Brandon Wright
Senior Staff Writer

Fresh off the holiday season, the Retrievers headed to Bronx, New York to compete in the Fordham Holiday Classic. UMBC, as well as East Carolina, Binghamton, and host Fordham, all took part in the Classic, now in it’s third year.

The women’s basketball team closed out 2009 in a very impressive manner, which allows for a fresh start in 2010. UMBC went 2-0 in New York, picking up wins over East Carolina and Fordham to even their record at 6-6.

Tuesday brought a gritty contest with an end result of a 62-56 win over Fordham. The Retrievers played from behind for most of the game, falling behind by as many as 15 points with 5:18 left in the first half but UMBC cut the deficit to 31-18 before going into the locker room at intermission.

UMBC caught fire in the second half, shooting 52% to draw closer to the Rams. The lead traded hands seven times in the second half before the Retrievers took the lead for good with 3:25 in the game thanks to a 20-6 run to start the half, and 12-6 run to get the lead.

Carlee Cassidy scored 16 of her game high 18 points in the second half of play to surge the Retrievers. Cassidy also accomplished yet another milestone by moving into second place on the Retrievers all-time scoring list with 1,391. Cassidy averaged 22.5 points while playing in her home state as she made nine three pointers, including two against the Rams.

Michelle Kurowski, who was also making a home-coming, scored all 12 of her points in the second half to go along with her team high seven rebounds. Michele Brokans added six points and five assists and Katie Brooks scored nine.

Just a few hours before beating Fordham, UMBC snapped a four game losing streak with a 66-58 victory over East Carolina, a squad that garnered a few votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. In order to deal East Carolina just their second loss of the year, UMBC overcame a 13-points deficit with seven minutes to play in the first half and took the lead for good with just under 12 minutes to play in the game on the back of 59% shooting in the second half.

The Retrievers rode the efforts of Cassidy, who knocked down seven three-pointers as a part of her 27 point performance against the Pirates. With her seven field, goals from beyond the arc, Cassidy joins exclusive company by becoming the seventh player in America East history to eclipse 200 three-pointers.

Kurowski contributed her fifth double-double of the season by posting 16 points and 10 boards. Kurowski and Cassidy combined to play all nine off the Retrievers’ free throws as well. Brooks was the only other Retriever to score in double figures as she scored 11 points.

UMBC shot 46% to East Carolina’s 33% and had a lead as large as 11 with 3:37 to play in the second half.

The six game road trip will conclude for the Retrievers on January 3 as they face Virginia Tech in their final non-conference game of the season.

Comments can be sent to bwrigh1@umbc.edu.