Baltimore, Md. - The UMBC women's basketball team (0-10, 0-1 AEC) saw an 11-point lead midway through the second half dissipate as Stony Brook (2-8, 1-0 AEC) came from behind to capture a 53-49 victory in their respective America East Conference openers on Wednesday night at UMBC RAC Arena.  The Retrievers received 18 points from Anastasia Goncharova in the losing effort.

In the remaining seconds of the first half and the scored tied 28-28, Bojana Bogetic missed the back end of two free throws for Stony Brook as Retrievers' forward Sharri Rohde pulled down the board and pushed the ball up the court to Maria Brown who found Goncharova setting up in the corner.  Goncharova drained the three before the buzzer to give UMBC a 31-28 lead heading into the break. 

Out of the break it was more Goncharova as she scored five of the Retrievers' opening 8-0 run to put them ahead 39-28 with 16:26 left on the clock.  Goncharova at that point had 16 points in the game.  

The Seawolves responded with eight unanswered points of their own to pull within three, 39-36, with 13 minutes remaining.  The Seawolves tied the game at 41-41 and 44-44 and finally regained their first half lead with 1:58 to go in the game on a lay up by Sherrt Jordan to take a 48-47 lead.  Made free throws down the stretch by the Seawolves proved to be the difference in the end as they took the 53-49 victory. 

Goncharova was held to just two points in the final 18 minutes of the game as she finished with a team-high 18 points.  Leading the way for Stony Brook was Theresa LoParrino, who entered the game averaging 5.7 ppg, with 20 points on the night.  Sherry Jordan recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UMBC returns to action Saturday when they play at Hartford in a 12 p.m. TV game.  The game will air locally on Comcast Sportsnet.