For the first time in program history, the UMBC Women's Basketball team will host an America East Quarterfinal on Wednesday night.

The No.4 Retrievers will host No.5 NJIT at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

UMBC (13-14, 10-6 AE) swept a tightly contested season series, winning both games by a combined four points.

Earlier on Tuesday, UMBC graduate student forward Kiara Bell (Santa Rosa, Calif.) became the first player in program history to earn the America East Conference Women's Basketball's Defensive Player of the Year honor as the league announced its award winners and All-Conference selections.

In addition, Bell earned the league's first-ever Newcomer of the Year Award and spots on the America East Second Team and All-Defensive Team.  

Nia Staples (Cincinnati, Ohio) also earned a special award, as the graduate student guard earned the conference's Sixth Player of the Year Award.

Graduate student KK White (Indianapolis, Ind.) joined Bell on the Second Team, while graduate student guard Ashia McCalla (Greenbelt, Md.) earned Third Team honors.  

Last time out:

• Host UMass Lowell used a late run to rally past the UMBC Women's Basketball team, 67-64, last Wednesday night.
• Bell finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while White tallied a team-high 18 points.
   

Scouting NJIT:

• Freshman Alejandra Zuniga has been selected the 2023 America East Conference Rookie of the Year while senior Kenna Squier has been named to the third-team, the league office announced on Wednesday
• In addition to being selected America East Rookie of the Year, Zuniga, who hails from Madrid, Spain, was named to the third-team and All-Rookie team while Squier picked up her second consecutive third-team selection.
• Visiting UAlbany topped NJIT, 59-49, to earn at least the share of the America East Conference regular season title Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale for both teams inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
• NJIT's Trinity Williams and Aria Myers led all scorers with 10 points 

All-Time Series:

• UMBC leads the all-time series, 3-2, and has won both matchups this year.
• On 2/8/23, Keelah Dixon (Boston, Mass.) had a team-best 17 points, Ashia McCalla (Greenbelt, Md.) had 13 and KK White (Indianapolis, In.) added 11 as the UMBC Women's Basketball team won a 72-69 thriller at NJIT 
• Laycee Drake (Hancock, N.Y.) added 10 points and a career-high eight rebounds, while Bell (Santa Rosa, Calif.) added nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.