—The UMBC women's basketball team (6-7) dropped a 74-44 decision to Virginia Tech (10-4) Sunday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies came out of the gates hot, making 13 of their first 18 shots while opening a 29-14 lead at the 9:20 mark of the first half. A layup by senior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) made it 38-26 with 2:34 remaining before an 8-0 Virginia Tech run gave the hosts a 46-26 advantage at halftime.

Virginia Tech opened the second stanza with a 9-2 spurt that made the score 55-28 with 16:37 remaining before the Retrievers tallied eight straight points, with six by sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) to cut their deficit to 55-36.

However, Kurowski's layup at the 14:29 mark was UMBC's last field goal for more than 10 minutes, as the Hokies scored 14 of the next 15 points to take a game-high 32-point lead, 69-37.

Kurowski was the only Retriever to reach double figures, as she tallied 13 points. Cassidy and sophomore forward Erin Brown (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) netted eight points apiece, while sophomore guard Katie Brooks (Maryville, Tenn./Heritage) posted seven points and a team-high six rebounds.

Virginia Tech forward Utahya Drye led the Hokies with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hokies outrebounded the Retrievers, 55-29, including 21-8 on the offensive glass.

The Retrievers now return home for the first time in a month to host America East rival Hartford in their conference opener on Wednesday, Jan. 6.