UMBC

Harris finished with a game-high 11 points in Wednesday's loss to Albany

BALTIMORE – UMBC women’s basketball looks to get back to its winning ways, as the Retrievers play host to Maine in America East action on Saturday, Jan. 5. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the RAC Arena, with the action airing live on Q1370/www.q1370.com and on UMBCRetrievers.tv. Troy Green and Dan Levin have the call.

scouting the retrievers (4-10, 0-1 AE): UMBC is 1-4 in its last five games and dropped its America East opener to defending champion Albany on Wednesday, 87-33. The Retrievers put up a season-low 33 points after shooting 25 percent from the floor and going scoreless for nearly nine minutes in the second half. Senior guard Raven Harris was named UMBC's America East Player of the Game, finishing with a team-high 11 points.

Senior guard Brittany Crowell is leading the Retrievers in scoring, 10.2 points per game, - 11th in the America East - and rebounding, 5.1 rebounds per game. Harris is adding 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals – ranked 14th in Division I entering into the week – and 2.6 assists. Sophomore guard Bria White is chipping in 9.8 points.

Head coach Phil Stern is in his 11th season at the helm of the Retrievers' program, after leading the black and gold to their second America East Championship game appearance last season. Following the graduation of 59.5 percent of the conference's highest scoring offense in 2011-12, UMBC (34 votes) was tabbed to finish sixth in the league behind Albany (61), Boston University (56), Hartford (54), New Hampshire (37) and Vermont (37).

scouting the black bears (1-12, 0-0 AE): Maine concludes a five game road trip and opens its America East slate against the Retrievers after posting a 1-12 record in non-conference action. The Black Bears picked up their lone win of the season in a 74-67 victory against UNLV on Nov. 17 and have since lost nine straight, including an 82-47 loss at VCU on Tuesday. Sophomore guard Courtney Anderson finished with a career-high 15 points, while freshman forward Liz Wood chipped in five points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Sophomore forward Danielle Walczak added 11 points and eight rebounds.

Junior guard Ashleigh Roberts leads the team in scoring and ranks eighth in the league in points per game (10.5). Wood is the only player on the roster to start all 13 games this season and is first on the team in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and assists (2.6 apg). She adds 7.3 points per game for the Black Bears. Walczak is shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and is chipping in 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Inside the Series: UMBC has won three straight against the Black Bears, including a pair of meetings with Maine last season. In the first meeting, the Retrievers trailed for just 46 seconds in the contest and were led by Erin Brown's game-high 23 points. Brown piloted a 66-44 victory in game two, leading four Retrievers in double figures with 18 points. 

On the horizon for the retrievers: The Retrievers hit the road for a three-game road trip beginning with New Hampshire on Jan. 9, followed by trips to Vermont (Jan. 12) and Hartford (Jan. 16). UMBC returns home on Jan. 23 for its annual Midday Madness contest. The event will air live on ESPN3, as the Retrievers take on Stony Brook at the RAC Arena at noon.