Blondeau Tchoukuiengo led the UNH Wildcats with 10 points in a loss Saturday to UMBC in Durham. (Courtesy photo by Jack Bouchard/UNH)

DURHAM, N.H. – L.J. Owens led the Retrievers with 17 points as the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team fell to UMBC, 69-54, Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gym. The Wildcats fall to 4-4 overall (3-2 America East), while the Retrievers improve to 8-2 overall (4-1 America East).

Redshirt freshman guard Blondeau Tchoukuiengo (Montreal, Quebec) led the Wildcats with 10 points.

UNH grabbed 37 rebounds and shot 34.5 percent from the field, while the Retrievers posted 39 rebounds and shot 37.9 percent.

The Retrievers outscored the Wildcats by a 27-18 margin down the stretch of the first half to take a 38-26 advantage to halftime and never looked back.

The Wildcats will conclude the two-game series with UMBC in Durham today at noon on ESPN3.

In other college games in the area/region Saturday:

UMASS-LOWELL WOMEN 81, HARTFORD 45

For the first time this season, four different players on the UMass Lowell women’s basketball team (6-4, 5-2 AE) scored in double figures, as the River Hawks took down Hartford (3-4, 3-4 AE) in America East action at the Chase Arena.

Junior guard Kharis Idom (Orlando, Fla.) put up a team-high 18 points, going 9-for-9 at the free throw line. Senior Tiahna Sears (Bunbury, Australia) matched her career-high of 17 points, while sophomore forward Denise Solis (Windsor, Conn.) came close to her second double-double of the season with 15 points and nine boards. Fellow sophomore Kaylen Banwareesingh (Bronx, N.Y.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 second-half points. As a unit, the River Hawks shot their best 45.2 percent (28-62) from the field, while dishing out a season-high 18 assists.

UMASS-LOWELL MEN 71, HARTFORD 62

Led by two, 20-point scorers, the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team (4-7, 3-4 AE) fended off a late attack to defeat Hartford (7-5, 4-3 AE), 71-62, in the first game of a weekend series in Lowell, Mass.

Although Hartford cut the difference to just one with less than four minutes remaining in the contest, sophomore Connor Withers (Manassas, Va.) beat the shot-clock with a clutch three and followed with four consecutive free throws to help the River Hawks pull away down the stretch.

Senior Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) led all scorers with 24 points. Withers matched a career best with 20 points, in addition to grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Graduate student Salif Boudie (Bamako, Mali) set a new season high and rounded out the double-digit scorers with 19 points, while redshirt-sophomore Bryce Daley (Pittsfield, Mass.) dished out six assists, as well. As a team, the River Hawks shot a season-high 53.2% (25-47) from the floor.

HOCKEY

UNH WOMEN GET SHOOTOUT WIN

Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) made 30 saves, including four in overtime, to lift the University of New Hampshire women’s hockey team to a 2-2 tie against No. 3 Northeastern University at the Whittemore Center.

Paige Rynne (Ancaster, Ontario), the second shooter in Round 5, scored the only shootout goal and Boutilier stopped four NU attempts in the shootout (the other was off target) to give the Wildcats an extra point in the Hockey East standings.

New Hampshire moves to 3-8-1 overall and in Hockey East, while NU is now 4-1-1, 4-1-1.

Northeastern goalie Aierin Frankel finished with 16 saves, including two in the five-minute extra session. She stopped two shots during the shootout and also made a poke check to deny another chance; UNH had one shot off target.

UNH tied the score at 2 with 2:52 remaining in regulation. Chavonne Truter (Uxbridge, Ontario) barreled down the slot and blasted a shot that was blockered down by Frankel. The puck caromed hard off the end boards back to the left post and went off Frankel, who was scurrying back, into the cage.

UNH is scheduled to return to action Jan. 15 at home against UConn.

Newsletter