Video Highlights

BALTIMORE – UMBC women's basketball got contributions from all over as the Retrievers picked up their fourth win in their last five games, defeating La Salle, 60-29, in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at the RAC Arena. Junior forward Amanda Hagaman (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) recorded her first collegiate double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Laura Castaldo (West Nyack, N.U./Clarkstown South) registered a career-high 17 points.

Junior forward Pandora Wilson (Gaithersburg, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) tallied seven of her nine points during a decisive 11-2 run which started in the second quarter and continued into the third, helping to extend the Retrievers' lead from five points to 14 points, 31-17, with 6:34 to go in the period. UMBC, who did not trail in the game, exploded for a 23-point fourth quarter and would go on to lead by as many as 33 points in the final period.

Pandora Wilson chipped in nine points and two steals in the contest, while red-shirt sophomore Stixz Wilson (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough) added eight points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Junior guard Taylor McCarley recorded six points, a season-best seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. UMBC picks up its first victory in its series against La Salle and its third straight win on its home court to improve to 4-3 on the season, while the Explorers drop to 1-7 on the season.

Despite both teams suffering shooting struggles early, UMBC used its tough defense to create easy buckets for its offense as Stixz Wilson picked up back-to-back steals and converted on the opposite end. The Retrievers finished the opening quarter by forcing 11 turnovers and transitioning them into eight points to take a 13-3 lead. La Salle shot 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from the field in the opening 10 minutes of play.

The Retrievers extended their lead to as many as 14 points in the second quarter following a Hagaman layup with 7:33 to go in the period. La Salle responded with a 12-3 run of its own to pull within five, 20-15, with 1:24 to go in the quarter. During the spurt, the Explorers hit 5-of-10 shots from the field, while the Retrievers knocked down just one-of-nine.

Pandora Wilson helped the Retrievers take an eight-point lead, 23-15, into the break after converting on a three-point play for her first points of the day. The three-point play started an 11-2 run in favor of the Retrievers, which included seven points from Pandora Wilson, to extend UMBC's advantage back to 14 points, 31-17, with 6:34 to go in the third quarter.  

Castaldo sparked the Retrievers' 23-point fourth quarter as she registered 14 of her 17 points in the period. All 14 of Castaldo's fourth-quarter points came during a 20-2 run that came over a 4:14 spurt for the Retrievers.

UMBC forced 20-plus turnovers of the fourth time in the last five games, converting 27 turnovers into 19 points. The Retrievers also held a 28-16 advantage in points in the paint.

La Salle was led by nine points from Adreana Miller, while Ashanti Freeland chipped in six points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

On the Horizon for the Retrievers

-UMBC closes out its three-game home stand on Tuesday, Dec. 8, with a 7 p.m. matchup at the RAC Arena.