LOWELL, Mass. (Dec. 28, 2017)-The Morgan State women's basketball team concluded its 2017 scheduled, as well as its non-conference slate with a 65-59 road victory over UMass Lowell on Thursday evening at Costello Athletic Center.
 
With the win, Morgan State closed out its non-conference slate with a 7-6 record, marking its first non-conference winning record since the 2008-09 squad finished 8-4 in non-conference play.
 
Morgan State ended a season-long three-game losing skid with the victory, while UMass Lowell fell to 3-9 on the season and has now lost its last three games.
 
Lexus Spears led the Lady Bears with a game-high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting and added seven rebounds. Braennan Farrar finished with 16 points and dished out a game-high six assists, while Adre'onia Coleman recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Coleman would also have three of the Lady Bears' four blocked shots.
 
The Riverhawks were led by Jennifer Louro, who shot 4-of-5 from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-poit range to finish with 14 points. Brianna Rudolph scored 11 points and had a team-high four assists, while Saoirse Cassidy scored 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting, all from beyond the arc.
 
Morgan State jumped out to a 9-3 lead after a basket by Jihayah Chavis with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter. UMass Lowell went on a 10-0 run, while holding Morgan State scoreless for the final 5:43 of the first quarter to take a 13-9 lead after one.
 
The Lady Bears used a 9-2 spurt to begin the second half and took an 18-15 lead when Lexus Spears connected on a free throw to complete a three-point play with 6:09 left in the period. UMass Lowell evened the score at 24 all after Brianna Rudolph knocked down two free throws at the 3:16 mark.
 
Morgan State responded with an 8-0 run, capped off with back-to-back baskets by Spears to give the guests a 32-24 advantage with 42.6 left in the half. Rudolph would then score with 28 seconds left to cut the Morgan State lead to 32-26 at the intermission.
 
The Lady Bears opened up the second half with an 8-2 run to extend its lead to 40-28. UMass Lowell countered with a 9-2 run to pull within, 42-37 after a three-pointer from Louro with 4:39 left in the third. Morgan State would take a 46-40 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
Morgan State will begin the New Year at home when it hosts Maryland Eastern Shore (MDES) next Wednesday, Jan. 3rd in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. The Lady Hawks (3-8) were dealt a 64-54 loss at East Carolina on Thursday night.