DeChent Scores Game-High 29 in 57-54 Loss to UMass Lowell

Thursday, February 19

Durham, N.H.

6 PM

University of New Hampshire

8-18,2-11America East

UMass Lowell

8-18,2-11America East

UMass Lowell

New Hampshire

Photo by: Katie Beaudrot

2/19/2026 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) scored a game-high 29 points but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team was edged 57-54 by UMass Lowell at Lundholm Gym on Thursday night.

DeChent's other statistics included five rebounds, four steals, two blocks and two assists. She played the full 40 minutes.

Senior forward Lucia Melero Sabat (Barcelona, Spain) finished with 10 points and team-high six rebounds. Junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) had nine points, six rebounds and team-high four assists.

UMass Lowell was led by Paris Gilmore (24 points)

UNH and UML, who split the season series, have identical records of 8-18 overall and 2-11 in America East.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Feb. 21 (1pm) for a Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle at Maine.
The Wildcats wrap up the regular season with home games vs. Binghamton University (Feb. 26; 6pm) and UAlbany (Feb. 28; 1pm).
CLICK HERE to buy tickets online for any UNH home game -- including upgrade to the Lundholm Loft to enjoy elevated drinks and eats in elevated seats -- or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST QUARTER

UNH scored the first three points of the game on a layup by Melero Sabat at 9:31 and a DeChent free throw at 6:29.
The River Hawks went on a 9-2 run to take a 9-5 lead at 4:06 and the visitors scored the last five points of the quarter to build a 21-12 lead through 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER

UNH trimmed the deficit to 25-22 with consecutive baskets by DeChent, Carolina Williams (Valatie, N.Y.) and Cavanaugh.
The Wildcats scored the last four points of the quarter from the foul line to tie the score, 30-30, heading into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

UML sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a layup by Elizabeth Lavoie (Hampstead, N.H.) to inch out to a 36-32 lead at 7:28.
After a pair of DeChent foul shots narrowed the gap to 36-34, the River Hawks score five quick points to take a 41-34 lead at 5:27.
Both teams scored three points the rest of the quarter to advance the score to 44-37.

FOURTH QUARTER

UMass Lowell matched its largest lead of the game – nine points – on Gilmore's 3-pointer at 5:37.
UNH went on a 9-1 run that started with a layup and 3-pointer by DeChent and continued with back-to-back layups by Melero Sabat to pull within 53-52 with 2:18 remaining.
Gilmore made two free throws to reestablish a three-point lead at 1:15.
Lavoie's driving layup once again lifted the 'Cats within a point, 55-54, with 52 seconds on the clock.
UNH missed two go-ahead field goal attempts, then Jaini Edwards made two free throws with two seconds remaining to extend the margin to 57-54.
The Wildcats called timeout to advance the ball and a potential game-tying 3-pointer went off the rim at the buzzer.

UNH NOTEBOOK

DeChent increased her UNH point total to 986 in 56 games.
Including 46 points at the University of Rhode Island, she has 1,032 career points.
Melero Sabat recorded 10 points and six rebounds for the second consecutive game.

 
GAME NOTEBOOK

Both teams pulled down 32 rebounds.
UNH had a 38-12 scoring advantage in the paint, but the River Hawks made 10 3-pointers in comparison to the Wildcats' one.
Both teams scored nine points at the foul line.
UNH committed 13 turnovers in comparison to UML's 16.
Neither team held a double-digit lead in a game that had only one tie score and three lead changes.