CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – UMBC went on the road to Virginia and knocked off the Cavaliers by a score of 61-56 on Thursday night to earn the program's first win over a Power Four opponent.

The Retrievers were lights out from beyond-the-arc in the contest, hitting 64 percent of their 14 attempts, while holding Virginia to zero makes from distance in the five-point victory. It was the best showing from three-point range since UMBC hit 66.7 percent of its threes at George Mason in December 2024.




Defensively, UMBC held Naismith Trophy Preseason Watchlist selection Kymora Johnson to just four points on 1-16 shooting in the contest.

Gabby Scott and Heidi Williams scored 14 points to pace the Retrievers. Scott knocked down all four of her three-point attempts, and Williams was nails at the charity stripe, making seven of eight. Carmen Yánez also reached double digits, scoring 11 points thanks to three makes from distance.

Candice Hill's program shocked the Cavaliers from the jump, building an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes of the contest. The lead grew to 14 midway through the second quarter as Yánez drilled a three to make it 33-19 Retrievers.

UMBC took an eight-point lead into the break and led by 12 at the 7:40 mark of the third as Williams connected from deep, but UVA was able to trim the deficit to one with 37 ticks left on the third quarter clock. Kennedy Austin found Scott open for three with 11 seconds remaining in the third to put the Retrievers up by four entering the final quarter of play.

Virginia tied the game at 54 with 3:13 to play, but the Cavaliers never took the lead as the Retrievers held on to win on the road. Tiara Bellamy went baseline, converting a reverse layup with 28 seconds left to put UMBC up by three. Virginia once again pulled within one, but Williams made four free throws in the final six seconds to ice the game.

The Retrievers came into the night 0-4 against Virginia, 0-15 all-time against the ACC, and 0-38 all-time against the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and ACC before tonight's groundbreaking victory.

Breona Hurd was stellar for the Cavaliers, scoring a career-high 22 points and adding four blocks. Tabitha Amanze added nine points and seven rebounds.

Check out the Retrievers back in action on Sunday, November 16 at 3 p.m., as Brown comes to town as part of a hoops doubleheader inside Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. Fans can purchase one ticket and attend both men's and women's basketball games on Sunday afternoon.