BALTIMORE—Sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) scored a game-high 22 points and sophomore center Topé Obajolu (Randallstown, Md./Archbishop Carroll) added a career-best 18, but the UMBC women's basketball team (8-9, 2-2 AE) fell to America East rival New Hampshire (6-11, 1-4 AE) by a score of 77-67 Saturday afternoon at the RAC Arena.

The Retrievers made eight of their first 12 shots and led, 20-16, at the 10:35 mark of the first half, but the Wildcats finished the period with a 23-6 run and held a 39-26 advantage at halftime.

UMBC again opened the second stanza with hot shooting, making nine of its first 13 shots to cut its deficit to six points, 57-51, with 10:14 remaining. Senior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) scored 12 of her 15 points during those first 10 minutes to lead the Retriever comeback.

A 3-pointer by Kurowski, who had just re-entered the game after spending four minutes on the bench with four fouls, made it a four-point game, 63-59, with 5:17 to go, but UMBC could get no closer, as UNH responded with five straight points and made all six free throws down the stretch to seal the 77-67 victory.

Obajolu's 18 points came on 8-of-11 shooting, and she added a team-high six rebounds, four blocks and two steals to earn UMBC's America East Player of the Game honors. Kurowski tied her career-high with four 3-pointers in the game, while Cassidy dished out five assists.

UNH forward Candace Williams and guard Amy Simpson each scored 15 points to lead the Wildcats. Simpson added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals and was named her team's America East Player of the Game. Forward Denise Beliveau chipped in 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Wildcats held a 39-25 advantage on the glass, but their 17 offensive rebounds led to just four second-chance points. Both teams shot 45 percent in the game.

The Retrievers return to action on Monday, Jan. 18, when they host America East rival Binghamton at 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena.