career-high, as she hit 17 points on the night. UMass Lowell led 60-45 heading into the final frame.
 
The Retrievers went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth and cut the lead to nine, forcing UMass Lowell into a timeout. UMBC continued to go to Blount who hit 29 points at the final media timeout while UMass Lowell was held scoreless for two minutes.
 
Lindsey and Watkins hit free throws to push the lead back to nine before Mili Carrera's two made it an 11-point game with 1:45 to play. Lindsey's tough layup in the final minute put her at a team-high 21 points and secured the win for the River Hawks.
 
Next up, UMass Lowell hosts NJIT on Saturday, February 10 at the Costello Athletic Center. Tip is set for 1:00 p.m.