BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Basketball fell to the visiting University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons, 71-37 in the Sharks home opener Tuesday evening at the Holmes Sports Center.

With a crowd of over 100, the Sharks battled in the first half as Hannah May (Hamden, Conn.) scored five points and Gracie Rolfe (Newton, Mass.) added four as the Sharks closed the margin to within seven. Olivia Murphy buried ten points in the first half while Katrina Edwards came off the bench to add nine to give the Beacons a 30-19 lead at the half.

Murphy continued to dominate in the second, going 3-7 from the field and 4-5 from the line. Andrea Suffredini went 3-3 from behind the arc for nine points and Mallory Nelson added seven points. The Sharks kept their composure, as first years Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.) and Katherine Kroeger (Hollis, N.H.) came of the bench to score four points apiece. But the Beacons never gave up the lead, shooting 49.2% from the floor and 66.7% from the line.

Simmons (0-3) returns to action on Wednesday evening at Wellesley College at 7:00 PM. The Beacons (1-0) travel to Wesleyan University on Nov. 22 and 23 for the Courtyard by Marriot Classic.