UMBC

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—Third-seeded Boston University (19-11) shot 61 percent from the floor in the America East quarterfinals, knocking defending champion and sixth-seeded UMBC (9-21) out of the conference championships by a score of 88-59 Friday afternoon at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion.

Junior guard Chantay Frazier and sophomore guard Carlee Cassidy led the Retrievers with 18 points apiece, while the Terriers were paced by center Kasey Devine, whose career-high 26 points came via 10-for-13 shooting from the floor.

Boston U. made 10 of its first 12 field goal attempts, while the Retrievers were just 1-for-9 over the first six minutes.

The Terriers did not cool off, opening a 22-point lead, 37-15, with 4:36 remaining. The Retrievers, however, finished the first half with a 9-2 run to trim their deficit to 39-24 at halftime. BU shot 66.7 percent in the period and was led by Devine, who made her first nine shots and had 18 points at the break.

Senior center Amanda Robinson hit a layup just 10 seconds into the second half to further trim UMBC’s deficit to 13 points, 39-26, but that was the closest the Retrievers would get, as the Terriers went on a 16-5 run to take a 25-point lead, 56-31, with 14:21 to play.

The Retrievers shot 52 percent in the second half, but the Terriers were even better at 57.6 percent.

Robinson, the 2007 America East Most Outstanding Player, scored 11 points in the game, all in the second half. BU forward Jesyka Burks-Wiley finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while two other Terriers scored in double figures.

In the first game of the afternoon, second-seeded Vermont defeated No. 7 New Hampshire, 70-45.