UMBC Game Notes
BALTIMORE – The UMBC women's basketball team closes out 2015 with a pair of contests at the Hawk Classic. The Retrievers open the tournament against host Saint Joseph's in a 1 p.m. matchup at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena on Monday, Dec. 28. The championship and consolation games will take place at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, where the Retrievers will either take on Central Michigan or Rider.
Scouting the Retrievers (8-3):
-UMBC improved its non-conference record to 8-3, its best mark in non-league action since earning eight victories during the 2008-09 season, after defeating Loyola, 52-46, on Sunday, Dec. 20. The Retrievers are winners of eight of their last nine games and have won six straight contests. Junior guard Taylor McCarley moved into fourth all-time at UMBC in career free throws made (296) after knocking down eight of her 10 free throw attempts against the Greyhounds to lead the Retrievers with 18 points. McCarley ranks eighth in Division I in free throw attempts (85) on the season and 15th in free throws made (57).
-Senior guard Capree Garner moved into the starting lineup against Loyola and recorded double-digit points for the fifth time in her six appearances. Garner ranks third on the team in scoring (11.5), behind McCarley and junior forward Pandora Wilson, at 11.5 points per game. Pandora Wilson leads the squad at 12.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, followed by McCarley's 12.1 points and a team-best 5.1 assists per game – second in the America East.
-The Retrievers continue to rely heavily on their defense, as UMBC ranks 14th in Division I in turnover margin (+6.36) and 18th in turnovers forced. The Dawgs also rank 26th in the country in scoring defense (54.3), while their offense is scoring 57.7 points per game.
Scouting the Hawks (4-6):
-Saint Joseph's dropped two straight in the midst of a seven-game home stand, falling first to Iona, 81-75, on Thursday, Dec. 17 and following with a 91-55 loss to No. 3 Notre Dame on Monday, Dec. 21. Senior guard Ciara Andrews posted a team-best 13 points in the loss as the Hawks were outscored, 52-21 in the second half against the Fighting Irish.
-Senior forward Sarah Fairbanks and Andrews are each averaging over 11 points per game for the Hawks on the season, scoring 11.8 and 11.1 points per game, respectively. Fairbanks is chipping in a team-best 7.1 rebounds per contest, while Andrews is chipping in a team-best 1.3 steals per game.
Scouting the Chippewas (5-4):
-After winning its first four games of the season, Central Michigan dropped four straight contests, but the Chippewas snapped their skid with a 78-65 victory against Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Monday, Dec. 21. Sophomore guard Cassie Breen registered 30 points, knocking down eight shots from beyond the arc in the win.
-Freshman guard Presley Hudson and Breen are both averaging double-digit points on the season, led by Hudson's 16.8 points per game. Hudson is chipping in 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while Breen is adding 13.2 points per contest.
-Six players are shooting above 40 percent from the field, with the team knocking down 40.3 percent for the season. Sophomore forward Tinara Moore is shooting a team-best 49.3 percent from the floor to contribute 9.2 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.
Scouting the Broncs (3-6):
-Rider has dropped four of its last five contests, including its most recent matchup against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Dec. 20. Senior Manon Pellet registered a career-high 12 points and chipped in five rebounds and two assists in the loss.
-Junior guard Robin Perkins leads the squad in scoring at 15.9 points per game, while sophomore forward C'quoya Haughton is pulling down a team-best 7.7 rebounds per contest.
On the Horizon for the Retrievers
-UMBC opens America East action with three of its first four conference games at home. The Retrievers begin league play with a 1 p.m. matchup at the RAC Arena against Vermont on Saturday, Jan. 2.
Inside the Series
-Saint Joseph's leads the all-time series, 5-0. The Hawks defeated UMBC, 79-38, in the last meeting on Dec. 29, 2012.
-The Retrievers faced Rider on its home floor on Saturday, Nov. 21, a 58-53 victory for UMBC.
-UMBC and Central Michigan have not played each other.
