DURHAM, N.H. — The UMass Lowell women's basketball team (8-18, 2-11 AE) earned a 57–54 road win against New Hampshire (8-18, 2-11 AE) on Thursday night, using a fast start and a decisive third quarter to hold on late at Lundholm Gymnasium. 

"Extremely proud of our team especially with our effort and execution on the road tonight to get the win," commented head coach Jon Plefka. "We showed what we are truly capable of. Any win is great in conference but one on the road is even sweeter."

The River Hawks opened the night with strong offensive rhythm, building a 21–12 lead after one. Junior guard Paris Gilmore (Youngstown, Ohio) got Lowell on the board and stayed aggressive in transition, while senior guard Jaini Edmonds (Worcester, Mass.) and senior guard Sabrina Larsson (Uppsala, Sweden) each connected from beyond the arc to help the River Hawks control the opening frame. 

The second quarter tightened up as both teams traded stops and contested looks. Lowell continued to work inside-out through Edmonds and Gilmore, but the margin slowly closed and the teams went into the locker room tied at 30–30. 

Out of halftime, the River Hawks delivered their most complete stretch of the game. Lowell locked in defensively and outscored its opponent 14–7 in the third quarter, sparked by back-to-back threes from Larsson and Gilmore. Edmonds added a pull-up jumper and controlled the offense during the run, helping Lowell build a 44–37 advantage heading into the fourth. 

The final period came down to execution. Gilmore knocked down another triple early in the quarter to keep the River Hawks in front, and Edmonds attacked off the dribble for a key basket in the closing minutes. Lowell made timely plays on both ends down the stretch and converted at the line in the final seconds to secure the three-point win. 

Gilmore led the River Hawks with a career-high 24 points and four three-pointers, while Edmonds totaled 11 points and five assists. Larsson added nine points on three makes from deep as Lowell finished with 10 three-pointers on the night and closed out the 57–54 road victory. 

The River Hawks continue their road stretch on Saturday with a 3 p.m. matchup at Binghamton.