LOWELL, Mass. — The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (5-6) battled through four quarters and overtime to secure a 73–72 win over LIU (4-6) on Sunday afternoon at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex, prevailing in a back-and-forth game that featured nine lead changes and ten ties.

"We showed fight and we showed determination," commented head coach Jon Plefka. "To respond the way we did in the third and fourth was really promising. It was an unbelievable performance from Jaini — something that we needed today. Big free throws, big moments, big stops. But this was a true team win, with everyone contributing."

Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) led all scorers with a career-high 26 points while also pulling down a career-best 10 rebounds, recording the first double-double of her collegiate career. The senior guard added five assists and four steals in a complete performance, logging 43 minutes and delivering in key moments down the stretch and in overtime.

The River Hawks set the tone early behind active defense and second-chance efforts. Junior guard Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) sparked the opening quarter with energy on the glass, creating extra possessions that led to early scoring opportunities, while Edmonds and junior guard Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio) helped UMass Lowell build a slim 19–18 lead after one.

LIU responded in the second quarter with a late push, capitalizing on turnovers and interior touches to grab momentum heading into halftime. Despite timely baskets from Edmonds and graduate forward Anabel Latorre Ciria (Zaragoza, Spain), the River Hawks trailed 33–29 at the break.

Coming out of halftime, UMass Lowell answered. Edmonds knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to keep the River Hawks within striking distance, and the teams traded runs throughout the third quarter before LIU carried a narrow 53–49 edge into the final period.

The fourth quarter featured momentum swings on both ends, with UMass Lowell chipping away possession by possession. Defensive stops and timely free throws by Edmonds late in regulation forced overtime, where the River Hawks stayed composed at the line and came up with key defensive plays to edge LIU, 7–6, in the extra period and seal the one-point victory.

Four River Hawks scored in double figures, led by Edmonds' career-high 26-point performance. Rice and freshman Tyanna Medina (Lawrence, Mass.) each added 11 points, while Gilmore chipped in 10. UMass Lowell also received 17 points from its bench and forced 16 turnovers on the afternoon.

Up next, the River Hawks return to the road for a matchup at Holy Cross on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Worcester, Mass.