LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-senior
Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a team best of 12 points and six steals, as UMass Lowell (2-11) fell, 54-39, to Maine (6-8) in America East play at Costello Athletic Center on Thursday evening.
"That's what America East Conference basketball is all about," said Head Coach Denise King. "You take non-con to prepare, scheduling your opponents to get you ready for this moment. Today, Maine did a better job of offensively executing when they needed buckets. Credit to them and their players, but we also have a team that is capable of doing that as well."
Watkins also contributed with four rebounds and four assists. Sophomore
Abbey Lindsey (Staten Island, N.Y.) put up 10 points, and added four rebounds and one steal. Sophomore
Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) followed with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Maine would grab the first points of the game, but the River Hawks quickly answered with their largest unanswered scoring stretch, recording 10 points in a row to jump in front. Lindsey would get this run started with back-to-back buckets at 4:14. UMass Lowell headed into the second quarter with a two-point lead, 10-8.
The second quarter got underway, as UMass Lowell and Maine traded baskets before the Black Bears ignited a nine-point run to put them up, 20-12, at 6:54. The River Hawks would finish up the half putting away six points, with Durant hitting a turnaround jumper with one second left on the game clock to cut the difference to just six, 26-20, heading into the locker room.
Maine recorded five quick points in the third quarter, increasing its lead to 31-20 at 6:49. Durant sunk a much-needed three-pointer at 5:02, helping the River Hawks go on a 7-0 run and close the gap to 31-27. The Black Bears concluded the quarter with six points, though, heading into the final minutes on top, 37-27.
The fourth quarter went back and forth between the teams, as Watkins scored six of the River Hawks' points, but the Black Bears wrapped up the contest with a six-point run, securing their 54-39 victory.
The River Hawks will be back at Costello Athletic Center on Saturday, January 4 taking on UAlbany in America East action with a tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m.
