Baltimore, Md. - UMBC hosts Lafayette on Saturday night at UMBC RAC Arena as the Retriever women's basketball team is on a three-game win streak. The Retrievers and Leopards tip-off at 5:07 p.m. and for fans that can't make the game can follow all the action as Retriever broadcaster Troy Green will bring the play-by-play on WLG AM-1370 and www.umbcretrievers.com audio broadcast. Fans can also follow the action with live stats found at www.umbcretrievers.com.
RETRIEVER UPDATE: UMBC is off to a 5-1 start for the first time since 1985-86 when the Retrievers started 10-1 on the year. The Retrievers currently have a perfect home mark at 3-0 on the year and are led by the trio of Brittnie Hughes, Matea Pender and Sharri Rohde, all three averaging double-digit points. Hughes currently has a streak of seven consecutive games with double-digit scoring, the longest such streak in the conference. Hughes is averaging 15.2 ppg and 5.7 apg on the season. Pender is averaging 13.5 ppg while Rohde is averaging 10.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg. UMBC on the season is averaging 20.2 apg, ranking sixth in the nation as of games through Dec. 5.
LEOPARDS' UPDATE: Lafayette opened the 2005-06 season with a three game win streak, coming two wins away from its season total last year. The Leopards, however, have lost four straight games coming into Saturday night's game with UMBC. The Leopards have four players averaging eight or more points per game and are led by Vanessa Van De Venter with a team-high with 12.4 ppg. Van De Venter is averaging 7.4 ppg as well. Brittany Purr ranks second on the team with 9.0 ppg and is recording a team-high 8.6 rpg.
Who's Up Next: UMBC hits the road for five-consecutive games that will keep the Retrievers away from RAC Arena until Jan. 7. UMBC will start its five-game road swing at Drexel on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m.
RETRIEVER GAMEDAY
Game Notes: UMBC against Lafayette is the Retrievers seventh game of the season and fourth at home. UMBC is on a three-game win streak and is looking to start a season 4-0 at home for the first time since the 1993-94 season when the Retrievers held a perfect 10-0 home mark. UMBC and Lafayette have met just one other time, with the inaugural series game coming last season at Lafayette. UMBC won that game, 73-57 behind near school shooting records. The Retrievers shot 60.0 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from outside the arc in the game. Matea Pender led UMBC with 22 points. Lafayette is looking to avenge that loss and break a current four-game slide.
RETRIEVER QUICK SHOTS
- Brittnie Hughes has a streak of seven-consecutive games with double-digits scored dating back to last season. That streak entering the week is the most by any other conference athlete. Hughes scored 15 points in the America East Tournament in the Retrievers' final game of the season last year. This year Hughes has tallied 10-plus points in all six games, earning spots on the All-Tournament teams the opening two weekends and being named Co-Player of the Week by the America East Conference for the week ending Dec. 4, 2005.
- UMBC has used a very deep bench the first six games of the season with 11 players seeing significant minutes and all 13 available players seeing action in each game on the season. UMBC in four games is averaging 16.3 bench points per game. Freshman forward Mackenzie Butler leads UMBC off the bench with 4.2 ppg. UMBC's bench is shooting 40.6 percent from the field and averaging 17.3 rpg. Nicole Dixon leads the UMBC bench on the boards at 4.2 rpg. The Retrievers balanced attack has kept players fresh as no player is averaging 30 minutes per game.
- UMBC has been very efficient from the field to date this season with the Retrievers shooting 45.7 percent, the best field goal percentage in the league through games Dec. 7. UMBC has yet to shoot under 40.0 percent in a game this season, including shooting 50.0 percent on 25-of-50 against American and 49.1 on 27-of-55 in its last game against Longwood.
- Brittnie Hughes is a perfect 13-for-13 in the last two games at the charity stripe, going 9-for-9 against American and 4-for-4 against Longwood. Hughes has hit her last 17 free throws, dating back to the Retrievers win over Loyola (Ill.) where she hit her final four in the game.
- UMBC down the stretch has taken care of the ball leading to its 5-1 mark. In the final five minutes of games this season, UMBC has committed just four turnovers. UMBC during those final five minutes hold an assist to turnover ratio of 3.8 with 15 assists. UMBC is also shooting 80.8 percent from the free throw line making 21-of-26.
News and Notes...
UMBC Faces Second of Three Patriot League Schools...UMBC takes on three Patriot League schools this season in American, Lafayette and Navy. The Retrievers faced the same three schools last season with wins in all-three contests. UMBC currently has a four-game win streak against the conference, dating back to the 2003-04 season with a loss to American.
Lending a helping hand...UMBC leads the America East Conference for the second consecutive season in assists per game and ranks sixth in the NCAA Statistics through games Dec. 5, 2005. The Retrievers to date have recorded 20.17 apg. UMBC has three games with 20-plus assists this season, including 26 against Fairleigh Dickinson as the Retrievers came one assist away from their single-season mark of 27, set in 1985 against Shippensburg. Brittnie Hughes dished out a career-high nine assists against American and is averaging 5.7 apg through six games this season. The junior point guard led UMBC with 99 assists on the year last season and ranked among the conference leaders in the category.
UMBC Prepares For Long Road Ahead...UMBC will soak up their fourth home game of the season as the Retrievers hit the road for the next five games and are on the road for eight of the next nine games. After non-conference play ends with four straight road games, UMBC will start league play on the road in four of the first five games.
Rohde's Start Streak...Junior Sharri Rohde extended her streak to 62 consecutive starts and has not missed a start in her entire collegiate career, starting all 28 games as a freshman and sophomore and every one this year.
Hughes Earns America East Conference Co-Player of the Week...Brittnie Hughes was named America East Conference Co-Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 4, 2005. Hughes led UMBC to back-to-back wins as the junior point guard averaged 18.0 ppg and 6.5 apg in two contests. Hughes opened the week at American, scoring a career-high 19 points with nine assists and a 9-of-9 performance at the free throw line.
Pender and Rohde Closing In On Next Milestone...Senior Matea Pender is one point away from 700 career points and junior Sharri Rohde needs three points to reach 500 for her career. Pender on her current pace will come close to reach 1,000 career points as only 14 Retrievers have ever reached that milestone. Pender is chasing 20th all-time held by Rita Wedge with 748 career points. Rohde is UMBC's active leader in assists, blocks and steals and ranks second to Pender in points and rebounds.
UMBC Places Third At South Florida Tournament...UMBC drew the short straw of facing BIG EAST opponent and host school South Florida in the opening round of the Best Western Round Ball Classic. Despite being tied 53-53 with five minutes remaining the Retrievers came up short and moved to the consolation game against Loyola (Ill.). UMBC returned to the winning track with a 67-55 win over Loyola (Ill.) behind Brittnie Hughes and Matea Pender's 16 points each.
Hughes Named To Second All-Tournament Team...When it comes to tournaments, UMBC junior point guard Brittnie Hughes has stepped up to the challenge, earning a spot on both all-tournament teams this season. Hughes won a spot on the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament team after leading the Retrievers to the title. At South Florida, Hughes averaged 15.5 ppg and 4.25 apg to lead the Retrievers to a 1-1 mark. Last year Hughes was named to the 2004 Retriever Tip-Off Tournament team.
Block Party...Amanda Robinson's six blocks against Morgan State tied Eunice French for the most blocks recorded in a single game by a Retriever. Robinson had three blocks in the first five minutes against Morgan State. UMBC as a team blocked nine shots against Morgan State, Robinson's six, Nicole Dixon recording two and Mackenzie Butler one. UMBC on the season is averaging 2.6 bpg.
Pender Named MVP Of Retriever Tip-Off Tournament....Senior Matea Pender was named Retriever Tip-Off Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 14.5 ppg in the two games. Pender shot .500 from outside the arc, making 5-for-10 while shooting 47.6 percent from the field on 10-of-21. Pender added 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the two-day event.
Double-Double...UMBC Amanda Robinson recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson. Dating back to last season, Robinson has double-digit scoring in six of her last seven games.
UMBC Captures Tip-Off Tournament Title...UMBC for the first time in the three-year history of the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament captured the title, defeating Morgan State, 72-50, in the opening round to advance the championship game against Fairleigh Dickinson. UMBC went on to beat FDU, 76-58, to win the title as Matea Pender earned tournament most valuable player honors and Brittnie Hughes made the all-tournament team.
Hitting the Airwaves...UMBC will hit the airwaves with six games broadcasted live on WLG-1370 AM, all home games and some away games via www.umbcretrievers.com and a televised game against Vermont on Feb. 12 at RAC Arena. All WLG broadcast games will also run live via the website for fans outside the broadcasting network. UMBC will also broadcast live stats via the web for all home games at RAC Arena.
Pender Looking For Repeat Season...Matea Pender is looking for a repeat season in which she finished third in the nation in three-point field goal percentage and ranked as one of the most improved point scorers, going from a 1.5 ppg average to previous year to 13.3 last season.
Retrievers Picked Ninth In Preseason Conference Poll...The UMBC women's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the America East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Hartford was the league's pick to win the conference after taking the league tournament title last year. Boston U. and Maine were selected to tie for second.
America East Tournament Returns To Hartford...For the third consecutive season the America East Conference Championships will return to Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion on the campus of the University of Hartford. Hartford has hosted the conference tournament the past two seasons, including winning the league tournament last season.
UMBC Adds Two Non-Conference Games In 2005-06...With Northeastern having moved to the Colonial Athletic Conference, UMBC will play two less conference games and added two non-conference games to the 2005-06 schedule. UMBC will play 16 conference games, eight home and eight away, and face 11 non-conference opponents, leading up to the America East Tournament.
International Students...UMBC has developed a reputation for having international students on its roster, including two in 2005-06. UMBC has graduated two international students the last two years and will graduate senior Matea Pender at the conclusion of the upcoming season.
UMBC Inks Two for 2006-07...UMBC head women's basketball coach Phil Stern announced the signings of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend UMBC for the 2006-07 academic year. Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) and Leanne Crockett (Manchester, Conn./Manchester) are both slated to become freshman at UMBC in the fall of 2006.
