—Sophomore guard Katie Brooks (Maryville, Tenn./Heritage) hit a 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining, and the Retrievers hit four of six free throws in the final 19 seconds as the UMBC women's basketball team (9-11, 3-4 AE) picked up a big road win at America East rival Boston University (9-10, 5-2 AE) by a score of 65-63 Sunday afternoon at the Terriers' Case Gym.
Senior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) scored a game-high 18 points on five 3-pointers and added six assists and five rebounds and was named UMBC's America East Player of the Game. She moved into third place all-time in America East history with 224 career triples.
The Retrievers led, 41-40, with 16:41 left in the game, but the Terriers used a 14-6 run over the next 5:18 to take a seven-point lead, 54-47. UMBC responded with 11 of the next 12 points, sparked by six points by sophomore center Topé Obajolu (Randallstown, Md./Archbishop Carroll), to go back on top, 58-55, with 5:29 remaining.
Boston U. regained the lead on a jumper by center Kerry Cashman less than a minute later, and the Terriers maintained their one-point advantage until Brooks drained a huge 3-pointer with 1:47 to go to give the Retrievers a 61-59 advantage.
The Terriers missed four field goals in the next 1:21 of action but had a chance to tie it up when Cashman was fouled with 24 seconds left. However, she made just one of her two attempts, and Boston U., down by one, was forced to foul the Retrievers.
Cassidy made three of four free throws, giving UMBC a four-point lead, 64-60, with 11 seconds remaining. Terrier guard Kat Briggs hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left, giving the hosts one last glimmer of hope, but they were not able to get a shot off after UMBC junior guard Michele Brokans (Lansdale, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) sank a free throw with 0.2 seconds on the clock.
Boston U. jumped out to a 7-3 lead after 3:10 of play in the first half, but a 3-pointer by junior guard Chelsea Barker (Waterville, Maine/Messalonskee) sparked a 10-2 UMBC run that gave the visitors a 13-9 lead at the 13:49 mark. The Retrievers extended their lead to eight points, 31-23, with 5:44 to go in the period, but a 12-0 Terrier run put the hosts back on top, 35-31, with 2:02 remaining.
Cassidy nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Retrievers regain the lead, but a jumper by Boston U. guard Chantell Alford tied the score at 37-37, at halftime.
Obajolu was the only other Retriever in double figures with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and she added six rebounds and two blocks. Junior forward Meghan Colabella (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) posted a game-high 12 rebounds.
Alford led the Terriers with 16 points and added seven rebounds.
Both teams made 10 three-pointers and grabbed 47 rebounds.
The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 28, when they host America East rival Stony Brook.
