, Md. – The UMBC women's basketball team (14-9, 6-6 America East) saw its six-game win streak snapped by Hartford (20-2, 12-0 AE) in a 56-49 overtime loss in America East Women's Basketball action on Wednesday night at UMBC RAC Arena. Sharri Rohde (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) led all scorers with 19 points. Hartford, who received to votes in this week Associate Press Top-25 poll, improved its win streak to 14 consecutive games.
The Retrievers opened the extra period with a jumper from Brittnie Hughes (Roanoke, Va./Northside) taking a 45-43 lead. Hartford responded with a jumper by Ikea Witt on the other end as both teams traded baskets for a 47-47 tie with 2:38 remaining in overtime.
After a missed jumper by Rohde, Erica Messam spotted up on the wing to knock down a three-point basket to take a 50-47 lead. Witt on Hartford's ensuing possession hit another jumper to give the Hawks a five-point advantage. UMBC closed the gap on a Hughes' lay up with 58 seconds remaining, cutting the lead to 52-49.
The Retriever had three chances in the last minute to get within one or tie the game but two missed attempts and a turnover put the ball back into the hands of the Hawks, who hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final 13 seconds for the win.
UMBC fell behind by as many as 13 in the first half as Hartford took a 25-12 lead with 3:41 to play in the first stanza. Hughes picked up fouls number two and three on the same Hawk possession, putting her on the bench for the remaining two minutes of the first half as Hartford took a 31-20 lead into the break.
UMBC came out of halftime on a 16-3 run to take a 36-34 lead with 12:02 to play. Messam responded quickly with a three-point basket at the 11:46 mark to regain the lead at 37-36. The Retrievers continued to keep pace with the Hawks, trailing 43-38 with 5:32 on the clock.
UMBC in the final minutes went to work with Rohde as the junior forwarded hit a jumper and the awarded free throw shot on a foul by Messam. Matea Pender (Sibinek, Croatia/The Croatian National Team) hit a jumper on an assists from Heather Luttrell (Kokomo, Ind./Northwestern) to tie the game at 43-43 with 1:59 to play.
In the final two minutes Hartford, who shot 4-for-26 in the second half, missed four opportunities while UMBC came up empty on two attempts to take the lead as the scored stayed tied 43-43 heading into overtime.
Hartford's 43 points in regulation was the thier lowest output this season, four below thier 47 points scored against the University of Connecticut. UMBC held the Hawks to 15.4 percent shooting in the second half and 12 points, one point less than what Hartford scored in the five-minute overtime.
Rohde led UMBC with 19 points and six rebounds. Hughes finished with 15 points as the Retrievers shot 19-for-51 from the floor for 37.3 percent. UMBC was 2-for-12 from three-point range and 9-of-12 at the free throw line.
Danielle Hood led Hartford with 16 points while Witt tallied 11 and Messam 10 points. Hartford was 21-for-55 from the field for 38.2 percent, 5-for-17 outside the arc and 9-of-15 from the charity stripe.
The Retrievers are idle this weekend and return to action when they host Maine on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. in RAC Arena.
