Behind the Scenes with UMBC Women's Basketball at UVa Part 1

The Break is Over: America East Teams Return to Action

Over the past week, America East fans have had to not only deal with frigid weather, but also a week with only one basketball game to enjoy. With the student-athletes turning their attention to the classroom and finals preparation, basketball was put on the back-burner. However, with the start of America East play just two weeks away, these final non-conference games will be essential to building momentum heading into the start of the conference season.

AExtra Finals Week: UMBC Retrievers Women

Michelle Kurowski leads a trio of UMBC juniors.

Head coach Phil Stern believes in his juniors, and with good reason. With a trio of third-year players leading the charge for the UMBC women, the Retrievers have won three of their last four games. Classmates Michelle Kurowski, Erin Brown and Tope Obajolu have helped the Retrievers come back from a slow 1-5 start.

Now, the Retrievers sit at 4-6, including a three-game winning streak against teams that are not No. 23 Maryland. Now, it seems like the Retrievers have hit their stride, offensively and defensively. Over the past five games, the Retrievers have put up their four highest point totals and have held their opponents to three of their five lowest point totals.

Hitting the Links: 12/17/2010

While the teams of America East have taken a break from the playing field to hit the books for finals, the student-athletes and teams have still found their way into the news.

A pair of America East men's basketball players, Albany senior guard Tim Ambrose and Vermont freshman Brian Voelkel, received America East weekly honors as Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Each of those players was also featured in their local papers.

Ambrose sat down with Tim Wilkin from the Albany Times Union as part of that publication's "A conversation with..." series. In the interview with Wilkin, Ambrose talks about the Great Danes' win over Siena in the Albany Cup, his game and what it's like to be a senior. Ambrose also mentioned that the arena he would most like to play in that he hasn't played in before would be the Staples Center. He took Madison Square Garden out of the running, seeing as his Danes will play Boston U. there February 10.

Voelkel, the America East leader in rebounds, was profiled in the Burlington Free Press Blog "On Campus" as a "Rebound Warrior." In the piece, the freshman is described as "hulking" and is praised by his coach, Mike Lonergan, for his hustle and intensity on the court. This article came after Voelkel ripped down 16 boards and added 23 points in Vermont's win over Marist.

The achievements of teams and players in games is often what grabs headlines. However, the Stony Brook men's basketball team recently received coverage for their on-court activities that did not come in a game. The Seawolves recently hosted a clinic for Special Olympics. The players ran drills with the Olympians and played at their sides in scrimmages. You can check out some of the video that was featured on the Newsday website. 

Staying in Stony Brook but shifting sports, junior baseball pitcher Nick Tropeano was recently named a preseason all-American. Tropeano was named a third-team all-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association and by Collegiate Baseball News.

AExtra Finals Week: 2010 Cross Country Recap

With the success of a certain set of twins, the Stony Brook University women’s cross country team ran its way into the national spotlight in 2010. Seniors Lucy and Holly Van Dalen paced a Seawolf club that found its way into the USTFCCCA national rankings before racing to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA National Championship meet.

The Van Dalen sisters will be featured on CBS.

It is impossible to overlook the success of the twins from Wangannui, New Zealand. Lucy and Holly finished sixth and seventh, respectively, at the National Championship as they earned All-America honors. Prior to the NCAA meet, the Van Dalens ran in four meets: the Notre Dame Invitational, the Pre-NCAA meet, the America East Championship and the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Lucy finished first in each of those meets. Holly was never far behind, posting finishes of sixth, eighth, second and second, respectively.

AExtra Finals Week: UMBC Retrievers Men

The start of the 2010-11 season has been frustrating for the UMBC Retriever men. After 10 games, the Retrievers are still in search of their first win. However, with the conference schedule yet to begin, UMBC has a chance to overcome the slow start in its non-conference schedule and salvage its season.

Guard Chris De La Rosa leads America East with 6.4 apg

In order for the Retrievers to turn things around, the defense needs to buckle down and make stops. UMBC’s opponents are averaging 82.9 points per game while shooting at a .494 clip. Seven times this season, the Retrievers have given up at least 80 points in a game. Offensively, the Retrievers can score. They currently rank third in America East with 65 points per game. If they do not slow their opponents’ scoring, finding that win is going to be tough.

AExtra Finals Week: Maine Black Bears Women

Ashleigh Roberts is averaging 7.1 points per game

While there is no denying the talent and potential that exists on this Maine Black Bears team, it is important to note that the majority of the talent is young and still learning what it takes to win at the Division I level. Due to the inconsistency that often comes with young players getting extended minutes in key games, the Black Bears have struggled to close out opponents when given the opportunity.

In order to rebound from their 1-8 start to the season, the Black Bears will need to find a consistent third scorer to compliment junior forward Samantha Wheeler (12.8 ppg), who is currently dealing with a concussion, and guard Amber Smith (12.4 ppg). One of the players that has shown the potential to develop into an excellent complimentary scorer on the perimeter is freshman guard Ashleigh Roberts. Roberts is averaging 7.1 points per game, and as she develops her game, should give head coach Cindy Blodgett and her team a consistent scoring threat.

Maine Swimming Sweeps Bates

The University of Maine swimming and diving program closed out the first half of its schedule with a meet against in-state rival Bates. The Black Bear men and women swept the host Bobcats, winning 176-118 in the men’s meet and 188.5-105.5 in the women’s meet.

Maine sophomore Yuri Chornobil

The Black Bear men were led by a pair of swimmers who each grabbed multiple victories. Sophomore Yuri Chornobil paced the field in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles, touching first with times of 1:47.23 and 4:57.10, respectively. Junior Brian Landry won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.53 and the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:15.35. Landry also swam the second leg for the first-place 400 medley relay team.

AExtra Finals Week: Maine Black Bears Men

Gerald McLemore gives Maine a sharp-shooter on the perimeter

With the Maine Black Bears coming off one of the best seasons in school history, expectations were incredibly high heading into the 2010-11 season. However, due to the combination of an incredibly difficult non-conference schedule and some injuries to a couple key players, the Black Bears have labored to a 4-5 start.

The good news for head coach Ted Woodward and his team is that they have recently started to show flashes of their great potential and depth. Impressive wins over Massachusetts and Norfolk State have given this team some key momentum heading into the final three games of the non-conference schedule. In the past two games, Maine has seen nine players play 10+ minutes, which gives this team depth that few, if any, teams can match in the conference.

AExtra Finals Week: Hartford Hawks Women

During the tenure of head coach Jen Rizzotti, the Hartford women’s basketball team has not been used to struggling. In recent years, the Hawks have been at or near the top of the league, finishing in the top two in America East in each of the last six seasons. However, with only two seniors seeing significant minutes and three of the Hawks’ top five scorers being sophomores, the Hawks have been experiencing some growing pains.

The non-conference schedule to this point has not been kind to the Hawks. They are 2-9 through 11 games, the team’s slowest start since 2002. With two games left before America East play begins, the Hawks will start their conference slate under .500. That is not necessarily reason to panic. When the Hawks entered conference play at 5-7 during the 2008-09 season, they went 14-2 in the America East portion of their schedule.

AExtra Finals Week: Hartford Hawks Men

Senior Joe Zeglinski leads Hartford with 15.9 ppg

The Hartford Hawks men have gotten out to a slow start in the John Gallagher era. The Hawks are just 2-8 through the first 10 games of Gallagher’s head coaching career. While the beginning of the season has been rough, when you look at individual games, it typically is the end, not the beginning, that gives Gallagher’s team trouble.

If you look at the eight Hartford losses, the Hawks held a double-digit lead in the second half in four of those games. Two of the other four losses were by two points at Quinnipiac and by five points at Yale. The Hawks are not getting blown out. Rather, it is the close games, games decided by two or fewer possessions, that have done the Hawks in thus far.

Vermont Holds Steady in Mid-Major Top 25

Despite being young and relatively inexperienced, the Vermont Catamounts are off to a 7-2 start to the 2010-11 season. With their only losses coming at No.4 Connecticut and on a neutral court against No. 18 BYU, it should come as no surprise that the Catamounts are ranked No. 16 in the latest Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. While the loss to BYU did drop UVM from No. 14 to No. 16 in the poll, the Catamounts have an excellent opportunity to close out the non-conference schedule with tons of momentum heading into the start of what should be an incredibly exciting America East conference schedule.

AExtra would like to congratulate Vermont on the national recognition it has received to start the season. This team is clearly deserving of a spot in the Mid-Major Top 25, and hopefully a couple more wins to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule will see UVM continue to rise up the rankings.

AExtra Finals Week: Boston University Terriers Women

Chantell Alford is averaging 11.8 points per game

After being picked to win the America East in the 2010 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the start to the 2010-11 season has been a bit of a disappointment for the Boston University women’s basketball team. With so much offensive talent returning, the most surprising aspect of their start to the season is the fact that the Terriers have only managed to score over 65 points in two games. The inability to convert on the offensive end has seen Boston U. struggle to a 3-8 start.

AExtra Finals Week: Boston University Terriers Men

John Holland leads Boston University with 17.5 ppg.

It’s been an interesting start to the 2010-11 season for the Boston University Terriers. Despite entering finals week with a 4-7 record, including four losses by three points or less, there is still a sense around this team that it has the chance to be special as all the newcomers continue to jell.

With America East play rapidly approaching, it will be important for the Terriers to develop some confidence before the start of the conference season. After a 4-3 start to the season, Boston University is currently on a four-game losing streak with a handful of difficult non-conference games left. While all four defeats have come against strong competition, the inability to get stops on the defensive end has been surprising. In three of the four losses, Boston U. has given up 84+ points and hasn’t been able to find key stops in tough losses to Bucknell and La Salle.

AExtra Finals Week: Binghamton Bearcats Women

Andrea Holmes leads America East with 15.4 ppg

The old saying goes that you should put your best foot forward. The Binghamton women’s basketball team has taken that a step further: not only do they put their best foot forward to start, they keep it there.

The Bearcat starting five has been consistent all season in seemingly every facet of the game. Each of the Bearcat starters is averaging double figures in scoring, with junior guard Andrea Holmes and her league-leading 15.4 points per game leading the charge. Holmes also leads America East in assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.9 spg). Freshman guard Jasbriell Swain also sits among the league’s top 10 in scoring (10^th, 11.4 ppg), rebounding (seventh, 7.4 rpg) and steals (second, 2.8 spg).

AExtra Finals Week: Binghamton Bearcats Men

Binghamton forward Greer Wright

The Binghamton Bearcats have had a rough time navigating their early-season schedule. After winning their opener, the Bearcats proceeded to drop their next six games. However, things have been looking up in Bearcat country as the offense seems to be clicking lately and the men are coming off of a win for the first time since mid-November.

During the six-game skid, the Bearcats could not find the basket, including a five-game stretch in which they averaged just 44.8 points per game. Binghamton struggled to find a consistent second scoring option after preseason all-conference forward Greer Wright. In the last two games though, scoring has not been an issue. The Bearcats scored 85 points in an overtime loss to Hofstra on Dec. 8 and 70 points in a win over Manhattan on Dec. 11.

AExtra Finals Week: Albany Great Danes Women

Albany guard Ebone Henry

The University at Albany women’s basketball team has been the story in America East to start the 2010-11 season. Under first-year head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, the Great Danes have gone from the bottom of the standings (11-19, 4-12 in America East, seventh place) in 2009-10 to the top (6-3) in 2010-11.

Not only have the Great Danes turned things around early, they’ve done so at historic proportions. Their 5-0 start was the best of any Albany team since the 1986-87 squad won its first five games. However, that team played at the Division III level. Now, the Great Danes have crept up to No. 23 in the most recent Mid-Major Top 25. How have these Danes done it? Defense.

AExtra Finals Week: Albany Great Danes Men

Through 11 games, the Albany Great Danes men’s basketball team has been a little bit of a surprise. Picked to finish eighth in the conference in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Danes have played like an America East contender to start 2010-11.

Albany sophomore guard Mike Black

Albany got out to a slow start this season, going 1-6 through its first seven games. However, most of those games were played without sophomore guard Mike Black. Black suffered a sprained ankle in the first half of the season- opener against Cornell. Since his return, the Danes are 4-2 and averaging 69.7 points per game. They reached that total only once in Black’s absence, scoring 72 points in a 72-46 win at Fairleigh Dickinson.

The early-season success of Albany is due in large part to the guard play.
Black, senior Tim Ambrose and sophomore Logan Aronhalt have formed a trio that packs a strong offensive punch.

UMaine defeats Norfolk St in The Pit

It was the annual men’s basketball game held in the timeless Memorial Gym, better referred to as “The Pit.” The University of Maine Black Bears surely brought their A-game for such a special game to them.

In a game scheduled the day before finals week, the Black Bears devoured Norfolk State University, beating the Spartans 74-54 Sunday afternoon in a spacious Memorial Gym in Orono, Maine.

“Just really good team defense, all-around,” Black Bears head coach Ted Woodward said. “Our guys really bought in to some of the things we have to do.”

Young Danes Learning How To Win

It's a game his team wouldn't have won a year ago, Albany head men's basketball coach Will Brown said after his team's thrilling 64-63 win over Central Connecticut State on Saturday night at SEFCU Arena.

The game had the looks of an easy win for the Great Danes, who played brilliantly in the first half and built a 37-22 advantage at the break. Albany grew its lead to 18 early in the second frame and still led 53-36 with 9:36 remaining in the contest.

That's when the young Great Danes got put to the test. Central Connecticut used stealth three-point shooting and suffocating man-to-man defense to go on a 24-4 run. Ken Horton's jumper with 2:18 left gave the Blue Devils a 60-57 and things looked as if they were beginning to unravel for the home team.

UMBC Men's Basketball Falls to Towson, 86-77

By Curtis Schickner, UMBC '12

The UMBC Retrievers (0-9) hosted the cross-town rival Towson University Tigers (3-5) Saturday evening at the Retrievers Activities Center in Baltimore, Md. The Retrievers have gotten off to a very disappointing start, coming off a 81-39 loss to Rider University on Wednesday, as they looked for their first win of the season against the Tigers. The Retrievers hit the home court for the first time in December after a five-game road trip that took them to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Fifth-year senior Travis King (14.0 ppg) and junior Chris De La Rosa (12.5 ppg) lead the young Retriever offense.

UMBC opened up with one of their best halves of the season, scoring 38 points to Towson’s 33. The Retrievers were up by as much as seven early in the first half. Chris De La Rosa led the Retrievers with 15 points in the first half, 6-10 from the field, and Braxton Dupree led the Tigers with eight points. The Tigers battled back from an early deficit to take the lead briefly at the midway point of the first half; however, ten turnovers gave UMBC a five-point cushion going into halftime.