, Vt.-Alexis Castro scored a game-high 19 points as host Vermont (9-4, 1-2 America East) cruised to a 74-60 win over UMBC (8-6, 0-3 A. East) at Patrick Gym.
The Catamounts led the entire game, taking an early 7-0 advantage and building it to 26-10 with 8:32 remaining in the first half. They settled for a 40-27 halftime edge, hitting 16 of 35 shots from the floor (45.7%) and holding UMBC without a three-point field goal in the first 20 minutes.
UMBC would get as close as ten points down at 54-44 on an Amanda Robinson layup with 11:50 remaining. But Vermont went on an 11-2 run to pull ahead, 65-46, with 7:29 to play. The Catamounts led by as many as 23 points before UMBC closed the game on an 11-2 run.
Castro hit eight of ten shots from the floor and all three free throw attempts. She added a game-high eight rebounds, and contributed three assists and two blocked shots. Brittney Cross added 13 points for Vermont.
UMBC, which dropped its third consecutive game, was led by junior forward Sharri Rohde, who scored 11 points. Robinson and reserve Erin Voss scored 10 apiece.
Ten different Retrievers suffered at least one turnover as UMBC committed 23 give-aways in the contest.
UMBC continues the road trip on Saturday at defending league champion Hartford. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m.
