LOWELL, MA (Feb. 23, 2008) – Sophomore F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) scored a career-high 18 points and sophomore G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) hit a layup with 5.2 seconds left as UMass Lowell stunned American International, 59-57, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, UML improved to 12-14 overall and 7-14 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday night’s regular season finale at home against Saint Rose (5:30). The loss halted a five-game winning streak for AIC, which slipped to 16-10 overall and 12-9 in the Conference.

A NE-10 Tournament bid remains in the balance for UML, which must win over Saint Rose while Southern New Hampshire (8-13) must lose at Saint Michael’s Tuesday night.

Valente converted 6 of 10 field goals, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range, and all four free throws while snatching six rebounds. Valentine added 10 points and three assists, hitting 4 of 6 field goals and 2 of 3 treys.

Junior F Stacy Boisvert (Agawam, MA) led the Yellow Jackets with 21 points as she converted 7 of 12 shots from the field and 7 of 10 from the free throw line. Senior F Alexis Castro (Chula Vista, CA) added 14 points and eight rebounds.

The River Hawks posted their biggest lead, 55-47, with 4:53 left to play, but the Yellow Jackets scored six straight points – four by Boisvert – to cut the lead to 55-53 with 2:36 left to play.

After a jumper by junior F Antonnea Robinson (West Haven, CT), Boisvert converted two free throws and a layup to knot the score 57-57 with 1:11 left to play.

Both teams were off the mark on their next field goal attempts, but Valentine cut through the lane and banked in the game-winning layup with 5.2 seconds left. Following a timeout, AIC was unable to get off a shot before time expired.