UNH's Naim Miller looks to set up the offense vs. UMass=Lowell Saturday at Lundholm Gym in Durham. (Photo courtesy of UNH Athletics)

DURHAM - The University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team fell in their conference opener to UMass Lowell, 82-75 on Saturday afternoon from Lundholm Gym.

Senior forward Clarence Daniels recorded his team leading eighth double double with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

The Wildcats’ record falls to 8-6 (0-1 AE) and UMass Lowell’s improves to 10-4 (1-0 AE). 

After a first half in which there were 10 lead changes with UML leading 31-30, the ‘Cats came out hot in the second half draining two quick layups, but the River Hawks responded by forcing three turnovers and going on a 17-5 run taking a 48-39 lead.

UNH closed in on the UML lead, but the River Hawks persisted taking an eleven-point lead, 55-44 with 12:45 remaining. The Wildcats kept the score within 10 points throughout the half, but UMass Lowell secured the win.

Wildcat Ahmad Robinson drained 18 points, seven of which were successful free throws. The Wildcats travel to Maine on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Black Bears.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UMASS LOWELL 70, UNH 53

The University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team fell to the UMass Lowell River Hawks, 70-53 in Lowell at the Costello Center in the second game of America East conference play.

Junior guard Clara Gomez (Barcelona, Spain) scored a career-high 18 points in the game, which was the River Hawks’ (1-13, 1-1 AE) first of the season.

UML broke out to an 18-4 early lead and led by as much as 27 in the second quarter. However, As the second half began the Wildcats began to shift the tide of the game going on a 10-2 in the opening minutes of the quarter

The Wildcats continued to outscore the River Hawks for the remainder of the third with a spectacular full-court press that resulted in multiple steals and conversions.

With under a minute remaining in the third, Avery O’Connor scored back-to-back threes bringing the River Hawk’s lead down to just nine. Unfortunately for UNH, UML regained its composure in the fourth quarter going on a 15-2 run, extending their lead back to 23.

UNH next hosts Maine on Thursday at Lundholm Gym.

MEN’S HOCKEY

UNH 3, PRINCETON 1

Freshman forward J.P. Turner (East Falmouth, Mass.) scored the game winner on his first collegiate goal as the No. 17 University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team defeated at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in the final non-conference game of the regular season. The Wildcats sweep the two-game series versus the Tigers as UNH won 5-2 on Friday.

Freshman forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) and sophomore forward Morgan Winters (Osprey, Fla.) also each found the back of the net, while junior goaltender Jakob Hellsten (Ljusdal, Sweden) made 16 saves to earn the win.

The Wildcats improve to 11-5-1, while the Tigers fall to 6-7-2.

UNH’s 11-5-1 start to the season is its best in 11 years when the Wildcats were 12-3-2 in 2012-13.

After the Wildcats play at Boston University (Jan. 13) and UConn (Jan. 19), UNH will return home for a game versus UConn on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m.

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