BALTIMORE – UMBC women's basketball
looks to snap a three-game skid and get back to its winning ways
when it returns home on Friday, Dec. 7 to take on Hampton. Tip-off
is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena. All the action can be
seen live on UMBCRetrievers.tv. Troy Green and Dan Levin have the
call on Q1370/www.q1370.com.
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS (3-6): UMBC
dropped its third straight - all on the road - on Wednesday night
against VCU. The Retrievers, who trailed by five at the half, shot
14.3 percent from the floor in the second stanza and went on to
fall, 70-41 to the Rams. UMBC, who was missing three of its
starters, failed to put anyone in double-digit points, while the
Rams had three finish in double-figures led by freshman guard
Jessica Pellechio's 20 points. Senior guard Brittany
Crowell finished with a team-best nine points and five
rebounds for UMBC, while senior guard Raven
Harris chipped in seven points, six steals, five rebounds and
three assists.
The Retrievers have allowed 10-plus threes in each of the last
four games - a total of 44 treys - and have been outscored 248-144
in the last three games. UMBC's schedule does not look to be easing
up, as Hampton knocked down 14 shots from beyond the arc in last
season's 75-47 victory.
UMBC have three players averaging in double-digit points
throughout the season, led by sophomore guard Lauren
Chase (13.6 ppg). Crowell is pulling down a team-best 5.9
rebounds to go with 11.3 points. Harris is contributing across the
board for the Retrievers, averaging 10.2 points, 4.8 steals, 4.7
rebounds and 2.8 assists. Sophomore guard Bria White, who
returned to the starting lineup against VCU, is adding 10.9
points.
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 PIRATES (6-3, 2-0
MEAC): Hampton snapped a three-game losing streak
with back-to-back conference road wins. The Lady Pirates opened
December with a 59-46 win against South Carolina State on Saturday.
Sophomore guard Kenia Cole had a career day, leading Hampton with
20 points and five assists - both career bests. Senior forward
Keiara Avant added her sixth double-double of the season, with 12
points and 12 rebounds. Avant fell just short of her seventh
double-double in a dominant win against Savannah State on Monday,
leading the way 22 points and nine rebounds in a 70-40
victory.
Avant leads the country in double-doubles on the season and is
averaging team-bests in points (17.2 ppg) and rebounds (10.2 rpg).
The senior is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and 83.8 percent
from the charity stripe. Junior guard Nicole Hamilton is leading
the team in assists (44) and steals (24) to go along with 10.9
points per game. The Lady Pirates are holding a +7.1 turnover
margin, forcing their opponents to 22.8 turnovers per game.
ON THE HORIZON FOR THE RETRIEVERS: After a
13-day hiatus, the Retrievers travel to UMES on Dec. 21 before
breaking for the holidays. UMBC will conclude 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 on at home on Wednesday,
Jan. 2 against defending league champion Albany, in a rematch of
the 2012 championship game.
