LEWISBURG, Pa.—Sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) scored 29 points as the UMBC women's basketball team (3-2) withstood a furious second-half comeback attempt by host Bucknell (2-4) and held on to beat the Bison, 68-63, Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion.
Kurowski, senior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) and sophomore guard Katie Brooks (Maryville, Tenn./Heritage) combined to score all 38 first-half points for the Retrievers, who led 38-25 at halftime. The trio combined to hit six 3-pointers in the period, including three by Cassidy, and Kurowski led all scorers with 17 points.
Trailing, 44-31, with 16:41 left, Bucknell used an 11-2 run over the next two minutes to cut its deficit to four points. The Retrievers went without a field goal for more than seven minutes, and the Bison eventually tied the score at 60 with 2:43 to play.
But Kurowski hit a pair of free throws and a layup to curb the Bucknell rally. She went on to score UMBC's final eight points. She finished with 29 points, one shy of her career best, on 9-of-18 shooting and 10-of-12 from the foul line and added seven rebounds and three steals. Brooks had 12 points and four assists, and Cassidy added 11.
Trisha Krewson led three Bison in double figures with 12 points, while Felicia Mgbada posted a game-high nine rebounds.
Bucknell outrebounded UMBC, 48-34, but the Retrievers scored 23 points off 23 Bison turnovers.
The Retrievers return to action on Wednesday, when they host in-state rival Navy at 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena.
