LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-senior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) guided the River Hawks with 14 points and seven rebounds, as UMass Lowell (3-21, 1-11 AE) fell, 62-55, to New Hampshire (9-17, 3-10 AE) in overtime of America East play on Saturday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center.  

"I think it's a little disappointing because we definitely had our opportunity to come out on the other side with a victory," said Head Coach Denise King. 

Watkins was perfect from the foul line, going 4-for-4, while also contributing with four assists, four steals and one block. Sophomore Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) recorded 10 points, three rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal. Junior Sophie Baydanov (Vienna, Austria) totaled seven points, including two, three-pointers on the day. As a team, UMass Lowell outshot its opponent from the field (44.9% to 39.6%) and from the foul line (66.7% to 61.9%).   

The River Hawks started the game with two quick buckets credited to sophomore Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) and Watkins to give UMass Lowell an early, 4-0 lead. New Hampshire recorded six points to take its first lead of the game at 3:06 to jump in front, but UMass Lowell fought back, as freshman Sille-Liis Mölder (Tallinn, Estonia) hit back-to-back jumpers to regain the lead for the River Hawks at 14-10.  

Freshman Nia Chima (Toronto, Ontario) kicked off the second quarter with a three to get the River Hawks' 6-0 run started, stretching the lead to 20-10. Baydanov got the crowd on their feet, notching  her first three at 6:35. New Hampshire followed up with a bucket, but it was quickly answered with eight points in a row from the River Hawks. A highlight from this stretch included a steal from Watkins, who then raced down the court to record a layup for the River Hawks at 1:49. Heading into the break, UMass Lowell led the Wildcats, 31-18.  

In the third quarter, UMass Lowell and New Hampshire would trade baskets for the majority of the ten minutes. The River Hawks kept the Wildcats at a distance, always keeping at least a six-point margin. Baydanov earned another three at 7:06, as UMass Lowell continued to lead, 36-24. Durant's jumper at 4:08 stood out, muscling her way through traffic to get to the paint to dump in a pair of points that made it 40-29 in favor of the home team. UMass Lowell and New Hampshire would head into the fourth quarter with a score of 42-35 with the River Hawks ahead.  

New Hampshire hit a three-pointer in the fourth quarter at 8:32 that gave its squad momentum, now within four points at 44-40. Durant had another well-executed play at 5:13, as she completed a turnaround jumper, keeping the River Hawks in the lead, 48-43. The Wildcats went on to record six points consecutively to take the lead at 50-48. Watkins would tie the score up at 50-50 on free throws. A late foul with one second on the clock, committed by the River Hawks would give the Wildcats the opportunity to grab the win in regulation, but neither basket would fall, forcing the game into overtime.  

A foul-filled overtime kept the fans on the edge of their seats. UMass Lowell grabbed the first point from a successful free throw credited to Chima. New Hampshire responded at the line to pull in front, 52-51. The River Hawks and the Wildcats went back-and-forth, retying the score at 55-55 with 1:08 to go. However, a three-point make from New Hampshire reignited its offense, scoring seven points in a row to finish the game and claim the 62-55 victory.  

Up next, the River Hawks will make the trek to Baltimore, Md. to face America East opponent UMBC on Thursday, February 20 with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m.