Baltimore, Md. – The UMBC women's basketball (15-9, 7-6 America East) erased a 13-point deficit in the final 14 minutes to defeat Maine (8-16, 4-9 AE), 60-47, in America East Women's Basketball action on Wednesday night at UMBC RAC Arena. The win moves UMBC to 9-2 at home this year and is the Retrievers' third come-from-behind win involving a deficit by 10 or more points this season. The win is UMBC's first against Maine as the Retrievers have now defeated every conference team at least once since joining the league three years ago.
It was a tale of two halves for UMBC as the Retrievers scored a season-high 47 points in a single half during the second half on 62.5 percent shooting while struggling in the opening stanza, scoring a season-low 13 points in a half on 20.0 percent shooting.
After taking a 13-8 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first half, UMBC saw Maine go on an 11-0 run to end the first half and take a 19-13 lead into the break. The Maine defense was able to hold the Retriever top three scorers heading into the game in check as Sharri Rohde (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central), Matea Pender (Sibinek, Croatia/The Croatian National Team) and Brittnie Hughes (Roanoke, Va./Northside) were held to 2-for-12 from the field for five points.
Maine meanwhile took advantage of the Retriever shooting as Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa scored eight points and Bracey Barker tallied six to help the Black Bears out to their first half lead.
Maine added to its lead, taking a 13-point advantage at 30-17 with 14:32 remaining in the second half. Rohde, UMBC's leading scorer in conference play, was held to 0-for-2 shooting and 0 points until the junior guard corralled an offensive rebound and put the ball back while being fouled for her first points of the game at the 11:27 mark.
Rohde, who finished off the three-point play at the foul line to pull UMBC to within seven at 35-28, scored the next six points for nine straight points as UMBC closed the gap to four at 39-34 with 7:14 to play.
After a couple of defensive stands by both team, UMBC heated up from the field as Pender hit a three-point basket, followed by back-to-back three-point baskets by Hughes to send UMBC ahead 43-39 with 4:15 to play.
Pender would hit a basket prior to a jumper from Rohde, capping off a 16-0 run by UMBC to put the Retrievers in control at 47-39 with 2:37 to play. UMBC went 9-for-9 at the free throw line in the final two minutes, securing its seventh win out of its last eight games.
Rohde led UMBC with 15 points while Pender scored 12 points and led UMBC on the boards with seven rebounds. UMBC shot 20.0 percent in the first half on 6-of-30 only to shoot 62.5 percent in the second half, making 15-of-24 attempts.
Maine was led by Ashley Underwood with 22 points, 18 in the second half. Barker finished with 11 points.
UMBC returns to action at Binghamton on Saturday, February 25 at 1 p.m.
