Trey Stewart

Women's Basketball 11/5/2026 9:47:00 AM

Retrievers Host The Mount in First-Ever AE-Metro Challenge

BALTIMORE - After a 92-29 victory over Stevenson on Monday evening in the season opener, UMBC hosts Mount St. Mary's tonight at 6 p.m. in the first-ever America East-Metro Challenge.

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THE HISTORY

Monday marks the 41st all-time meeting between UMBC and Mount St. Mary's and the first meeting since 2022. The Mount leads the all-time series 31-9, winning the last three contests. Over the last 10 meetings, dating back to 2001, the Retrievers have won four of the past 10 matchups, picking up victories in 2007, 2004, 2003, and 2002. The Mountaineers took the most recent meeting in December 2022 by a final score of 63-57.

THE AE-METRO CHALLENGE

In July of 2025 both Conference announced the creation of a basketball challenge, a new early-season showcase that is part of a two-year agreement for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This will be the first ever basketball challenge between two Northeast-based Division I leagues. Sharing a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men's basketball officiating coordinator, the Challenge represents a natural and strategic collaboration.
The America East – Metro Basketball Challenge will feature nine men's and nine women's teams from each conference, with games taking place Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, with the exception of Iona at UMBC which will occur on Monday, November 16. Teams will play two games – one at home and one on the road – against opponents from the opposing conference. Game times will be determined by the host institution.

QUICK NOTES ON THE DAWGS

UMBC opened up the 2026-27 season with a 92-29 victory over Division III Stevenson on Monday night. Heidi Williams (19), Angela Williams (15), and Alaina Williams (12) all scored in double figures for the Retrievers in the victory.
H. Williams, Al. Williams, Kennedy Austin, and Gabby Scott all had three steals for the Retrievers, as they totaled 23 steals and 37 turnovers forced in the contest.
Eight Retrievers returned to Candice Hill's program in 2026-27, with seven of the eight seeing extensive game action last season. Tiara Bellamy, Dagny Slomack, H. Williams, Al. Williams, Austin, and Gabby Scott all started multiple games last season. Maisie Crowley saw extensive action off the bench, while Sadaya Jones sat out the season as she recovered from injury.
Of the six newcomers for UMBC, four are Division I transfers, while Hill added a pair of freshmen to this year's team. Shariah Baynes (Towson), An. Williams (James Madison), Jeanine Brandsma (Austin Peay), and Alden Yergey (Siena) joined the program this season alongside Syd Sutton and Cai Roberson.
All 14 Retrievers saw action in the opener, with 13 of the 14 scoring in the victory.
UMBC went 17-15 (10-6) in 2025-26, reaching the America East Semifinal and earning a bid into the WNIT. In the postseason, UMBC defeated Ohio on the road in the First Round of the WNIT, before falling to Marshall in the next round.
Hill currently holds the UMBC record for win percentage in the Division I era, holding a record of 32-30 in her third season at the helm. Hill signed a multi-year contract extension ahead of the start of the 26-27 campaign.

QUICK NOTES ON THE MOUNTAINEERS

The Mount dropped its opener at home against Navy on Monday evening, falling 91-63.
Jayla Koser scored 16 points in her collegiate debut, grabbing six rebounds as well in the contest. Valentina Saric (13) and Alana Powell (12) also reached double figures. Powell handed out six helpers in the loss.
Of the 16 members that make up the Mount's roster, five are returners, five are transfers, and six are true freshmen.
Saric (Northern Arizona), Nevaeh Ferrara Horne (San Francisco), Thelma Barbitch (Charleston Southern), Yacine Ndiaye (Rutgers), and Eva Andrews (North Carolina A&T) all joined the program from other Division I schools this season.
The head coach since March, 2021, Antoine White leads the Mountaineers. White has posted a 72-80 record, going 51-47 in conference play. His 2021-22 team won the NEC and reached the NCAA First Four. Since moving to the Metro, White's teams have made the conference tournament quarterfinals each year, reaching the semis in 2024-25.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Kennedy Austin: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#1 Tiara Bellamy: G; 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior

#17 Maisie Crowley: F/C; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#5 Sadaya Jones: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#21 Gabby Scott: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#2 Dagny Slomack: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#10 Alaina Williams: F/C; 6' 1"; Senior

#3 Heidi Williams: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#12 Alden Yergey: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Angela Williams: F; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Kennedy Austin
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#1 Tiara Bellamy
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#17 Maisie Crowley
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: F/C

#5 Sadaya Jones
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#21 Gabby Scott
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#2 Dagny Slomack
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#10 Alaina Williams
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F/C

#3 Heidi Williams
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#12 Alden Yergey
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#11 Angela Williams
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F