UMBC Game Notes
BALTIMORE – UMBC women's basketball continues home action on Wednesday, Jan. 6 when the Retrievers welcome the defending America East champion Albany Great Danes to the RAC Arena for a 7 p.m .matchup. All the live action will be available free of charge on UMBCRetrievers.tv, courtesy of the America East digital network, or on Q1370 (q1370.com).
RAC Arena Promotion
-UMBC LED bracelet giveaway to the first 50 fans!
Scouting the Retrievers (10-4, 1-0 AE):
-UMBC registered its highest point total since Feb. 2, 2013 on Saturday, when the Retrievers defeated Vermont, 85-48, in their America East opener. UMBC was led by 19 points apiece from junior guard Taylor McCarley and sophomore guard Laura Castaldo. The duo combined to hit eight of their nine attempts from three-point range and added an eight-for-eight performance from the free throw line.
-McCarley continues to rank in the top-15 in the nation in free throw attempts (eighth, 105) and free throws made (13th,74). The junior also ranks 12th in the America East in scoring (12.4 ppg), second in assists (5.1 apg) and fifth in steals (2.1 spg). Castaldo stands fifth in the league in three-point field goals made (1.7 pg) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (34.3). Junior forward Pandora Wilson is coming off her 10th double-digit point performance and leads the team at 7.2 rebounds per game, eighth in the conference.
-UMBC is 8-1 in its last nine games, thanks in large part to the Retrievers' defense, which leads the league and ranks 15th in Division I in turnover margin (+5.71). UMBC is forcing its opponents into 21.1 turnovers per game, 21st in the country.
Scouting the Great Danes (9-3, 0-0 AE):
-Albany has won four of its last five games to close out the non-conference season. The Great Danes are coming off a 74-70 victory against Yale on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Senior forward Shereesha Richards was named America East Player of the Week after leading the Great Danes with 31 points and 12 rebounds.
-Albany has the top two scorers in the America East in Richards (24.4 ppg) and junior guard Imani Tate (19.0 ppg). Richards also ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (58.9) and fifth in rebounding (8.1 rpg), while Tate is chipping in a league-best 3.5 steals per contest.
On the Horizon for the Retrievers
-UMBC hits the road for a matchup at Maine on Saturday, Jan. 9. Game time is set for noon at the Cross Insurance Center.
Inside the Series
-Albany holds the 17-9 lead in the all-time series, but the series is tied after 12 all-time meetings in Baltimore.
-The Great Danes have won 10 straight matchups versus the Retrievers.
