BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 12, 2015)-Unfortunately for the Morgan State women's basketball team the common theme thus far this season has been, in what quarter will the opposition erupt and have a big scoring outburst?
In Saturday's non-conference game against local rival the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), it would be a 26-0 run by the Retrievers in the third period that would do in Morgan State and put the game out of reach. The visiting Retrievers would go on to win, 65-46 at Hill Field House and end a two-game losing skid to Morgan State. UMBC (6-3) now leads the all-time series, 13-11.
Laura Castaldo, who shot 6-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, tallied nine of her game-high 17 points in the third period for the guests. Castaldo would also add five rebounds to go with a game-high three steals. Pandora Wilson finished with 15 points and pulled down a team-high nine boards, while Taylor McCarley had 14 points and a game-high nine assists. Capree Garner came off the bench for UMBC and scored 11 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.
Morgan State trailed 23-15 with 3:49 left in the second half, before using a 10-3 spurt, capped off by a deep three-pointer by Benedicta Makakala from the right elbow as the shot and game clock expired to pull the Lady Bears within 26-25 at the break.
Danielle Robinson began the second half shooting two free throws for a technical foul that was called on UMBC head coach as the teams walked off the floor for halftime. Robinson would drain both attempts and Farrar added a three-pointer from the corner to give Morgan State a quick 30-26 lead with 9:02 to play in the third quarter.
It would be all UMBC from that point on. The Retrievers would respond by scoring the next 26 points in span of seven minutes in part of a ridiculous 32-5 stretch to close out the period and take control of the game and hold a 52-30 advantage. Ivy Harrington ended the Retrievers' 26-0 run with a basket with 2:20 to play in the third.
Morgan State would outscore the Retrievers 11-7 in the fourth quarter, but the damage had already been done by then.Â
UMBC shot 45.8 percent (22-of-48) for the game, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range. The Lady Bears, who entered the contest ranked last in the nation in field goal percentage (29.5), shot 19 percent (12-of-62) for the game and was 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from three-point range. The Retrievers finished the game with 18 assists, while Morgan State had just four. Â
The Lady Bears would be led by Farrar, who came off the bench to score 15 points. Chelsea Mitchell also came off the bench and finished with seven points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jayde Duncan, playing in her first game of the season, pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to help the Lady Bears hold a slim 43-42 rebounding advantage over UMBC.Â
Morgan State returns to action on Monday, Dec. 14, when it travels to Stony Brook, N.Y. to take on Stony Brook. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
