BALTIMORE – After a 13-day hiatus, UMBC women's basketball looks to break out of its recent slump and get back to its winning ways it travels to UMES on Friday, Dec. 21, for a 2 p.m. tip at Hytche Athletic Center. Live audio of the contest can be heard on WGOP 540AM or at SFMSports.NET.
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS (3-7): UMBC lost four straight prior to the finals break, falling most recently to Hampton, 81-36, at the RAC. The Retrievers have struggled offensively, shooting 29.3 percent from the floor during the span, including a .267 shooting clip against the Lady Pirates. UMBC was led by sophomore forward Ashley Lambert's 11 points and seven rebounds, but finished the contest with a season-low 36 points.
The Retrievers are led by sophomore guard Bria White's 10.6 points per game. White ranks second on the team in three-point field goal percentage (.268) - ranking 10th in the conference. Senior guard Brittany Crowell is adding 10.5 points per game to go along with a team-best 5.5 rebounds. Crowell and White both rank in the top-10 in the America East in three-point field goals per game. Senior guard Raven Harris has sprinkled in a bit of everything, scoring 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, while also entering the week ranked 11th in the nation in steals per game (3.8).
Head coach Phil Stern is in his 11th season at the helm of the Retrievers' program, after leading the black and gold to their second America East Championship game appearance last season. Following the graduation of 59.5 percent of the conference's highest scoring offense in 2011-12, UMBC (34 votes) was tabbed to finish sixth in the league behind Albany (61), Boston University (56), Hartford (54), New Hampshire (37) and Vermont (37).
SCOUTING THE LADY HAWKS (3-6): UMES has dropped two of its last three contests, including Tuesday night's 61-53 loss to American. The Lady Hawks took a two-point lead to the locker room, but the Eagles shot 42.1 percent from beyond the arc to rally for the victory. Senior guard/forward Karona Roach led the Hawks in scoring for the seventh game of the season, pouring in 15 points, and adding six rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Shawnee Sweeney added 13 points and six rebounds.
UMES has varied its lineup, with 10 different players starting a game this season. Roach ranks first on the team in points (13.9), assists (2.4) and steals (2.2), in addition to adding 4.7 rebounds per game. Senior guard Sha-Kiyla Finney is chipping in 8.1 points per game, while sophomore guard Jessica Long is adding 8.0. The Lady Hawks have four players averaging over 5.0 rebounds per game, including a team-best 8.3 boards coming from junior forward Shanyce Stewart.
ON THE HORIZON FOR THE RETRIEVERS: UMBC concludes its non-conference schedule at the Hawk Classic, where the Retrievers will battle Wagner (Dec. 28) and face either Fairfield or host St. Joseph's on Dec. 29. UMBC opens America East action at home on Wednesday, Jan. 2 against defending league champion Albany, in a rematch of the 2012 championship game, followed by a meeting with Maine on Jan. 5.
