UMass Lowell Looks to Avenge January Loss at UMBC

CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — The UMBC Retrievers will look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their standing in the America East Conference when they host the UMass Lowell River Hawks in a women’s basketball matchup Saturday.

The game tips off at 1 p.m. EST at the Retriever Activities Center.

UMBC (14-13, 8-6 America East) enters on a positive note after a 65-59 road victory at Bryant on Thursday. The Retrievers have been strong at home this season, winning three of their last four conference games in Catonsville. They previously handled UMass Lowell with relative ease, securing a 75-52 win in Lowell on Jan. 24.

Heidi Williams has been a consistent force for UMBC. The forward is coming off a double-double performance with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a double-overtime loss at Albany on Feb. 21 and recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds in a Jan. 31 overtime win against the same Great Danes.

Conversely, UMass Lowell (8-20, 4-10) seeks to halt a two-game skid and find momentum before the conference tournament. The River Hawks are coming off a difficult 68-37 home loss to first-place Vermont on Thursday and have lost four of their last five.

The River Hawks will lean on guard Jaini Edmonds, their most dynamic scoring threat. Edmonds has averaged 14.5 points over her last six games, including a 21-point, 6-assist effort in a narrow loss to NJIT on Feb. 5. Containing her will be a key focus for the UMBC defense.

Despite their record, UMass Lowell has shown an ability to compete on the road, evidenced by a 57-54 win at New Hampshire on Feb. 19. They will need similar resilience to challenge a UMBC team that has proven tough to beat on its home floor.

A Retrievers victory would strengthen their position for a favorable seed in the upcoming America East tournament, while the River Hawks aim to play spoiler and gain a measure of revenge for January’s lopsided defeat.