Box Score Video Highlights
Baltimore, Md.—Junior Taylor McCarley (Bowie, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) scored a game high 19 points to lead UMBC to a 58-51 win against Hartford on Wednesday. UMBC moves to 16-10, 7-6 AE on the year after winning their third in a row.
UMBC opened the game with back to back layups from junior Amanda Hagaman (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan). McCarley then nailed a triple to increase the Retriever run to 7-0 before a Hartford bucket quelled the run. McCarley would strike again later in the quarter, followed up by a Pandora Wilson (Gaithersburg, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) jumper to give UMBC a 15-10 lead late. With time winding down in the quarter, junior Emily Russo (Glenelg, Md./Woodbine) knocked down a triple to give UMBC a 20-13 lead after one.
Hartford came out swinging in the second, hitting a three to open the stanza. Capree Garner (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) had the answer, coupled with a Wilson jumper giving UMBC their largest lead of the half at 24-16. The Hawks answered with a scoring run of their own to cut the lead to just two after a Lindsey Abed triple. UMBC would have the last laugh, hitting a three at the buzzer, thanks to McCarley to give UMBC a 33-28 lead at the break.
The second half opened with a pair of free throws from sophomore Laura Castaldo (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South). Hartford would find their groove; drilling back to back three's to cut the Retriever lead to 37-36. Wilson would answer the bell with a layup that sparked a 5-0 run to end the stanza. Garner would hit a lay-up on the run to give UMBC a 42-36 lead heading to the fourth.
Hagaman would continue the run with a lay-up at the open of the fourth. Wilson would then proceed to hit a step back three to give UMBC a 47-38 lead midway through. Hartford hits a pair of trifectas to cut the Retriever lead to five with 1:30 to go. The Retrievers would hold on to win 58-51.
McCarley finished with 19 points on 6-13 shooting. She added two assists and four steals in the contest. Hagaman and Wilson each chipped in 12 for UMBC, with Wilson adding nine rebounds. UMBC shot 46 percent from the field, including 93.3 percent from the foul line.
UMBC returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Vermont. Tip-off with the Catamounts is set for 1 p.m.