Meredith, Griffiths lead Hound women past Mass. Lowell

Assumption 88, Mass. Lowell 55

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Junior forward MOLLY GRIFFITHS (Walpole, MA/Ursuline) and sophomore forward KELLY MEREDITH (Franklin, MA/Franklin) each scored 18 points as Assumption College defeated the University of Massachusetts Lowell, 88-55, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball Wednesday at the Laska Gym.

The Greyhounds set a team record with a 58-point explosion in the first half breaking the old mark of 53 set three times . . . vs. Franklin Pierce (11-23-99), at Saint Michael's (2-9-00) and at Massachusetts Lowell (1-16-09). It was the seventh time in team history they have scored 50 or more points in the first half.

Meredith added 10 rebounds while senior forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) chipped in with 15 points and seven rebounds. Griffiths made all five of her three-point attempts, while freshman point guard KATY HOWARD (Medway, MA/Medway) chipped in with nine points and nine assists.

Freshman guard BIANCA SIMMONS (Middletown, CT/Mercy) (16 points) and senior forward JEN VALENTE (Prospect, CT/Woodland Regional) (15 points) pled the River Hawks.

The Greyhounds came out the gate quickly and led by 20 points (32-12) with 10:24 left as Griffiths drained a top-of-the-circle three-pointer. After Valente connected on a inside move wwith 3:37 left to make it 49-30, the Greyhounds ran the final nine points of the half including three-pointers by senior guards JACKIE BRANCA (Hansen, MA/Whitman-Hansen) and MEG COOK (Braintree, MA/Braintree).

Griffiths knocked in her fifth three-pointer with 9:40 left to give the Greyhounds their largest lead (34 points), 80-46, before the subs played out the half.

The Greyhounds are now 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference. They are tied with Stonehill, Pace and Bentley for second place behind Franklin Pierce (now 8-0). They are at conference rival Merrimack College Saturday and come home to face Stonehill Tuesday. UMass Lowell is now 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

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