Baltimore, MD - - -The UMBC Retrievers handed St. Francis (PA) their second consecutive setback, a 52-49 decision at the Retriever Activities Center on Tuesday evening.  UMBC improved to 11-12 (8-6 NEC) and St. Francis (PA) dropped to 16-7 (12-2 NEC).

The Retrievers took their biggest lead of the game at 43-31 with 7:29 remaining, before St. Francis (PA) made a final push to force overtime.  Red Flash senior guard Sami Allison hit two free-throws with 10.8 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to just 51-49.  Allison then stole the inbounds pass and fired an off-balance foul-line jumper which was off the mark.  UMBC junior Mariana Santos finally came up with the loose ball after a scramble and the Retrievers were awarded the alternating possession arrow with 1.4 seconds left.  Santos was then fouled and converted one of her two free-throw attempts with 0.8 seconds left, giving the Retrievers a three-point lead .  St. Francis (PA) was unable to get a shot off at the buzzer.

UMBC  trailed 16-9 with 4:48 remaining in the opening half, but outscored the Red Flash 10-0 to claim a 19-16 halftime advantage.  The Retrievers held St. Francis (PA) to just twenty-seven percent shooting in the opening half.

UMBC senior guard Shalayna Johnson scored a game-high 21 points and senior forward Millette Green added 10 points.  The Retrievers, who are now 11-0 when leading at halftime, also received 10 rebounds from sophomore center Lara Seamon.

Sophomore center Beth Swink led the Red Flash with 20 points, all of which came in the second half.  Senior forward Carlin Chesick added a team-high 10 rebounds. 

St. Francis (PA) shot just thirty-four percent from the floor (19-for-55) and only forty seven percent (8-for-17) from the foul-line.