LOWELL, Mass. — Bryant (13-3, 3-0 AE) used a fast start and sustained defensive pressure to pull away early, handing UMass Lowell (6-10, 0-3 AE) an 80–38 setback Thursday night at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.

"As you saw from the beginning, it was a one-sided affair," commented head coach Jon Plefka. "They play hard, they're well coached, they're physical, and unfortunately we were no match for them today. It really boiled down to our preparation these past couple days, and understanding what put us in this situation today and correcting that moving forward."

Bryant seized control early and never looked back, pushing the margin to double digits by the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs led 24–12 after one and continued to create separation in the second, outscoring UMass Lowell 21–7 to take a 45–19 advantage into halftime.

UMass Lowell struggled to find rhythm offensively against Bryant's pressure, shooting 34.8 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from three for the game. Turnovers proved costly, as the Bulldogs converted 23 River Hawk miscues into 21 points while controlling the tempo on both ends.

The River Hawks showed fight out of the break, opening the third quarter with strong work on the glass and second-chance opportunities. Junior guard Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) and sophomore forward Nia Chima (Toronto, Ontario) provided interior presence, while freshman guard Tyanna Medina (Lawrence, Mass.) knocked down a pair of triples to spark brief momentum. Bryant, however, answered each run, extending its lead behind efficient shooting and second-chance scoring.

Chima led UMass Lowell on the boards with 10 rebounds, while Rice pulled down eight to go with eight points. Medina finished with eight points, knocking down two threes, and Jaini Edmonds added five.

The River Hawks will look to regroup as they continue America East play, returning to action on the road Saturday afternoon against Binghamton.