University of Massachusetts Lowell
1-0,0-0America East
Saint Anselm
0-0,0-0NE10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Anselm | 18 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 53 |
| UMass Lowell | 18 | 17 | 25 | 17 | 77 |
11/2/2026 6:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Kayla Solomon (Central Islip, N.Y.) scored a team-high 20 points in her collegiate debut as the UMass Lowell women's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2026-27 season with a 77-53 victory over Saint Anselm (0-0) on Monday afternoon at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.
"We've talked about our pressure and our intensity, especially on the defensive end, over the course of four quarters is going to wear teams down. And we saw that tonight, especially in the second and third quarter," said head coach Brianna Finch. "Everybody that came off the bench gave us great minutes, great intensity. I'm just really proud of our effort, and it's something that we can definitely build on going into our next game."
The victory marked the first win for head coach Brianna Finch at the helm of the River Hawks. Solomon finished 6-for-10 from the field, including three three-pointers, while adding six rebounds and three assists. Junior Nia Chima (Toronto, Ontario) contributed nine points and a team-high eight rebounds, while freshman Izabella Asp (Jönköping, Sweden) and junior Yazmin Edwards (Ipswich, United Kingdom) chipped in eight points apiece.
Junior Carla Subirats (Barcelona, Spain) added five points, four assists and a game-high four steals, helping the River Hawks force 19 turnovers and convert them into 30 points. As a team, UMass Lowell shot 47.6% from the field and held a 46-26 advantage in points in the paint.
Saint Anselm opened the contest with a three-pointer, but UMass Lowell quickly responded with a layup from Chima and a pair of free throws from Solomon to take its first lead. Neither side was able to pull away in a back-and-forth opening quarter, which featured five ties. The River Hawks received contributions off the bench from Edwards and Asp, but the teams remained even at 18-18 after the first 10 minutes.
UMass Lowell came out aggressively in the second quarter, using its defensive pressure to create separation. Subirats recorded three steals in the opening minute, converting two into transition layups, while Solomon and sophomore Tyanna Medina (Lawrence, Mass.) connected from beyond the arc. The River Hawks opened the period on a 15-0 run to take a 33-18 advantage with 4:05 remaining. However, the Hawks responded with a late push, cutting the deficit to four points as UMass Lowell entered halftime ahead, 35-31.
The River Hawks regained control after the break, outscoring Saint Anselm 25-11 in the third quarter. Solomon continued to lead the offensive effort, while Edwards and freshman Achol Agok (Canberra, Australia) provided a spark in the paint. Agok scored all six of her points in the frame, including a putback in the closing seconds that extended UMass Lowell's lead to 60-42 heading into the fourth.
UMass Lowell carried that momentum into the final quarter, opening with consecutive baskets from Edwards and Solomon to push its advantage to 22 points. Medina later knocked down her second three-pointer of the afternoon, while the River Hawks continued to capitalize on second-chance opportunities. UMass Lowell stretched its lead to as many as 25 points before closing out the 77-53 victory.
The River Hawks finished with a 46-26 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive boards, and received 36 points from their bench. UMass Lowell also recorded 13 steals and 16 assists in the season-opening win.
Up Next
The River Hawks remain at home to host Niagara on Thursday, November 5, at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
