UMBC

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—Freshman guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) scored a game-high 23 points, but it was not enough, as the fifth-seeded UMBC women’s basketball team (14-16) saw its season come to an end with a 66-54 loss to No. 4 Binghamton (14-16) in the quarterfinals of the America East Championships Friday afternoon at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena.

Binghamton scored the first seven points of the game. The Retrievers pulled to within three points on several occasions midway through the first half, but they could never close the gap and trailed, 35-26, at halftime.

Kurowski and junior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) combined to score the first 18 points of the game for the Retrievers.

UMBC made just five of 23 field goals in the first half but stayed in the game thanks to its foul shooting, as the Retrievers were 15-of-19 at the line.

UMBC’s shooting struggles continued into the second half, making just one of its first 10 attempts as Binghamton opened a 14-point lead, 49-35, with 9:44 remaining, and the Retrievers could get no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Kurowski’s 23 points came on 7-of-11 shooting and 8-of-10 at the foul line. She also made UMBC’s only three-pointer of the game.

Cassidy was the only other Retriever in double figures with 10 points, eight of which came in the first half. She added a team-high seven rebounds.

The first of Cassidy’s two free throws with 5:19 remaining in the first half broke UMBC’s 23-year-old single-season scoring record, which Tammy McCarthy set at 609 in 1985-86. Cassidy finished the year with 613 points.

Kurowski also became the third Retriever freshman ever to score 400 points in a season. She finished the year with 410 points.

Guard Erica Carter led Binghamton with 17 points, while center Laura Franceski posted a game-high 12 rebounds. The Bearcats dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 19 offensive boards, and out-rebounding the Retrievers, 48-38.