BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 6, 2025)--The Morgan State women's basketball team ended their five-game away trip this afternoon as they took on inner city rival University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
 
The Lady Bears fought hard to stay in the game, but the UMBC defense would prove too much for Morgan State as they fell 66-48 in the Charm City Hoops Classic on Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House.
 
With the win, UMBC (4-5), which lost to Towson last month, concluded the 2025 Charm City Classic with a 1-1 record. Morgan State (1-10) will close out the Charm City Classic competition at Towson on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
 
Behind 27 total offensive rebounds, the Retrievers earned their second straight victory of the season. Guard Kennedy Austin and Jade Tillman each scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead UMBC and connected on a combined 15-of-15 from the charity stripe. Forward Alaina Williams had a game-high eight rebounds to go along with seven points of her own.
 
The Lady Bears were led by forward Jael Butler who accounted for 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and four rebounds. Guards Gabrielle Johnson and Michaela Bogans both tallied 11 points in the losing effort.
 
UMBC jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead behind their smothering defense which held the Lady Bears scoreless over the first five minutes of play. Butler would score the Lady Bears' first field goal of the game on an easy finish under the rim with 4:24 remaining in the quarter.
 
As the first waged on, the Lady Bears offensive struggles continued, shooting 4-of-13 from the field and 0-of-2 from deep. The Retrievers lead then ballooned to 11 points (15-4), before back-to-back baskets by Butler cut the lead to seven. UMBC would hold a 17-8 cushion at the end of the first quarter.
 
Morgan State started the second period full of life, turning defense into offense as their press quickly jumpstarted their stagnant play. Bogan scored the first field goal of the quarter and converted the free throw for the three-point play, as the Lady Bears hit the ground running, going on a 10-4 run to cut the lead to just three at 21-18. UMBC then went on a 7-3 run of their own led by Austin, who totaled 14 first half points. The second quarter ended with UMBC leading 33-27, but the Lady Bears held the momentum thanks to their energetic play.
 
UMBC started the second half dominant, going on an early 14-0 run to expand their lead back to double digits (18 points) at 47-29 with 3:57 left in the third. Morgan State had no response and behind the Retrievers' defense, Morgan shot just 4-of-12 from the field and turned the ball over four times.
 
Dakota Austin and Johnson each scored five straight points for the Lady Bears during a 10-6 run, as they tried to battle back in the closing moments of the third. However, Morgan State would enter the fourth quarter down a dozen points at 53-41.
 
UMBC continued its second half dominance into the fourth, reaching its biggest lead of the game at 20 (64-44) on a layup by Williams with 4:12 left in the game. The Retrievers used their defense to effectively control the pace of the game and held the Lady Bears to just seven points in the final quarter to cruise to the 66-48 victory.
 
The Retrievers outrebounded Morgan State 56-27 for the game and forced 16 Lady Bears turnovers, which they turned into 15 points.
 
The Lady Bears head to Orlando next Sunday, Dec. 14 to take on the University of Central Florida at 2 p.m. at Addition Financial Arena, as they begin the first of a six-game stint away from Hill Field House.
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.