MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The UMBC women's basketball team hung around with NEC pre- season favorite Robert Morris for 30 minutes, but the Colonials used a late run to pull away and defeat the Retrievers 51-39 at the Sewall Center on a snowy Saturday afternoon in western Pennsylvania.

UMBC (1-4) limited the hosts to 29.5 percent shooting in the game, but were out- rebounded 48-29, including 22-3 on the offensive glass. The Colonials (3-1) also forced the Retrievers into 17 turnovers - which led to 25 points.

The Retrievers were once again led by freshman Sara Tarbert (Delta, Pa./Kennard- Dale) who had eight points and seven rebounds, while classmate Taylor McCarley (Bowie, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) posted a team-high nine points.

Robert Morris senior forward Artemis Spanou recorded her 28th consecutive double-double with 13 points and 20 rebounds. Senior Kelly Hartwell chipped in with 10 points and four steals while freshman Anna Niki Stamolamprou added 11 points.

Robert Morris took a 9-2 lead five minutes in before the UMBC offense got started. Tarbert made a layup and sophomore guard Liz McNaughton (Fairfax, Va., Fairfax) answered two Colonial free throws with a three-pointer to trim the RMU lead to 11-7.

The Retrievers would pull as close as two, at 16-14 with 7:30 left when freshman guard Emily Russo (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) hit a three-pointer. Two McNaughton free throws with five seconds remaining in the half cut UMBC's halftime deficit to 23-19.

The second half was back and forth for the first 10 minutes. Sophomore center Bridget O'Donnell (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery) hit a jumper that brought UMBC to within 31-27. However, the Colonials would go on an 18-5 run over the following seven-and-a-half minutes to take a 17-point lead late that gave them control.

The Retrievers return to action on Tuesday when they travel to play cross-town rival Towson in the first game of a Towson-UMBC double-header. Tip-off for the women's game is set for 5 p.m. while tip-off of the men's game is set for 7:30.

Game Notes:

-Eight of the nine Retrievers who played scored and made a basket.

-Robert Morris evened the all-time series with UMBC at 6-6.

-Freshman Abbie Hein (Fridley, Minn./Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran (Wis.) started and scored her first career basket on jumper with 17:16 remaining in the 2nd half.