DURHAM, N.H. – Senior
Alex Gitchenko (Ashdod, Israel) hit the game-winner, as UMass Lowell (3-16, 1-6 AE) beat New Hampshire (8-13, 2-6 AE), 56-54, on Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium in America East play.
Tied at 54-54 with 20 seconds left, UMass Lowell had one chance to win it. Gitchenko played the hero for the River Hawks, fighting off defenders to put in the final basket with one second left in the contest and giving her squad its first conference win of the season.
"Great team win today for our young ladies," said Head Coach
Denise King. "We did a really good job executing in the second half and making them take difficult shots. I'm proud of our fight."
Sophomore
Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) earned a team-best of 16 points and went 7-for-11 from the floor, while also grabbing five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Gitchenko, junior
Amina Kameric (Seattle, Wash.) and sophomore
Abbey Lindsey (Staten Island, N.Y.) all posted 10 points on the day. Freshman
Nia Chima (Toronto, Ontario) led the River Hawks in rebounds with seven. As a team, UMass Lowell outshot its host from field goal range (49.0% to 41.1%) and behind the arc (28.6% to 9.1%).
New Hampshire gained a large run in the first quarter, notching 13 points in a row. Durant would total seven points in this quarter, including a three-point play at 2:22, as she drew contact making the layup. With credit to Durant, the River Hawks were able to finish the first quarter on a high note, earning back-to-back buckets from the forward to head into the second quarter with the Wildcats in front, 19-11.
The River Hawks and Wildcats were almost even in the second quarter with New Hampshire getting a head start with a five-point stretch at 9:01. Gitchenko had a huge play for the River Hawks at 3:01 when she picked the pocket of a New Hampshire player to then race down the court and score a layup, putting the River Hawks within 10 at 26-16. Each team would earn another basket to head into the locker rooms with a score of 28-18 in New Hampshire's favor.
A step-back jumper by Lindsey at 4:12 would be the spark for the River Hawks to start their comeback. Watkins would follow with a steal and fast break layup at 3:47, to make the score, 34-27. UMass Lowell went on to record its largest scoring stretch of the quarter, stringing six points together at 1:54. Going into the final quarter, New Hampshire would remain in the lead, 39-35.
UMass Lowell claimed the 42-41 lead in the fourth quarter at 7:18 with a successful layup by Durant. New Hampshire quickly totaled seven points, but this did not discourage the River Hawks, as they notched six points to keep their lead, 48-47. The Wildcats kept their foot on the gas, though, earning five points to reclaim the upper hand, 52-48. However, the River Hawks dug deep to tally six points, including a great hustle play by Kameric, as she stole the ball underneath UMass Lowell's basket to then quickly record a layup. With the score now showing 54-52 with the River Hawks ahead, the Wildcats wasted no time, scoring a bucket to retie the score with 20 seconds left and set up the exciting finish.
The River Hawks will head home to face America East opponent NJIT at the Tsongas Center on Thursday, January 30 with an 11 a.m. tipoff for Field Trip Day.
