DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore Brayden O’Connor (Ottawa, Ontario) scored a career-high 23 points to help lead the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team to a 82-75 victory against the New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday afternoon in the conference opener.
“Great way to start conference play with a well-earned road win against a tough opponent,” said UML head coach Pat Duquette. “Lots of good contributions in a total team effort with some crucial execution and timely free throws down the stretch.”
One of four double-digit scorers for the River Hawks (10-4, 1-0 AE), O’Connor shot 58% (7-for-12) from the field, including hitting a personal-best three triples.
Senior Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) also totaled a career-high with 19 points alongside a team-best 12 rebounds. Senior Max Brooks (Waldorf, Md.) added 17 points and eight rebounds, while junior Cam Morris III (Alexander City, Ala.) chipped in with 12 and nine boards, including eight on the offensive glass.
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Brooks got things started early for the River Hawks, scoring the team’s first 10 points to put his squad up four with 15:46 on the clock. Meanwhile, UMass Lowell began to lock down on defense, allowing only one jumper over five minutes of play. The Wildcats (8-6, 0-1 AE) countered with a strong defensive presence of their own, but a triple and two free throws by Mincey helped the visitors maintain a seven-point edge, 17-10, with 11 minutes remaining in the first.
New Hampshire began to find its rhythm on the offensive end as Jaxson Baker sank the team’s first three of the night, followed shortly after by another three from Clarence Daniels. Although O’Connor followed with a trey of his own, the hosts responded with a 12-2 run over six minutes of play to jump in front, 28-24, with 3:34 on the clock. The River Hawks, however, battled right back with a 7-2 burst, highlighted by four points from O’Connor, to hold a one-point advantage, 31-30, heading into the break.
The start of the second half began with a back-and-forth that was capped off by a three-pointer from Trey Woodyard to put the Wildcats up one. The River Hawks maintained their composure, however, as they put together a 12-2 run highlighted by an aggressive defense that forced four Wildcat turnovers over five possessions. Although New Hampshire found a quick 5-0 burst to chip the lead down to 48-44 with 14:46 on the clock, UMass Lowell fired right back with seven straight points, kick-started by a second-chance bucket from Morris III.
Women win first
LOWELL – A dominant performance from the UMass Lowell women’s basketball team led to its first win of the season with a 70-53 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at the Costello Athletic Center.
Graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru) led the River Hawks (1-13, 1-1 AE) with 18 points, shooting 5-for-9 from behind the arc, and added a team-high seven assists with five rebounds and three steals.
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Freshman Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) added 14 points shooting 7-for-9 while redshirt-junior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and seven assists along with a team-high four steals. Freshman Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) scored 12 points and had three rebounds.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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