The UMBC Women’s Basketball team encountered a significant defeat at the hands of UAlbany in a closely contested game culminating in a buzzer-beating layup. Despite Jordon Lewis’s game-high 16 points, the Retrievers were unable to secure a victory, ultimately falling short by a mere two points with a final score of 58-56.
The game took a turn in the third quarter when the Retrievers maintained an 11-point lead. However, UAlbany staged a comeback, holding UMBC scoreless for nearly 7 minutes and orchestrating a 14-0 run. This surge allowed UAlbany to secure a 53-48 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
UMBC’s Anna Blount interrupted UAlbany’s scoring spree with a layup but subsequently fouled out after adding another layup. With the score at 56-52 and less than a minute left, Trinity Palacio executed a crucial steal and set up Jaliena Sanchez for a layup, narrowing the deficit to just two points.
In the dying moments of the game, Sanchez once again stepped up, driving in for a layup that tied the game at 56-56 with only 17.7 seconds remaining. However, UAlbany seized the opportunity to score a contested layup with a mere 0.8 seconds on the clock, securing the victory.
Despite the defeat, UMBC saw standout performances from Carmen Yánez, who contributed 11 points and three assists, and Jaden Walker, who added five points and a team-high eight rebounds. Walker also impressed with three steals and two assists, while Lewis secured six boards. Off the bench, Sanchez chipped in 10 points for the Retrievers.
Looking ahead, UMBC will embark on a three-game home stand to conclude the regular season, commencing with a matchup against Maine. This game will be pivotal, as Maine is currently tied for first place with UAlbany.
The loss at UAlbany was unquestionably challenging for the UMBC Women’s Basketball team, but the players and coaching staff are certain to regroup and return stronger in the upcoming games. Despite the setback, the Retrievers have exhibited resilience throughout the season and are poised to finish strongly in the remaining games.