UMBC Women's Lacrosse kicks off season with 19-7 drubbing of George Mason

Senior attack Erika Braerman tallied a career-high eight points and the UMBC women’s lacrosse team (1-0) scored 11 straight goals in the first half in a 19-7 victory over George Mason (0-1) Friday evening at UMBC Stadium in the season opener for both teams. Here are the highlights along with post-game comments.

Postgame From Big Apple Battle

Following the Big Apple Battle, Boston University head coach Pat Chambers, senior guard John Holland and Albany head coach Will Brown were among the people to speak to the media. Here are some clips from the press conference:

Fans Love the Big Apple Battle

During the Big Apple Battle, AExtra took the time to travel around Madison Square Garden to see how fans from both Boston University and Albany were enjoying the experience. As this video shows, it seems that fans from both schools embraced the chance to be a part of this game.

Hartford Thwarts Late Comeback, Outlasts Maine

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—It took history, but Hartford outlasted Maine in a conference shootout at the Reich Family Pavilion to end a four-game losing skid, 74-65.

Hawks senior guard Joe Zeglinski scored a career-high 33 points with the help of seven 3-pointers after averaging just over six points a game in the losing streak. Zeglinski passed Kyle Korver of the Chicago Bulls for 15th all-time in the NCAA for 3-point field goals. Hartford’s all-time leader added a game-high 9 rebounds.

Hartford (8-16, 5-6) lead by as many as 17 with 1:30 left in the game, but turnovers and fouls allowed the Black Bears (14-10, 8-4) to come within seven points before the Hawks closed the game out, beating Maine for the second time this season.

Hitting the Links: Big Apple Battle

America East has dubbed it "The Big Apple Battle."
Others have called it a Garden Party or the Battle in the Big Apple, but no matter what you want to call it, when Albany and Boston U. tip off at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight, this game can definitely  be called historic. 

That is because game is the first America East conference game ever played in the "World's Most Famous Arena." For Albany, it is the first time in program history that the Great Danes take the floor at MSG. For Boston U., it is the fourth trip to the Garden. The Terriers even won a game in the arena in the NCAA tournament in 1959.

Big Apple Battle Coverage Continues

After spending some time walking around the halls of Madison Square Garden, AExtra finally located the court and spent some time watching the Boston University shootaround this morning. Following the conclusion of the light practice, AExtra caught up with Boston U. head coach Pat Chambers to talk about the game tonight and what some of the keys will be to picking up an important win.

UMBC Improves to 9-3 with win at Vermont

The UMBC women's basketball team improved to 9-3 in conference play with a win at Vermont. Here are some highlights and interviews from the game:

Albany Talks Big Apple Battle

With the Big Apple Battle rapidly approaching, AExtra was able to catch up with the Albany men's basketball team and talk about the upcoming opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden against Boston University.

Terriers Enter Women's Mid-Major Top-25

The Boston University women's basketball team, currently on a 10-game win streak and sitting alone atop the America East standings, is ranked #25 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. Head Coach Kelly Greenberg and the Terriers are making their first appearance in the poll after receiving votes for several weeks, including in the preseason edition of the poll. Boston U. hosts Albany tonight at 7p before heading to Hartford for Sunday's AETV game on Comcast SportsNet at 1p.

UMBC and Binghamton, the other top contenders in the conference this season, are receiving 8 and 6 votes and are among the 15 teams receiving votes and jockeying for a spot in the top-25.

Coincidentally (or not?), the top three America East scorers belong to one of these three teams. UMBC's Michelle Kurowski tops the list at 15.8 ppg, and Binghamton's Andrea Holmes and Boston U.'s Chantell Alford each have 14.8 ppg.

Boston U. has upended both UMBC and Binghamton this year, and the top of the league standings could be dependent on the remaining matchups among these three teams. The Terriers visit the Retrievers at 7p on February 17, and then travel to Binghamton for the second to last game of the season on February 23.

Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

With the lacrosse season quickly approaching, the America East Conference recently released the men's lacrosse preseason poll. It should come as no surprise, that with 94% of its scoring returning, Stony Brook was selected first in the poll. Here is the rest of the preseason poll, as well as an interview with Stony Brook head coach Rick Sowell.

Vermont Returns to Mid-Major Top 25

Freshman forward Brian Voelkel has been key for UVM

After spending the majority of the non-conference schedule in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, the Vermont Catamounts have not quite been able to crack the rankings during the past month. However, with a seven-game winning streak heading into a visit to UMBC on Wednesday, UVM has seen its great play recognized with the No. 23 ranking in the latest edition of the polls.

Although it fell out of the rankings following back-to-back losses to Boston U. and UMBC, Maine is still receiving some votes. However, it will be a difficult path to get back in the Top 25, as the Black Bears must travel to both Hartford and Stony Brook later this week.

Weekly Awards: 2/7

Men's Player and Rookie of the Week:





Women's Player and Rookie of the Week:

Vermont improves to 10-2 in America East

Vermont maintained its spot at the top of the America East standings with its 65-42 home victory over Stony Brook. Here are some clips from the impressive victory:

UMBC celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day with 56-49 win over Maine

Junior forward Erin Brown (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) scored a career-high 26 points to lift the UMBC women’s basketball team (14-10, 8-3 AE) to its ninth straight home win, 56-49 victory over America East rival Maine (3-20, 1-10 AE) Saturday afternoon at the RAC Arena. The America East Player of the Game, Brown also matched her career high with 11 rebounds to post her first double-double of the season and the sixth of her career. She shot 8-for-17 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers, and she was a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line, a new career best.