Jamie Smith finished with 13 points in the loss at UMBC.
BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 11, 2011)-Brittany Crowell came off the bench and scored 11 of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lead four University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) players in double figures scoring, as the Retrievers defeated visiting Morgan State 72-50 on Friday evening in the season opener for both teams at RAC Arena.
Erin Brown recorded a double-double scoring 14 points and grabbing10 rebounds, while Michelle Kurowski and Lauren Chase added 13 and 12, respectively, to lead the hosts to a 12-9 all-time series advantage over Morgan State, including six straight wins over the Lady Bears.
Morgan State (0-1) was led by Omara Parker, who scored a team-high 14 points and hauled a team-high five rebounds in her Morgan State debut. #Jamesia (Jamie) Smith# added 13 points and Tracey Carrington contributed 10 points, including 6-for-8 from the free throw line for the Lady Bears who have now lost two of their last three season openers.
UMBC (1-0) began the game knocking down its first three field goals, all three-pointers, to take an early 9-3 lead less than two and a half minutes into the game. The Retrievers , who shot 8-for-29 from three-point range, held their largest lead of the first half (14) when Crowell hit the team's sixth and final trey of the half, giving the hosts a 30-16 advantage with 3:43 remaining. UMBC would take a 34-22 cushion into the locker room at the intermission.
Morgan State would cut the deficit to 10 (34-24) on a quick layup by Amarah Williams to begin the second half, but would get no closer. The hosts would use a 15-4 spurt the next four minutes to extend their lead to 19 points at 47-28 and closed out the game going on an 11-3 run the final four minutes for the game's final score.
The Lady Bears shot 18-of-61 (29.5%), 4-of-14 (28.6%) from three-point range and connected on 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. UMBC shot 45% (28-of-62), including 27.6% (8-of-29) from beyond the three-point arc. The Retrievers shot 66.7% (8-of-12) from the free throw line. UMBC out rebounded the visitors by 15 (45-30).
Morgan State will travel to the Nation's Capital on Wednesday, Nov. 16, when they visit George Washington. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C. Morgan State leads the all-time series, 3-2, following last season's 70-66 overtime victory in the opener of the Miami Holiday Classic.
