NEWARK, N.J. – Sophomore Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, as UMass Lowell (2-14, 0-4 AE) fell, 72-54, to NJIT (6-10, 3-0 AE) in America East Conference play at Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center on Saturday afternoon. 

"Jennah gave us some really good minutes off the bench today and Rayne gave us a really good inside presence in the second half," said Head Coach Denise King. "We will regroup this week and prepare for next week's matchup versus Bryant."  

Durant also contributed with three blocks and one assist. Freshman Jennah Johnson (Woodbridge, N.J.) totaled a career high and tied the team best on the day with 15 points, as well. She added three rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. As a team, the River Hawks were able to outshoot their hosts from behind the arc, 50.0% to 44.4%.  

The Highlanders would grab the first points of the games before the River Hawks quickly countered with a bucket of their own. Later in the first, NJIT was able to string eight points together to lead UMass Lowell, 18-5, at 2:39. Sophomore Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) and Johnson helped the River Hawks chip away at the score, as they each drained a three-pointer, with Johnson also adding a midrange jumper. NJIT would build a 23-13 advantage, though, heading into the second quarter.  

Johnson and the River Hawks would have an excellent start to the second quarter, as UMass Lowell went on a six-point scoring stretch, with Johnson hitting back-to-back shots at 8:05, putting the River Hawks within four, 23-19. UMass Lowell's solid defense held the home side to no more than four consecutive points in the second. Heading into the break, Johnson paced the River Hawks with nine points, as her team was within one, 37-36.

Coming out of halftime, the teams went shot-for-shot for multiple possessions, before NJIT posted seven points in a row at 4:22 in the third quarter to lead, 47-31. After a quick UMass Lowell bucket from redshirt-senior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) at 3:58, the Highlanders would put together their largest run of the quarter, earning eight points to make it 55-33. The River Hawks dug deep and answered back with eight points of their own, credited to Durant, ending the quarter with the Highlanders up, 55-41.  

After a two-point play from the Highlanders in the fourth quarter, Johnson sunk a pair of jumpers to help UMass Lowell to a four-point run, making it 57-45 at 8:37. Later in the quarter, Durant would collect an offensive board to then touch in a layup for the River Hawks at 6:00 minutes on the clock. The River Hawks continued to put up a fight, but could not surpass the Highlanders' lead, resulting in a 72-54 loss on the road.  

The River Hawks will return home to Costello Athletic Center to face America East opponent Bryant on Saturday, January 18 with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.