UMBC

Matea Pender recorded her first double-double of the season last time out with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Baltimore, Md. – UMBC women’s basketball returns home to play six of its final nine regular season games starting with Binghamton on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in RAC Arena.  The Retrievers and Bearcats are each currently on a two-game win streak as the game will mark the end of the first half of conference play for both teams.  UMBCRetrievers.com will air the game live as play-by-play man Troy Green will be on the call.  Fans can also follow the Retriever live stats.  Both links are found inside the full story or on the women’s basketball schedule page.   

RETRIEVER UPDATE:   UMBC heads into the final game of the first round of conference play with a 2-5 league mark after winning its last two games.  UMBC in the last outing defeated Stony Brook on the road in a 70-48 victory.  Sharri Rohde, who was name America East Wilson Player of the Week for her performance last week, tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.  Rohde has scored 20-points in each of her last two games, bringing her season average up to 10.8 ppg.  Matea Pender scored 19 points with 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year while Brittnie Hughes matched her career-high of 19 points in addition to four assists.  UMBC shot a season-high 56.8 percent from the field in the victory. 

BEARCAT UPDATE: Binghamton sits in the upper portion of the conference standing with a 5-2 record as their own two losses have come to Hartford and Boston U., the other top-two conference teams.  The Bearcats, who have won two straight games, run high octane offense, averaging a conference best 70.6 ppg.  Laine Kurpniece leads the team with 13.3 ppg while Rachel Laws and Jen Blues are posting 11.3 and 11.2 ppg, respectively.  Kurpniece leads the team with 7.0 rpg.  Laws has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle but her replacement, Laura Sario, has averaged 13.0 ppg in her stead. 

Who’s Up Next:  UMBC host New Hampshire at home on Saturday night a 7 p.m.        

RETRIEVER GAMEDAY

Game Notes:  UMBC against Binghamton is the Retrievers 19th game of the season, eighth in the America East Conference and seventh home game.   The game marks the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs with Binghamton holding a 3-1 all-time advantage.  Last year the two teams split the season series with each program winning on the opponent’s home court.  Today’s game features two of the top two offensive teams in the conference, with each team having three players averaging double figures.  Binghamton enters the game ranking first in the conference scoring offense (70.6 ppg), field goal percentage (45.5 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (37.1 percent).  UMBC counters with the second best field goal percentage (43.5 percent), second best three-point field goal percentage (34.7 percent), first in assists (17.3 apg) and the second best field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 37.2 percent shooting.                     

RETRIEVER QUICK SHOTS

- UMBC is finding ways to win leading to back-to-back victories.  UMBC shot a season low 31.4 percent against Albany in a 48-41 victory.  The Retrievers busted out with their best shooting percentage all season at Stony Brook, making 56.8 percent of their shot attempts in a 70-48 win.   

- Junior Sharri Rohde has taken over the last two games, scoring 20 points in each contest and averaging a double-double at 10.0 rpg.  Rohde scored a new career-high 20points with nine rebounds against Albany.  Rohde matched her career high with 20 points against Stony Brook to go with 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.  Rohde shot 66.7 percent from the field in the last two games. 

- UMBC head coach Phil Stern continues to build the Retrievers into the America East Conference as the Retrievers have reached 10 wins on the season and topped their previous wins total the past two years.  With 10 wins UMBC has surpassed its eight total wins in 2004-05 with nine regular season games left.

- UMBC’s win over Stony Brook was the Retrievers first win against the Seawolves program as UMBC has defeated every conference team except Maine at least once since entering the league three years ago. 

- Senior Matea Pender, who last year led the nation in three-point field goal percentage for the majority of the year and finished the year third in the country at 48.3 percent, ranks 17th in the nation as of games through Jan. 30, 2006.  Pender currently is averaging 44.7 percent from outside the arc, making 38-of-85 three-point field goals. 

- UMBC in the last released NCAA statistics as of games through Jan. 30, 2006, ranked 13th in the nation with 17.3 apg.   The NCAA Statistics are released every Tuesday afternoon. 

- UMBC has moved past its toughest road schedule after playing five for the first seven league games on the road.  The Retrievers will play six of its final nine games at home, where the UMBC currently hold a 5-1 mark.

News and Notes...

Sharri Rohde Named America East Wilson Player of the Week...UMBC junior Sharri Rohde tallied back-to-back 20-point performances and averaged a double-double in two games against Albany and Stony Brook, leading to her first America East weekly conference honor.  Rohde averaged a double-double with 20.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg.  She shot 66.7 percent from the field making 16-of-24 field goals.  Rohde dished out six helpers as well while blocking a shot and recording three steals. 

America East Conference Ranked 12th in RPI Poll...America East women’s basketball teams are a combined 57-40 (.588) in the 2005-06 non-conference season. As a conference, America East currently ranks 12th in the nation in The Collegiate Basketball News Women’s RPI Report, but more importantly, is fourth among I-AA conferences. Only the Colonial (eighth), Atlantic 10 (10th) and Missouri Valley (11th) are higher ranking I-AA leagues. America East has never finished 12th in the final RPI for a season and only once has it finished fourth among I-AA Conferences (2001-02). America East boasts three teams with RPIs in the top 100. Hartford leads the conference with an RPI of 33, followed by Stony Brook (34) and Boston University (77).

Lending a helping hand...UMBC leads the America East Conference for the second consecutive season in assists per game and ranks 13th in the NCAA Statistics through games Jan. 30, 2006.  The Retrievers to date have recorded 17.4 apg.  UMBC has six games with 20-plus assists this season, including 26 against Fairleigh Dickinson as the Retrievers came one assist away from their single-season mark of 27, set in 1985 against Shippensburg.  Brittnie Hughes dished out a career-high 10 assists against Lafayette and is averaging 4.8 apg through 17 games this season.  The junior point guard has 86 assists on the year.

Pender Reaches All-Time Top-20 Scoring Chart...Senior Matea Pender joined UMBC’s all-time top-20 chart for points scored after recording 13 points against IPFW.  Pender currently has 864 career points, 16th all-time.  The last time UMBC had an active member on the top-20 scoring list was during the 2002-03 season. 

Pender Becomes Fifth Retriever To Reach 100 Treys For Her Career...Senior Matea Pender recorded five treys against Drexel to become the fifth player in UMBC history to reach 100 career three-point baskets.  Pender needs seven treys to reach fourth on UMBC’s all-time three-point baskets made chart. 

Rohde’s Perfect Day From The Field...Junior Sharri Rohde was a force inside against Hartford, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field.  Rohde scored 14 points, mostly on inside post moves for lay-ups or short jumpers.  UMBC’s single-game record for field goal percentage is 100 percent on 10-of-10 shooting by Monica Logan.  That record was set on January 4, 1997 against Niagara. 

Rohde’s Start Streak...Junior Sharri Rohde extended her streak to 74 consecutive starts and has not missed a start in her entire collegiate career, starting all 28 games as a freshman and sophomore and every one this year.

Rohde Moving Up Assists and Blocks All-Time Charts...Junior Sharri Rohde, who is UMBC’s active leader in assists, blocks and steals, is moving up the Retrievers all-time charts in the assists and blocks category.  Rohde currently has 205 career assists, 10th all-time and 57 career blocks, ranking 11th all-time. 

Hughes Joins All-Time Assists Chart...Junior Brittnie Hughes recorded three assists against Boston U. to joining UMBC’s all-time top-15 for career assists.  The Retriever point guard currently has 187 career assists, ranking tied for 12th all-time. 

UMBC Featured on AE TV...The second installment of "America East On Campus" showcased a feature on the UMBC women's basketball team.  The second show debuted on New England Sports Network (NESN) January 16 at 6:30 p.m. in a 30-minute window between two Atlantic Coast Conference basketball games, followed by a broadcast on Cox Sports Television at 9 p.m. NESN re-aired the show on January 17 at 6:30 p.m. and again on January 29 at 2:30 p.m. Time Warner Cable in Albany and Time Warner Cable in Binghamton will also broadcast the show in the month January with programming times and dates to be announced.  Please check America East's online schedule for the latest programming information. A streaming video will also be available through the internet via America East All Access, provided by CSTV.

Indiana Trio Make Most Of Trip To Hoosier State...UMBC’s Indiana girls put on a show in front of some family and friends against IPFW and Butler.  The Indiana trio combined for 31 points against IPFW.  Kristin Drabyn scored a career-high 14 points, all in the second half.  Sharri Rohde tallied 10 points while Heather Luttrell dropped seven points in the game.  The trio shot a combined 63.1 percent from the field, making 12-of-19 shots.  Against Butler, Rohde tallied a career-high 11 rebounds while Drabyn finished with her second double-digit performance, scoring 10 points. 

Hughes Earns America East Conference Co-Player of the Week (12-4-05)...Brittnie Hughes was named America East Conference Co-Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 4, 2005.  Hughes led UMBC to back-to-back wins as the junior point guard averaged 18.0 ppg and 6.5 apg in two contests. Hughes opened the week at American, scoring a career-high 19 points with nine assists and a 9-of-9 performance at the free throw line.

Hughes Named To Second All-Tournament Team...When it comes to tournaments, UMBC junior point guard Brittnie Hughes has stepped up to the challenge, earning a spot on both all-tournament teams this season.  Hughes won a spot on the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament team after leading the Retrievers to the title.  At South Florida, Hughes averaged 15.5 ppg and 4.25 apg to lead the Retrievers to a 1-1 mark.  Last year Hughes was named to the 2004 Retriever Tip-Off Tournament team.   

Hitting the Airwaves...UMBC will hit the airwaves with six games broadcasted live on WLG-1370 AM, all home games and some away games via www.umbcretrievers.com and a televised game against Vermont on Feb. 12 at RAC Arena.  All WLG broadcast games will also run live via the website for fans outside the broadcasting network.  UMBC will also broadcast live stats via the web for all home games at RAC Arena.

Block Party...Amanda Robinson’s six blocks against Morgan State tied Eunice French for the most blocks recorded in a single game by a Retriever.  Robinson had three blocks in the first five minutes against Morgan State.  UMBC as a team blocked nine shots against Morgan State, Robinson’s six, Nicole Dixon recording two and Mackenzie Butler one. 

Pender Named MVP Of Retriever Tip-Off Tournament....Senior Matea Pender was named Retriever Tip-Off Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 14.5 ppg in the two games.  Pender shot .500 from outside the arc, making 5-for-10 while shooting 47.6 percent from the field on 10-of-21.  Pender added 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the two-day event. 

UMBC Captures Tip-Off Tournament Title...UMBC for the first time in the three-year history of the Retriever Tip-Off Tournament captured the title, defeating Morgan State, 72-50, in the opening round to advance the championship game against Fairleigh Dickinson.  UMBC went on to beat FDU, 76-58, to win the title as Matea Pender earned tournament most valuable player honors and Brittnie Hughes made the all-tournament team.    

Retrievers Picked Ninth In Preseason Conference Poll...The UMBC women’s basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the America East Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  Hartford was the league’s pick to win the conference after taking the league tournament title last year.  Boston U. and Maine were selected to tie for second. 

America East Tournament Returns To Hartford...For the third consecutive season the America East Conference Championships will return to Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion on the campus of the University of Hartford.  Hartford has hosted the conference tournament the past two seasons, including winning the league tournament last season.   

International Students...UMBC has developed a reputation for having international students on its roster, including two in 2005-06.  UMBC has graduated two international students the last two years and will graduate senior Matea Pender at the conclusion of the upcoming season. 

UMBC Inks Two for 2006-07...UMBC head women’s basketball coach Phil Stern announced the signings of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend UMBC for the 2006-07 academic year.  Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) and Leanne Crockett (Manchester, Conn./Manchester) are both slated to become freshman at UMBC in the fall of 2006.