The Retrievers look to continue their winning streak as they head out on their final road trip of the regular season, taking on the Binghamton Bearcats on Wednesday, February 26. The opening tip from Vestal, N.Y. is set for 7 p.m.
Binghamton Game Info:
What: UMBC Retrievers (10-15, 6-8 AE) at Binghamton Bearcats (19-8, 8-6 AE)
When: Wednesday, February 26 - 7 p.m.
How to Watch: Live video on ESPN+, Live stats on BUBearcats.com
Social Media: @UMBCwbb, @AmericaEast, #RetrieverNation, #AEHoops
Scouting the Retrievers
The Retrievers earned another crucial win for the #AEHoops playoff picture, defeating the Vermont Catamounts, 54-47, on Saturday afternoon. UMBC led for the entirety of the game but Vermont threatened in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to two with 1:09 to play. Down the stretch, redshirt-sophomore O'lesheya Braxton, senior Lucrezia Costa, and sophomore Paula Rubio) all made free throws to seal the win for UMBC.
Junior Janee'a Summers led the Retrievers with a 12 point (4-10 FG, 3-4 FT) and nine rebound day. Freshman Lyric Swann also reached double-digits as she chipped in 11 points (4-10 FG, 1-1 3FG, 2-2 FT) on the day. Junior Jen Gast continued her domination on the boards, picking up nine rebounds (five offensive) and added three blocks.
The Retrievers finished the game shooting 26.2 percent (17-65) from the floor - the first time all season they have had a lower shooting percentage than their opponent and walked away with the win; the Catamounts shot 29.5 percent (18-61) for the game.
For the fourth-straight game, the Retrievers have outrebounded their opponent, grabbing 49 boards to the Catamounts 44. UMBC also committed nine turnovers, their lowest output since they won at Lafayette back on December 29.
Senior Te'yJah Oliver continues to be an offensive output for UMBC, averaging 17.6 ppg, which is second in the America East and 57th in the nation. Oliver also has the best three-point field goal percentage in the conference, hitting 37.8 percent of her shots from that range; this percentage ranks 58th in the NCAA.
Summers is ninth in the conference in scoring (12.3 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (7.0 rpg), while Gast is fourth in rebounding, bringing down 7.4 boards per game. Rubio is tied for fifth with 3.3 assists per game.
As a team, the Retrievers are averaging 58.4 ppg on 40.1 percent shooting from the field, while bringing down 38.1 rebounds.
Scouting the Bearcats
Binghamton has won its last three meetings, most recently picking up a 78-65 victory over Hartford on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks led, 16-15, early in the second quarter before the Bearcats went on a 22-6 run to take a 37-22 lead and never looked back.
Kai Moon led the team with 18 points; the senior leads the conference and is 11th in the country in points per game at 20.1. Moon is sixth in the conference in FG percentage (.376), and second in free throw percentage (.819) and 3FG percentage (.367). Carly Boland is tied for third in the conference in blocked shots per game, averaging 1.1 a contest.
As a team, the Bearcats are averaging a league-leading 68.1 points per game off 40.9 percent shooting. Binghamton also leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage, hitting 34.7 percent of their shots from behind the arc.
All-Time Series
This will be the 36th overall meeting between the two teams, with the Bearcats holding a 23-12 advantage in the series and a five-winning streak.
Earlier this season, Binghamton picked up a 61-43 victory over UMBC. Junior Janee'a Summers led the team with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Oliver Chasing Records
Senior guard Te'yJah Oliver is starting to make her way into the UMBC record books. Oliver, who played in her 100th game on December 15th, is now tied for 10th in program history at 115 games played.
The senior, who hit the 1,000-point plateau against Lafayette on Dec. 29, ranks 12th in program history with 1,209 points. She is also 14th in career assists with 229. With 147 steals, she is five away from breaking into the top 15 in that category as well.
Against UMass Lowell, Oliver became the 20th player in UMBC women's basketball history to reach the 400-point mark for the season and was the first since Taylor Mccarley and Pandora Wilson hit the mark during the 2015-16 season.
Top Dawgs
Senior Te'yJah Oliver and freshman Lyric Swann were named America East Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for the week ending January 27. It's the first time since December 24, 2018 that swept the weekly awards, when Oliver earned Player of the Week and Kayla Jackson was earned Rookie of the Week honors.
Oliver and Swann were honored after helping to lead UMBC to a 2-0 week in America East play. The Retrievers earned a 61-54 victory over Hartford on Jan. 22 before upending defending #AEHoops champions Maine on Jan 26, 74-54.
Gast Named to All-Tournament Team
Following the conclusion of the Navy Classic, junior forward Jen Gast was named to the Navy Classic All-Tournament Team. Gast had a career-day in the opening game against La Salle, where she posted 15 points and 18 rebounds. She followed that up with eight rebounds in the game against Kennesaw State.
A New Beginning
On April 26, 2019, former UMBC Director of Athletics Tim Hall introduced Johnetta Hayes as the ninth head coach in program history. Hayes comes to UMBC from Texas Southern, where she posted a 115-73 overall record and led the Lady Tigers to an NCAA Tournament appearance, two WNIT bids, and the WBI.
Hayes brings to her staff assistant coaches TJ Royals and LaDey'ah Forte, both of who were with her at Texas Southern, and Christie Rogers, who most recently was an assistant coach at Radford where the Highlanders won two Big South regular-season titles.
New Swann, Same Pond
Freshman Lyric Swann is no stranger to the UMBC Retriever lifestyle. Her mom, Karyn, was a standout for the Black and Gold from 1988-92. Karyn was named the East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year after the 1990-91 season and ranks 13th in program history with 247 assists.
