‘Cats Fall Just Short at UMass Lowell, 58-53

Thursday, January 2

Lowell, Mass.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

3-10,0-1America

UMASS Lowell

5-9,1-0America

New Hampshire

UMass Lowell

Faith Bonett (Photo by Helene Bartsch)

Photo by: Helene Bartsch

1/2/2020 9:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Double-doubles from Storey, Bonett not enough to complete the comeback.

LOWELL, Mass. – University of New Hampshire forwards Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) and Faith Bonett (Moorestown, N.J.) both tallied double-double performances in points and rebounds, but the Wildcats' women's basketball team fell just short in its conference opener, falling to UMass Lowell by a score of 58-53 on Thursday evening.

NEXT UP: The Wildcats return home for their first game since December 8, playing their conference home opener on Sunday, January 5, hosting the Hartford Hawks in Lundholm Gymnasium at 1 P.M. For tickets for the conference schedule this coming January and February, visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603)862-4000.

GAME INFORMATION:
Score: UML 59, UNH 53
Records: UNH (3-10, 0-1 AE) UML (5-9, 1-0 AE)
Location: Costello Athletic Center (Lowell, Mass.)
Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020 – 7 P.M.
Time: 1:53
Attendance: 230

HIGHLIGHTS:

Senior Ashley Storey was quiet in the first half but rallied back in the final two quarters to lead the Wildcats with 13 points, along with 10 rebounds for her first double-double since November. Storey went 6-for-8 from the free throw line and made her lone three-point try. Storey was also tied for the team-lead in assists (3).
Fellow senior Caroline Soucy (Beverly, Mass.) also had a team-high 13 points, along with four boards and a team-high three steals. Soucy made two big three pointers in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats attempted a late rally.
Redshirt-freshman Faith Bonett notched her first career start in the contest, and had a career day with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and drew a team-high six fouls in the contest, two of which came in key situations late in the contest to keep UML off the scoreboard.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

A tough shooting night for the Wildcats, UNH was outscored 13-9 in the first quarter, but came back to outscore UMass Lowell 14-12 in the second to trail by two points at halftime, 25-23.
UNH took an early lead in the third quarter, as Ashley Storey poked a missed free throw attempt rebound to Faith Bonett who was able to lay it in for a quick one-point lead; it was UNH's first lead since leading 1-0 to start the game.
After a UML basket, Caroline Soucy tied the game 28-28 on driving layup, and on the following defensive possession, rookie Héléna Delaruelle (Enghien-les-Bains, France) poked the ball lose, and the steal and score put UNH back up 30-28.
The Wildcats could not find another basket after that burst, allowing UMass Lowell to take an 11-2 run through the latter half of the third quarter. The River Hawks would lead by eight points going into the final quarter.
Needing a stop and a score with just under four minutes left, Faith Bonett drew two straight offensive fouls just outside the circle, preventing the River Hawks from extending the lead even further.
UMass Lowell was whistled for three offensive fouls in a row, allowing UNH to go on an 8-0 run with big three-pointers from Storey and Soucy; the Wildcats had cut the lead to just one point, 53-52, with 37 seconds to go.
The River Hawks were able to win the late free-throw game, keeping UNH out of winning range for the remainder of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

UNH	Leaders	UMass Lowell
Soucy, Storey (13)	Points	Rolling (16)
Bonett, Storey (10)	Rebounds	Sears (16)
Delaruelle, Storey (3)	Assists	Sears (3)
Storey (6-8)	Free Throws	Sanchez (6-12)

	Team Stats
27.0%	FG%	37.3%
35.7%	3-pt FG %	30.0%
70.0%	FT	58.3%
41	Rebounds	45
8	Assists	9
14	Turnovers	20
9	Steals	2
0	Blocks	5

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

Faith Bonett had a career day with her first career start, setting a career high in points, rebounds, and made free-throws. Bonett also notched her first career double-double in the contest.
- Bonett's addition to the starting lineup is just UNH's third different starting rotation this season.
Storey's three assists were a season-high; her career best is five, set last season at Minnesota. Six made free throws were also a season-best for Storey; she made 10 last season at CCSU.
UNH has had two players tally double-doubles in the same game twice this season; Storey and Ivy Gogolin (Hopkinton, Mass.) each tallied a double-double against Brown in November.
Caroline Soucy has led the team in points, or held a tie for the team lead in points, in two of the last three contests.