UMBC

Sharri Rohde and the women's basketball team open play in the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 19.

Baltimore, Md. - The UMBC women’s basketball team announced its 2005-06 schedule today and for the third consecutive season begins competition by hosting the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 19-20.  The Retrievers will host 12 home dates this year leading up to the America East Conference Tournament held on the campus of the University of Hartford from March 8-11.  UMBC will also broadcast six contests on WLG-AM 1370 with expanded webcasts and live stats as well.    

“I think our schedule is going to be demanding and really prepare us for the America East season and tournament,” UMBC head coach Phil Stern said.  “We are really excited about hosting our tournament for the third consecutive year and getting a chance to go to Florida and Indiana as well.  I think the teams that we will be facing in our non-conference schedule will portray teams in the America East and prepare us for league play.”

With former America East member Northeastern now part of the Colonial Athletic Association, UMBC will play 11 non-conference games and 16 America East competitions.  All 11 non-conference matches will take place prior to the opening of conference play on Jan. 4 at New Hampshire. 

The Retrievers open the season with the two-day Retriever Tip-Off Tournament held in RAC Arena on Nov. 19.  The first match-up will feature Columbia vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) at 1 p.m., followed by the Retrievers against local foe Morgan State at 3 pm.  In the second round of the tournament the Retrievers have a potential opponent in FDU, a team they have not competed against since leaving the Northeast Conference following the 2002-03 season.  The tournament concludes Sunday, Nov. 20 with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. and the Retrievers playing at approximately 3 p.m.

UMBC heads the following weekend to Tampa, Fla., to compete in the South Florida Tournament Nov. 26-27. The Retrievers’ open with host and BIG EAST Conference program South Florida. Once again the Retrievers could meet a familiar foe from the NEC in the second round in Robert Morris, who will compete against Loyola (Ill.) on day one of the tournament. 

The Retrievers, with just two home non-conference games following their opening tournament will host Longwood on Dec. 3 and Lafayette on Dec. 10.  The Retrievers travel to American (Dec. 6) and Drexel (Dec. 17) prior to heading to the home state of three Retrievers with two games in Indiana.

Kristin Drabyn (Avon, Ind.), Heather Luttrell (Kokomo, Ind.) and Sharri Rohde (Indianapolis, Ind.) all hail from the Hoosier State as the Retrievers travel to compete against Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne University (IPFW) on Dec. 20 and Butler University on Dec. 22. 

UMBC concludes its non-conference schedule at Navy on Dec. 30 prior to heading into league play on Jan. 4 at New Hampshire. 

The Retrievers host their first America East home conference contest on Jan.7 at RAC Arena with Boston University coming to town. Last year the Retrievers split their regular season with the Terriers, who came from the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament to play in the championship game.  The Retrievers’ win over Boston U. last season came at home. 

UMBC will hit the road for five of its first seven conference matches but end down the stretch with six of its final nine games at home.  UMBC will host in a stretch of 11 days Vermont (Feb. 12), last year’s conference champion, Hartford (Feb. 15) and Maine (Feb. 22) at RAC Arena.  UMBC finishes the regular season at Albany on March 4 prior to the conference tournament at Hartford starting March 8.    

All times and dates are subject to change. For the latest news, results and statistics continue to check the Retrievers’ official athletics website at www.umbcretrievers.com.