LOWELL, Mass. – Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) scored a team-high 17 points to lead the University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team to Thursday night’s 62-58 America East conference road win in overtime against UMass Lowell at Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.

DeChent, who made 9 of 10 free throws, pulled down seven rebounds to tie for the team lead with junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh and senior forward Lucia Melero Sabat. Cavanaugh and DeChent also tied for the game high of three assists.

Cavanaugh and Melero Sabat both scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Freshman forward Averie Harding scored a career-high 11 points.

UMass Lowell was led by Jaini Edmonds (18 points), Nia Chima (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Sabrina Larson (12 points).

UNH won its second consecutive game to improve to 8-13 overall and 2-6 in America East while UML is now 6-15, 0-8.

Cavanaugh’s jumper in the paint tied the score, 53-53, with 23 seconds left in regulation.The River Hawks missed a go-ahead shot with three seconds left to send the game into overtime.

OVERTIME

DeChent broke the deadlock with one foul shot at 4:25, then her steal and layup gave the Wildcats a 56-53 lead at 4:05. UML inched closer on Chima’s foul shot at 3:35.

Cavanaugh hit another jumper in the paint to push the advantage to 58-54 with 47 seconds to play, and she made one free throw with 29 seconds on the clock to make it a five-point lead.

Larsson’s 3-pointer lifted UMass Lowell within 59-57 with 20 seconds to go.

The River Hawks fouled immediately to send Cavanaugh to the line, where she made two free throws to give the ‘Cats a 61-57 lead.

UML missed a pair of field goals before Klimentina Modeva went to the foul line with two seconds left. After making the first to make it a three-point game, Modeva intentionally missed the second attempt but Harding pulled down the defensive rebound to secure the win.

Harding made one free throw to close the scoring, 62-58.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UNH 66, UMASS LOWELL 61

DURHAM, N.H. – Junior guard Jack Graham (Smithfield, R.I.) scored 16 points to lead the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team to its fourth consecutive win on Thursday night in Lundholm Gym, where the Wildcats sent UMass Lowell home with a 66-61 loss.

Graham finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Junior forward Belal El Shakery boasted a near double-double by securing 11 rebounds and scoring nine points. Four Wildcats netted eight points – Comeh Emuobor, R.J. Kennedy, Davide Poser, and John Squire.

UMass Lowell’s leading scorers were Angel Montas Jr. (18 points) and Xavier Spencer (15).

UNH improves to 8-12 overall, 4-3 in America East and 7-2 at home while UMass Lowell falls to 8-14, 3-4.

Squire slammed a dunk down for two points to give the ‘Cats their lead back, 54-52, at 9:26. Graham accelerated to the rim for a layup that expanded their lead to 56-52 at 8:32.

Kennedy responded to UMass Lowell’s three-point play at 7:43 with a make from behind the 3-point line, assisted by Poser, at 7:00 to push the margin to 60-55. The visitors closed within one point, 62-61, at 2:42.

UNH went 4-for-4 at the foul line in the final 11 seconds to secure the win.

Graham gave the Wildcats a 64-61 lead with 11 seconds left and, following a UML mis with five seconds to play, Bike made two more free throws with three seconds on the clock.

UP NEXT

UNH travels to Rhode Island to match up against the Bryant Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 31 to begin a two-game road trip.