SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Playing in a second consecutive double overtime game, UMBC raced back from a fourth-quarter deficit before outlasting Bryant in double overtime on Thursday evening. With the 65-59 victory, UMBC sits in the driver's seat to host an America East Quarterfinal contest.
Trailing by 10 entering the fourth quarter, UMBC opened the final period on an 8-0 run, pulling within 42-40 with 6:36 to play. Buckets from
Tiara Bellamy and
Heidi Williams sandwiched back-to-back
Delaney Yarborough layups as the Retrievers battled back. Bryant would pull back ahead by six, but UMBC ended regulation on a 6-0 run to tie the contest.
Alaina Williams made it 46-42, finishing a
Carmen Yánez feed with 3:59 to play. H. Williams cut the deficit to two with 2:48 to play before a pair of free throws from Yánez with 1:09 remaining tied the contest. Maranda Nyborg had a shot to win it at the buzzer for Bryant, but it wouldn't go, sending the Retrievers into their second straight overtime game.
UMBC led by as many as five in overtime, taking a 53-48 lead after
Jade Tillman was fouled shooting a three, knocking down all three free throws. The lead remained five with 22 seconds left, but Izzy Adams brought the Bulldogs within three before Mia Mancini forced double overtime with a three-pointer.
Tillman scored the first bucket of double overtime with 3:10 to play, but Nia Scott quickly matched it with 2:46 left. Tillman went back to the foul line with 1:43 left, putting UMBC ahead 61-59. Bryant would not score again, with
Dagny Slomack and Yánez adding four more free throws to send UMBC home the victors.
Thursday marks the second time this season in which the Retrievers have come back from a double-digit deficit to win the game. The Retrievers also remain unbeaten against Bryant in program history, improving to 8-0 against the Bulldogs since they joined the America East.
Tillman was once again the Retrievers' leading scorer, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds. Tillman added two steals and was a perfect seven-for-seven at the foul line. She has now scored in double figures in 20 straight games, dating back to November. With 406 points this season, Tillman becomes the 15th player in Retriever history to record a 400-point season. She currently ranks 20th on the all-time single-season list.
After a 13-point performance in the full 50 minutes on Saturday, Yánez played 48 minutes tonight, contributing a season-high 14 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Yánez was eight-for-eight at the line. Yarborough also reached double figures, scoring 12 points in the contest, her fourth game this season with 10 or more points. A. Williams gave the Retrievers eight points, six rebounds, and three steals in the win.
With a Vermont victory over UMass Lowell tonight, UMBC will clinch the fourth seed and will host an America East Quarterfinal Game on Thursday, March 5.
The Retrievers will close out the regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. as they host UMass Lowell and honor the 2026 seniors.
