, VT- The UMBC Women's Basketball team (7-11, 2-7 AE) fell to host Vermont (10-8, 6-3 AE) in America East women's basketball action at Patrick Gymnasium on Wednesday night by a final score of 55-27.
In the first half, a three-pointer by sophomore Brittney Cross put the Catamounts up by five, 11-6, at the 12:41 mark and sparked an 18-4 run. Cross' three-pointer at 1:08 ended the run and gave the Catamounts a 29-12 advantage at the half. The Catamounts held the Retrievers to just two points over the final 5:27 of the first stanza and 26.1% (6-for-23) shooting in the first half.
The Catamounts continued to extend their lead in the second half, out scoring the Retrievers 26-15.
UVM held UMBC scoreless from three-point range in the contest (0-for-12) for the first time this season. The Retrievers entered the game as the top three-point shooting squad (35.4%) in America East. Junior Matea Pender is the national leader in three-point field goal percentage (53.9%), but was 0-for-3 versus the Catamounts. UMBC did not reach the foul line until 24 seconds were left in the game as Kristin Drabyn scored the Retrievers only charity stripe attempt.
Pender and Sharri Rohde led UMBC with six points each. Pender added a team-high seven rebounds in the contest.
Vermont finished the game with a 46-23 advantage in rebounding, including a 13-3 margin on offensive boards. The Catamounts drained 10 three-pointers for the second time in five games, finishing with a 10-for-28 effort from three-point range.
