, Md. - The UMBC women's basketball team (12-8, 4-5 America East) defeated New Hampshire (12-8, 4-5 AE) by a final score of 65-53 in America East women's basketball action on Saturday night at UMBC RAC Arena. The win is the Retrievers fourth straight as they move to 7-1 at home this season.

The Retrievers for the second consecutive game took the lead in the early stages of the first half on a run and never relinquished their lead for the win. Trailing 12-7 with 15:30 to play in the first half, Sharri Rohde made two free throws on consecutive possessions to pull UMBC within one at 12-11. Matea Pender would drain the next two Retriever buckets, connecting on a jumper and a three-point basket as UMBC went ahead 16-12 with 12:58 remaining.

UMBC would stretch its lead to nine at 24-15, capping off a 17-3 run. New Hampshire responded by tying the game at 24-24 but Mackenzie Butler on a back door cut stopped the Wildcat run and put UMBC ahead as the Retrievers went into the half leading 35-32.

UMBC pushed its lead to double figures at 46-36 at 15:22 in the second half and only allow the Wildcats to get within five at 49-44 as the Retrievers closed out the game for their fourth straight victory.

Rohde led the Retrievers with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Brittnie Hughes tallied 14 points while Pender finished with 12. Heather Luttrell for the second consecutive game gave UMBC a spark off the bench, finishing with three points, five rebounds and four assists.

Danielle Clark led New Hampshire with 13 points but was held scoreless the entire second half. Ashley Cerniglia, also scoreless in the second half, had 12 points while Ray Williams finished with 12 as well.

UMBC shot 43.5 percent in the game going 20-of-46 from the field. New Hampshire shot 38.3 percent, going 18-for-47. UMBC won the battle on the boards, out rebounding UNH, 36-26.

The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, February 9 at Boston University at 7 p.m.