BALTIMORE – UMBC women's basketball shot a season-best 56.1 percent and had five players score in double-figures en route to scoring a season-best 77 points in a 77-62 victory versus Vermont in America East action on Sunday afternoon at the RAC Arena.

In a game that saw 10 ties and 16 lead changes, the Retrievers took the final lead of the contest with 4:03 remaining, which sparked a 15-2 run for the black and gold.

Freshman guard Taylor McCarley (Bowie, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) hit four-of-five from the field and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe to finish with a team-high 18 points, five steals and five rebounds. Freshman forward Sara Tarbert (Delta, Pa./Kennard-Dale) added 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, while sophomore Liz McNaughton (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) matched a career-best with 12 points and added six rebounds. Sophomore center Bridget O'Donnell (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery) connected on five-of-six shots for 10 points and pulled down seven boards.

UMBC snaps an 11-game skid to improve to 3-22 overall and 2-11 in league play, while Vermont drops its fifth straight to fall to 6-19 overall and 3-9 in America East action.

The Retrievers opened up an eight point lead five minutes into the contest, but Vermont scored the next 13 points to take a 15-10 advantage. Vermont took a 29-27 lead into the break, despite being held without a field goal in the paint throughout the half. UMBC shot 52.4 percent from the floor in the half, but turned the ball over 14 times in the period. UVM junior Kayla Burchill scored 11 of her game-high 27 points in the half and pulled down seven of her eight rebounds.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second half until the Retrievers were able to break the contest open with under four minutes remaining in the contest. UMBC hit 15-of-17 free throws in the final four minutes of the contest to hang on for the victory.

Vermont snagged 12 of its 18 offensive rebounds in the second half and scored 18 points off its second opportunities, but UMBC shot 60 percent from the field and connected on 25 of its 28 free throw attempts in the half. Freshman guard Emily Russo (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) scored 11 of her season-best 13 points in the second half.

The Retrievers held a 32-8 advantage at points in the paint, and shot a season-low three shots from beyond the arc.   

UMBC closes out its three-game homestand versus Stony Brook on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in its annual Play4Kay contest. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena.  

Game Notes
-UMBC snaps a two-game skid versus Vermont, but the Catamounts hold a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series.
-UMBC's 77 points were the most scored in a game since Feb. 2 of last year when the Retrievers posted 86 points versus Maine.
-The Retrievers' three three-point field goal attempts were its fewest in a game during the Phil Stern era.
-Taylor McCarley tallied a season-best two blocks.