The 2026-27 college basketball season is officially underway, and both UMass Lowell basketball programs have given River Hawks fans plenty to be excited about.
The men’s basketball team opened its season with three consecutive victories, improving to 3-0 under head coach Pat Duquette. Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team began the Brianna Finch era with two convincing wins before suffering its first loss of the season on Sunday.
Both programs entered the season with plenty of new faces, but their opening-week performances have already provided reasons for optimism.
Men’s Basketball: A Perfect 3-0 Start
The men’s team opened its season on Monday, Nov. 2, with a dominant 121-57 victory over Rivier University at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex.
Freshman Jasiah Cannady led the River Hawks with 16 points in his collegiate debut, while seven UML players finished in double figures. The River Hawks also recorded 29 assists, showcasing their ability to distribute the basketball.
“The 29 assists is the big stat that tells the story for us,” associate head coach Matt Graves said following the victory. “We really did a good job sharing the ball with seven guys in double figures.”
The River Hawks faced a much tougher challenge on Thursday, Nov. 5, traveling to North Andover to take on Merrimack in the inaugural America East-Metro Challenge.
Sophomore Jayden Harris delivered the best performance of his collegiate career, recording 26 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Sophomore Victor Okojie added 16 points and six rebounds, while senior Jakai Newton contributed 12 points.
UML led 38-26 at halftime and held off a second-half push from the Warriors to secure a 71-61 victory.
On Sunday, Nov. 8, the River Hawks returned home for their closest contest yet, defeating Marist 63-61 to remain undefeated.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with UML holding a narrow 30-29 advantage at halftime. Neither team managed to pull away in the second half, setting up a dramatic finish.
Despite shooting just 34% from the field, the River Hawks found ways to win. UML outrebounded Marist 37-32, collected eight steals and committed only six turnovers.
Marist had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds, but Jordan Gabriel missed a layup with one second remaining. Newton secured the defensive rebound to seal the victory.
The win completed a perfect opening week for Duquette’s squad, which now prepares for a challenging road matchup against UMass Amherst on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Women’s Basketball: The Brianna Finch Era Begins
While the men’s program entered the season with an established head coach, the women’s team began a new chapter under first-year head coach Brianna Finch.
Finch earned her first victory at UML on Monday, Nov. 2, when the River Hawks defeated Saint Anselm 77-53.
Freshman Kayla Solomon stole the show in her collegiate debut, scoring a team-high 20 points. UML dominated the glass, outrebounding Saint Anselm 46-26, including 21 offensive rebounds.
Following the victory, Finch emphasized the importance of defensive intensity and wearing opponents down throughout the game.
“Our pressure and our intensity, especially on the defensive end, over the course of four quarters is going to wear teams down,” Finch said.
The River Hawks put that philosophy into practice on Thursday, defeating Niagara 78-53 for their second consecutive victory.
UML held Niagara to just eight points in the second quarter and carried a 41-27 advantage into halftime. The River Hawks maintained control throughout the second half, eventually extending their lead to as many as 27 points.
However, the team’s undefeated start came to an end Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, where Canisius handed UML a 73-61 defeat.
Solomon once again led the River Hawks, finishing with 18 points and four three-pointers. Freshman Achol Agok contributed eight points and six steals, but UML struggled with turnovers, committing 30 in the loss.
Despite the setback, the River Hawks finished their opening week with a winning record and several promising performances from their younger players.
Finch has emphasized fearlessness as a central part of her program’s identity, particularly when discussing the contributions of her freshmen.
“They’ve earned it,” Finch said following the season opener. “I love their fearlessness. They’re not afraid of the moment.”
The women’s team will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when it travels to Chestnut Hill to face Boston College.
With the men’s team undefeated and the women’s team showing promise under a new head coach, opening week has given UML basketball fans plenty to look forward to as the season continues.
