Score: UMBC 61, UAlbany 52
 
Location: UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, Md.
 
Records: UAlbany (2-3, 1-1 AE); UMBC (1-3, 1-1 AE)
 
Short Story: UAlbany earns a split at UMBC to open the conference schedule after the Retrievers pull away in Sunday's fourth quarter.
 
Key Stats
 

• Helene Haegerstrand led all scorers with 13 points
• UAlbany outscored UMBC 14-5 in the third quarter
• UMBC outscored UAlbany 18-9 in the second quarter and 23-10 in the fourth
• UMBC outrebounded UAlbany 41-25
• UAlbany recorded five blocked shots

 
Coach Mullen: "Obviously we didn't get the outcome we wanted today.  We weren't able to play for 40 minutes tonight, and we had a tough fourth quarter.  Credit UMBC, they really came out and pressured us in the first half.  They took away a lot of our options offensively, and they really took it to us on the defensive end.  We really struggled to defend them one-one-one.  But I was really proud about how we made some adjustments to that.  Playing back-to-back is tough, and it's been a challenge and it's going to continue to be a challenge.  At the end of the day, we just couldn't get stops in the fourth quarter.  We got good looks, we just couldn't convert.  It's going to be a good learning experience for us, and we'll bounce back for our game in two days.
 
How it Happened
 

• UAlbany opened the game on a 5-0 run lasting just over two minutes, before UMBC snapped the streak with a three-pointer with 7:27 to go in the first.  The Great Danes quickly built their lead back to five before the Retrievers started chipping away, taking their first lead, 10-9, with 3:37 left in the quarter.
• Izzy Om put UAlbany up four with a layup to end the first quarter.  With 7:29 left in the second, UMBC tied the game at 23, part of a 10-0 run that saw the Retrievers take a six-point lead mid-way through the quarter.  UMBC led by as many as seven in the first halve before taking a five-point, 33-28 lead into the break.
• UAlbany came out of halftime on fire, piecing together an 8-2 run to take a three-point lead with 7:09 remaining in the third.  The Great Danes, who outscored the Retrievers 14-5 in the third quarter, led by four heading into the fourth after a pair of free throws from Helene Haegerstrand.
• After trailing by five, UMBC tied the game at 43 with 7:53 left in the fourth.  The Retrievers' run built to 10-0 by 6:46 remaining, priming an eventual 12-point lead with just over one minute to go.  UMBC, after outscoring UAlbany 23-10 in the final quarter, went on to claim a 61-52 victory, their first of the season.
• Haegerstrand led all scorers with 13 points, while recording two steals and two blocked shots.  Chay Hayes added nine points.  UMBC held a sizeable advantage on the glass, outrebounding UAlbany 41-25, while outscoring the Great Danes 32-26 in the paint, 11-6 in second-chance opportunities, and 9-5 in transition.

 
Next: UAlbany plays a sixth-straight game on the road to start their season, visiting Fordham on Tuesday, December 22.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.