BALTIMORE– UMBC women's basketball battled throughout the game against the Catamounts, but could not complete the comeback in a 59-47 loss on Saturday. The Retrievers trimmed the deficit to as little as five in the second half, but Vermont would hit free throws late to pull away.

UMBC falls to 3-19, 2-10 AE while Vermont improves to 17-10, 11-5 AE on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Vermont got out to an early 6-2 lead in the first before Keelah Dixon (Boston, Mass.) cut the deficit to two with a mid range jumper at the under five timeout.
• UMBC clamped down on defense, holding Vermont scoreless over a four-minute stretch to tie it, but the Catamounts answered the next possession.
• From there, both teams struggled from the floor as the two ended the first tied 8-8.
• Jatarrikah Settle (Frederick, Md./St. Frances/Mount St. Mary's) broke a nearly five minute scoring drought for the Retrievers with a baseline drive and finish. 
• However, the Catamounts responded with a 9-0 spurt to force a UMBC timeout.
• The Catamounts would hold UMBC scoreless over the last 2:09 of the half to take a 23-15 lead at halftime.
• The Retrievers would snap that scoreless streak with a Jasmine Braswell (Ashburn, Va.) putback off her own miss. UMBC would continue the comeback with Dixon drilling a three to cut the deficit to five.
• However the Catamounts had an answer and took a seven point lead into the final quarter.
• UMBC would continue to hang around in the fourth, cutting the deficit to as little as five throughout.
• Danae Marquez (Fresno, Calif.) would hit a three late to cut it to single digits, but the Catamounts would come away with a 59-47 win on Saturday.

NOTABLE:

• Dixon and Settle each led the Retrievers with nine points. 
• Onome-Juliet Esadah (Warri, Delta State, Nigeria) led the Retrievers on the glass with 11 rebounds. 
• UMBC outrebounded Vermont, 38-28, but the Catamounts used 21 fastbreak points en route to the win.

UMBC will have their final regular season home contest against Hartford on Wednesday, Feb. 23 on Senior Night. Tip-off with the Hawks is slated for 7 p.m.