BALTIMORE - UMBC sophomore guard
Laycee Drake's 23-foot, one-footed jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining gave the Retrievers a thrilling 61-60 victory over NJIT in an America East Conference contest at Chesapeake Arena.
The Retrievers improved to 9-10 overall and 6-2 in America East play. The 6-2 start is the program's best versus America East competition since a 7-2 beginning to the 2010-11 campaign.
Drake was one of three Retrievers in double figures, scoring 15 points, one shy of her career best. Graduate students
KK White (16) and
Ashia McCalla (14) also posted double figures.
NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga led all players with 18 points, while Aria Myers hit a pair of late 3-pointers and added 13 points. The Highlanders fell to 9-11, 4-4.
The fourth quarter featured seven lead changes and two ties. Myers first trey with 2:50 remaining gave the visitors a 56-54 lead, but UMBC's
Scoop Smith knotted the score at 56 with a layup at the 2:27 mark. After an NJIT turnover, White hit a turn-around jumper in the lane to give UMBC a 58-56 lead, but Myers connected again from long range to put her side ahead, 59-58, with 1:49 remaining.
The Retrievers had two possessions, but committed a pair of turnovers and fouled NJIT's Trinity Williams with four seconds remaining. Williams hit the second of two shots and UMBC called time out to advance the ball into the front court. Drake took the inbounds pass 35 feet from the basket on the left wing, took a pair of dribbles and launched the game-winning shot.
Graduate student
Kiara Bell led all players with 10 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED – FIRST QUARTER
· Drake and McCalla hit back-to-back left corner treys to give the Retrievers an early 8-2 lead at the 6:51 mark.
· After NJIT cut the gap to 8-7, the Retrievers reeled off 10 straight points to lead, 18-7.
· The Retrievers converted 8-of-11 field goal attempts and led 20-12 after 10 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED – SECOND QUARTER
· UMBC cooled off in the early stages of the period and the Highlanders went on a 12-2 scoring run to knot the score at 24-all with 3:39 remaining.
· The Retrievers were held to 7 points in the period and held on to a 27-26 lead after 20 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED – THIRD QUARTER
· The Retrievers continued to hold a narrow edge and Drake's driving layup and one gave the hosts a 38-32 lead at the 4:55 mark.
· But NJIT rallied and took their first lead of the game with 11 seconds to play in the period. They closed the period on a 12-4 run to lead, 44-42.
HOW IT HAPPENED – FOURTH QUARTER
· White opened the period with a field goal, then recorded a steal and bucket to restore the lead for the Retrievers.
· But NJiT hit a jumper with 3:45 remaining to take a 53-52 lead, setting up the final sequence.
UMBC has won seven of their last nine games overall and will take on Vermont at The Peake on Saturday at noon.
