Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Some notes and news related to the UMass Lowell women's basketball team that didn't fit into the latest game story.

- IN THE ZONE: The Owls zone defense paved the way for shooting guard Megan Berry’s 21-point night which included 5-for-7 from behind the three-point line. Perhaps a head-scratching decision for some in attendance, the Owls stuck with a zone or various zone looks for a large chunk of the contest in which UML shot over 50 percent from the field. Meanwhile, Berry was simply taking advantage of what the defense and her teammates gave her to work with.

“In the first half I made a couple and they came and played me tight,” Berry said. “The second half the didn’t play me tight and I hit some and then they started to play me tight, but my teammates were able to get me open for the last couple that I shot.”

- WHERE YOU GOING WITH THAT BALL: The UMass Lowell women decided to re-emphasize defense and on Wednesday they reaped the benefits of Rahshala Valentine stepping up. UML head coach Kathy O’Neil praised Valentine for playing individual defense and not losing sight of her help defense responsibilities, something he had struggled with at times. Point guards Valentine and Tamaria Menefee had a very respectable night as the first line of defense as they combined to snatch six steals.

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Freshman center Kristin Nalivaika celebrated her birthday by scoring the first four points of her collegiate career on Wednesday. She netted a pair of layups in the final 30 seconds to finish with four points on 2-for-2 shooting and one rebound in one minute of play. Each of her scoring plays prompted raucous cheering from the River Hawks’ bench. The 6-foot-2 Worcester native had played in just three games prior to the Southern Connecticut game. She is now shooting a perfect 100 percent from the field (2-for-2) this season.

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