Vestal, N.Y.— The Retrievers fought till the end, but fell 49-41 to the Bearcats in the America East Quarterfinals. Junior Pandora Wilson (Gaithersburg, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) led the way with 19 for UMBC who fell to 17-13 on the year. 

Both sides opened the game going back and forth, with each side exchanging blows early. Wilson led the way early, scoring a pair of mid-range jumpers. The Bearcats took a 9-6 lead on an Imani Watkins three, but Taylor McCarley (Bowie, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) answered right back with a jumper in the lane to cut the deficit to 9-8 after one. 

The Retrievers took it to the Bearcats in the early going of the second stanza. McCarley gave UMBC the lead with a big and one early, giving them a 13-11 lead. Binghamton would respond, putting together a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the half at 17-13. UMBC would chip away, trailing 20-19 after back-to-back Wilson jumpers. The Bearcats would lead 24-21 at the break after a bucket by Kim Albrecht.  

Wilson led the way with 12 points, going 6-10 from the field. McCarley added five as UMBC shot 40 percent from the floor.

Sophomore Laura Castaldo (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South)led a charge in the third, getting a big offensive rebound and put back, followed by a Wilson jumper to retake the lead 25-24. However Kim Albrecht would answer with a triple to give the Bearcats the lead back.

McCarley would go on a tear, scoring six straight, capped by a steal and finish to give UMBC a lead. But it was Watkins with the final say in the quarter, as she beat the buzzer with a three to give them a 39-31 lead heading to the fourth.

UMBC would fight back into the game, but the Bearcats would not let the lead get below five, as they hold on to win 49-41.

Wilson finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. McCarley chipped in 13 and four assists. The Retrievers shot 35 percent from the field, while outrebounding the Bearcats 44-34.