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BALTIMORE - 2020 - the year of unpredictability. College basketball has not been spared from the craziness of the world, but normalcy finally returns to the hardwood this week as programs return to play across the country.
The UMBC women's basketball will play its first contest since March 4 as they travel across the city to take on the Morgan State Lady Bears at Hill Field House on Wednesday, November 25. The opening tip is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Dawgs Bites
In Johnetta Hayes's first year at the helm of the program, UMBC finished the 2019-20 season ranked sixth in the America East with a 6-10 conference record and 10-18 overall record. It was the team's highest finish since the 2016-17 season when they were ranked third in the #AEHoops Playoffs.
The Retrievers fell in the Quarterfinals game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, 66-58, on March 4. UMBC trailed 31-18 at the half but used a powerful third quarter to cut the host's lead down to 42-39 heading into the final ten minutes. UMBC did take a 52-51 with 2:35 left in the game, but UMass Lowell used an 11-0 run to seal the win.
UMBC will look to replace All-Conference First Team guard Te'yJah Oliver, who was one of the conference's scorers last season. Oliver averaged 17.9 ppg off a league-leading 35.9 3FG percentage and a team-best 81.3 free throw percentage.
Nine new faces join the Retrievers for the 2020-21 season, with three freshmen - Alexia Nelson, Brianna Sliwinski, and Patricia Anumgba, and six transfer students - Mya Moye and Kasey Gagan, who played a year down the road at CCBC Essex, Juliet Esadah (UNC Ashville), Jaelyn Swann (Muhlenberg), Jasmine Braswell (Northeastern), Jada Clowers (St. Petersburg College), and Apilyn Bonny (Hostos Community College).
In the #AEWBB Preseason Poll, the Retrievers were selected to finish fifth in the conference according to the coaches, tied with the Binghamton Bearcats. Last season, the team was selected to finish eighth in 2019-20.
About The Opponent: Morgan State
The Lady Bears are returning to the hardwood after having their 2019-20 season cut short in the MEAC Tournament on March 12. The team had just advanced to their first semifinal game since 2007 after defeating Delaware State, 64-63, when they were told the tournament was being shut down due to COVID-19.
Head coach Ed Davis, Jr. was named MEAC Coach of the Year after leading Morgan State to a 17-13 overall record, their best since 2010-11, and a 12-4 MEAC record, which was the program's best since 2009-10. Senior Chelsea Mitchell was named MEAC All-Conference First Team and junior Dahnye Redd earned All-Conference Third Team honors.
Morgan State, who ended the regular season tied for second, was selected to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division. Redd and junior guard Ashia McCalla also earned MEAC Preseason honors, being named All-Conference First Team and Second Team, respectively.
The Lady Bears graduated three seniors at the end of the 2019-20 season - Mitchell, Dezyree Morales, and Jihayah Chavis. Mitchell was the team's leading scorer last season, averaging 15.5 points per game while being the team and state's best rebounder with 9.7 boards per contest. Chavis concluded her career ranked fifth on the Morgan State steals list with 217.
Morgan State add seven new faces to their roster with seven transfer students; the Lady Bears do not have any freshmen on their 2020-21 roster.
The Series
This is the 28th meeting between UMBC and Morgan State, with the Retrievers leading 15-12 overall. UMBC has won the last two meetings and four of the last five at Hill Field House
A Look Back: UMBC 65, Morgan State 63 (OT) - December 15, 2019
Last season, the Retrievers and Lady Bears met at the UMBC Event Center for an explosive overtime contest. At halftime, Morgan State led, 27-23, and extended its lead well into the third quarter.
However, UMBC clawed back in the fourth quarter, scoring the last seven points of the quarter capped off with a jump shot from Te'yJah Oliver with seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, the Lady Bears took a 63-60 lead with 46 seconds to play but the Retrievers were able to hit their free throws down the line to hold on to win 65-63.
The Fab Five
UMBC's roster will look a little different when the 2020-21 season starts, but a set of returners will help to anchor the team.
Seniors Janee'a Summers and Jen Gast, juniors Sariah Penese and Paula Rubio, and sophomore Lyric Swann will be the veteran players to hold down the fort for UMBC.
Summers finished in the top 10 in scoring (12.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg), while also ranking fourth in free throw percentage (.809) last season on her way to being named to the America East All-Conference Third Team. Gast saw her breakout season during 2019-20, leading the team with 198 rebounds and ranking fourth in the America East with 7.3 rpg. The Baltimore-native had a career-day against La Salle on November 30 with 15 points and 18 rebounds, the most by a Retriever since 2012.
Penese was utilized off the bench in 19 games but set career highs with five points and three steals against Gettysburg. Rubio continued to be a force, leading the team with 87 assists, including a career-high nine against Coppin State, and ranking seventh in the conference with 3.2 assists per game.
Swann was a two-time America East Rookie of the Week, averaging 8.4 ppg off a 39.1 shooting percentage. The freshman scored a career-high 17 points against Stony Brook on February 1 and added to a highlight reel with multiple buzzer-beaters throughout the season.
Double Take
Don't be surprised to see two Swanns gliding across the court in a Retriever uniform. After Lyric had an outstanding rookie career in 2019-20, twin sister Jaelyn joined the bench after one season at Muhlenberg College. The twins are the daughters of former UMBC standout Karyn Swann (1988-92), who earned East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1990-91 and ranks 13th all-time in career steals.
The Swann twins, however, are one of four sets of twins that play for the Retrievers, joining Michael and Steven Zichelli (MLAX), Daron and Zachary Taylor (MXC), Samantha and Melissa Kameka (WXC). In total, eight sets of siblings currently play for the UMBC:
Lyric and Jaelyn Swann (WBB)*
Samantha and Melissa Kameka (WXC)*
Daron and Zachary Taylor (MXC)*
Michael and Steven Zichelli (MLAX)*
Jackson and Ryan Becher (MSOC)
Matthew and Charles Bennicci (MSD)
Kenny and Danielle Fuentes (M&WSOC)
Emma and Annika Bridges (WSD)
*- Indicates twins
The Votes Are In
In the #AEWBB Preseason Poll, the Retrievers were selected to finish fifth in the conference according to the coaches, tied with the Binghamton Bearcats.
UMBC, who finished eighth in the 2019-20 season, received 43 votes in the poll. For the third year in a row, the Maine Black Bears were selected as the favorites to win the conference with 78 points and six first-place votes, slightly edging out regular-season champions Stony Brook (76 points, four first-place votes).
2020-21 America East Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Maine 78 (6)
2. Stony Brook 76 (4)
3. UMass Lowell 62
4. UAlbany 54
T5. Binghamton 43
UMBC 43
7. Vermont 36
8. Hartford 24
9. New Hampshire 23
10. NJIT 11
AE on ESPN
Once again this year, every Retriever men's and women's home basketball games will be streamed on either ESPN3 or ESPN+.
The agreement between the America East and ESPN commenced with the 2016-17 academic year and will run through 2026-27. America East's nine-member institutions will work collaboratively with ESPN and the conference office to develop their own in-house production operations on their campuses. This will result in a significant increase in national coverage for multiple sports on ESPN3 branded "The AE on ESPN" showcasing more than 3,000 America East events over the term of the agreement, starting with all men's and women's basketball games and adding other sports in future years.
