Washington, D.C. – The UMBC women's basketball team (4-1) defeated American University (1-4) on Thursday night at Bender Arena as the Retrievers broke a 24-24 halftime tie with a 17-5 run to start the second half. The Retrievers tallied 44 second-half points to improve to their best start since the 1989-90 season.

Sharri Rohde led the Retrievers to open the second half with a three-point play, putting UMBC up 27-24. The Retrievers opened with seven consecutive points and went on a 17-4 run to take a 41-29 lead with 13:44 remaining.

American responded to close the Retriever lead back to one at 51-50 with 6:47 left in the game as Tara Williams scored a lay-up and made the free throw for the traditional three-point play.

Matea Pender responded with a trey and scored the Retrievers next eight points to put the Retrievers up 59-50. Brittnie Hughes was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line in the game, including hitting 6-of-6 in the final three minutes to seal the Retriever win.

UMBC shot 59.3 percent from the field in the second half and finished 25-of-50 from the field for the game. Hughes tallied 19 points and nine assists for career highs. Pender tallied 17 points with three three-point baskets while Rohde scored 16 points, including 14 in the second half. Rohde went 7-of-10 from the field.

Abby Lipski scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting to lead the Eagles. Tala Hadavi finished in double figures as well with 12 points. American shot 34.5 percent from the field at 19-for-55.

Each team recorded over 20 turnovers but the Retrievers handed out 22 assists on 25 made baskets.

UMBC returns to action when they face Longwood on Saturday at 7 p.m. in UMBC RAC Arena.