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Probable Starters:

UMBC (4-2):
C- Topé Obajolu (6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .459 FG%)
F- Erin Brown (11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .451 FG%)
G- Carlee Cassidy (13.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
G- Michelle Kurowski (17.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2. apg)
G- Katie Brooks (6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg)

Key Reserves:
C- Chrissy Robinson (2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.000 FG%)
F- Kim Browning (0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.2 bpg)
G- Chelsea Barker (6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .538 FG%)
G- Michele Brokans (1.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 rpg)

Delaware (2-3):
F- Danielle Parker (5.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .526 FG%)
F- Ariene Jenkins (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .458 FG%)
G- Lauren Carra (12.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .462 FG%)
G- Vanessa Kabongo (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 spg)
G- Tesia Harris (11.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)

Key Reserves:
F- Eva Riddick (2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .556 FG%)
G- Jocelyn Bailey (5.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 spg)
G- Corinthia Benison (4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 apg)

There are two very significant player who’s activity in this game is up in the air. For UMBC that is forward Meghan Colabella (11.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg) who has been held out of action with a head injury. Without knowing what the injury is I’m hesitant to say that a person will play two weeks after a head injury that has kept them out of two games already. If she is cleared it will be a huge boost to UMBC, but the team has won two games since she has been out, so the know how to win without her presence.

For Delaware the injury happens to be to Naismith Pre-Season Player of the Year Candidate Elena Delle Donne (25.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 bpg, .472 FG%). She transfered from Connecticut before her freshman season, but she is called the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball, and for good reason. Since she suffered an ankle injury at Houston the team has lost two straight games by an average of 17.5 points. It’s obvious that the team really needs her. She very well may suit up in the game and she will be a handful for UMBC but as of right now she is listed as day-to-day and there have been no reports of her being cleared.

This could mean a fourth straight win for UMBC. But just because the Blue Hens are without a great player and have lost two in a row does not mean they will just roll over for UMBC. UMBC has plenty of talent on their team, but Delaware still have Lauren Carra and Tesia Harris to look out for on the offensive end, as well as a great all-around rebounding team.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-6):
C- Robbie Jackson (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .509FG%)
G- Adrian Satchell (5.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .517 FG%)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (13.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 spg)
G- Matt Spadafora (7.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (6.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.2 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
G- Shawn grant (12.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .509 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, .217 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (3.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 3-pt%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)

Toledo (1-6):
C- Justin Anyijong (7.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg .392 FG%)
F- Jordan Dressler (7.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .575 FG%)
G- Jake Barnett (12.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G- Larry Bastifield (5.0 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.6 rpg)
G- Stephen Albrecht (13.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg)

Key Reserves:
C- Ian Salter (3.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .476 FG%)
F- Mouhamed Lo (7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .475 FG%)
G- Josh Freelove (4.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .400 FG%)
G- Jay Shunnar (0.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg, .500 FG%)

If UMBC want’s to get a non-conference win any time soon this is their best shot. Up until this point UMBC has played a very tough non-conference schedule. Morgan Sate is expected to make it to the tournament with easy, Loyola beat them with easy, Coppin State is always in the hunt for an NCAA bid, George Washington may be nationally ranked soon, James Madison is projected a top CAA team, and Towson led nationally ranked Dayton by 13 points recently. Aside from the game against George Washington, they were in ever game this year and could have one if one or two more plays would have gone their way. But it is not completely surprising to see a bad start with so much inexperience. That’s not an excuse but it still is not shocking.

Right now they are in the middle of a four game road trip and are going to take a long trip to Toledo. While Toledo has yet to beat a Division I team this year, with so many young players that long of a trip could be difficult. But sometimes when a team has their backs up against a wall they are not at al effected by travel and they get the job done.

Until Shawn Grant actually starts a game I’m leaving him as a projected reserve. As important Matt Spadafora is to the team, Grant is just way more productive and needs to see an increase in playing time. He is not quite showing as much promise as Chauncey Gilliam did last year, but for Grant the future look very bright and he is in a situation that he has the green light to shoot and could have him time come soon.

In order to beat Toledo, the Retrievers have to create turnovers. Toledo has given up a lot of possessions this year and that is what has killed them, not a lack of points. They actually have two players scoring in the teens and three scoring seven per game. That is they type of offense you need to win a game. Their defense is also not that great, but then again neither is UMBC’s. If UMBC would play a little better defense they could be 5-1 at this point. But obviously that is not the case.

The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has named UMBC’s Levi Houapeu their top offensive player of the year in Men’s Soccer. The ECAC is the nations largest athletic conference and Houapeu has been awarded their top honor after recording 15 goals and 13 assists for a nation leading 43 points. Eight of his goals were game-winning goals.

Houapeu, the America East Midfielder of the Year, was also named to the ECAC First All-Star team with his teammate Andrew Bulls, the America East Striker of the Year who scored 15 goals and had 11 assists.

Both were named the Goal.com Team of the Year with second team honors

Freshman Shawn Grant had a breakout performance against the local rival Towson Tigers as he led all scorers with 28 points as he went 10-14 from the field and 4-6 from both three point range and the foul line.

It was the same thing that killed UMBC last yea when they played Towson, their ability to shoot the three. Towson hit 11 three’s and in a close game that difference of five three’s was big.

Defensively UMBC has not played well all season and this was no different. they gave up 82 points and 74.5 per game this year. A big reason is their lack of size. With Justin Fry being out of action for another month UMBC has just one big man that sees significant time. When Fry comes back, you should expect to see a big defensive boost from the team.

To help out Grant’s 28 point performance was three other Retrievers in double figures in scoring. Chauncey Gilliam scored 13 points while freshman Adrian Satchell scored 11 and Chris De La Rosa scored 10. De La Rosa also had seven assists anf five rebounds but he went just 3-10 from the field and 0-1 from three point range.

In 30 minutes Jackson recorded 11 rebounds but only scored seven points.

Three other Retrievers scored in the game as Matt Spadafora and Brian Neller each scored three and Nick Groce scored two.

Personally I think there has to be some change in that lineup. Matt Spadafora has just not don well at all this year in any aspect of the game. Three point for a fifth year senior is not what anybody is looking for. In 17 minutes he scored three points and in 26 minutes Grant scored 28 points. Grant is just more productive and if you’re going to lose, lose with young guys getting experience. Also, De La Rosa has good enough stats to stay in the starting lineup, but a few more mistakes and he could see Groce move in his spot.

While Towson led the game by 15 points in the first half, they never completely took UMBC out of the game. They have many opportunities to do so but with less than one minute left UMBC cut the Tigers’ lead to just three points. While UMBC had the ball with 14 seconds left, De La Rosa bounced the ball off his foot, lost possession and with one second left Towson put the exclamation point on the game with a dunk as time ran out.

Despite their 0-6 record, UMBC could be a major factor in the America East Conference, play starts in a month. They have played a tough schedule and aside from their George Washington loss (who could be nationally ranked this season) they have been in every game, playing Morgan State (who is expected to make it to the tournament with ease), Loyola (who just beat Morgan State with ease), Coppin State (who is always a threat to make the tournament), James Madison (a preseason favorite to do well in the CAA), and now Towson (who led nationally ranked Dayton by 13 points in their last game).

With that amount of experience playing quality teams the young team should be ready as they get back two players before the second-season starts.

Their next game will be in Toledo at 2:00 pm on Saturday.

It was two unlikely heroes that came up big for UMBC to break a half time deficit and walk away with a win. Topé Obajolu recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Chelsea Barker was tied for a team high in points with 15 to go with five rebounds in the game.

Navy was leading the game for a majority of the time but could not put UMBC away, which in the end cost them as UMBC hung around and got a late lead, which they did not give up.

Carlee Cassidy also recorded 15 points while Michelle Kurowski scored nine with nine rebounds, Katie Brooks scored six, and Michele Brokans added the final two points.

Only two Retrievers had success from three point range, Cassidy who went 2-6, and Barker who went a perfect 3-3.

By coming back to get the 59-51 win UMBC improves their record to 4-2 and will prepare to play Delaware, who is home to one of the top players in the country, Elena Delle Donne.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (3-2):
C- Topé Obajolu (5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .500 FG%)
F- Erin Brown (11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 spg)
G- Carlee Cassidy (13.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)
G- Michelle Kurowski (19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.0 apg)
G- Katie Brooks (7.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 4.0 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Chrissy Robinson (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.000 FG%)
F- Kim Browning (0.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.3 bpg)
G- Chelsea Barker (3.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg)
G- Michele Brokans (0.8 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 rpg)

Navy (6-2):
C- Cassie Consedine (13.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
F- K.C. Gordon (8.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .403 FG%)
F- Angela Myers (11.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 31 apg)
G- Chey Arvin (6.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .327 FG%)
G- Jasmine Pitts (7.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Key Reserves:
C- Kelly Altschul (2.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg, .417 FG%)
F- Kristen Bowen (7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .457 FG%)
G- Erin Edwards (1.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .667 FG%)
G- Megan Matheny (1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .200 FG%)

I have one rule when it comes to college sports: NEVER COUNT OUT NAVY!!! It doesn’t matter what the talent level is, in any sport Navy will have teams in a tough game because they are so physically fit. Because of that fitness the key players can stay on the court for a long time and when it comes to defense they are very stingy (they have only allowd 54.5 ppg this year).

Right now Navy is off to a great start to their season at 6-2. But UMBC has talent and just because they are playing Navy does not mean they have to lose. UMBC can really put points on the board. While Meghan Colabella should still be out with what is said to be a concussion, Erin Brown will step in her place once again and should see plenty of chances to score. But as it has been the case all season, the trio of guards is where the team is going to win or lose. Katie Brooks, Michelle Kurowski, and Carlee Cassidy are all high scoring players that the team lives and dies by.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-5):
C- Robbie Jackson (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
G- Adrian Satchell (4.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
G- Matt Spadafora (8.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .357 FG%)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (14.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .418 FG%)
G- Chris De La Rosa (5.6 ppg, 6.4 apg, 2.8 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg)
G- Shawn Grant (9.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .429 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.4 ppg, 1.2 apg, .263 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1 three per game)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)

Towson (1-3):
F- Robert Nwankwo (7.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, .538 FG%)
F- Calvin Lee (15.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .581 FG%)
F- Jarrel Smith (11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .469 FG%)
G- Josh Thorton (10.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .375 FG%)
G- Troy Franklin (9.8 ppg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg)

Key Reserves:
F- Isaiah Philmore (2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .250 FG%)
F- Erique Gumbs (1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .286 FG%)
F- David Brewster (4.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .429 FG%)
G- Josh Brown (7.0 ppg, 1.3 spg, .400 FG%)
G- RaShawn Polk (13.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .500 FG%)
G- Brian Morris (2.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.0 apg)

UMBC is looking for their first win of the season and this may very well be their best chance so far. Towson is no slouch team (they stomped UMBC last year by hitting three after three after three) but they are nothing to write home about either. They are incredibly streaky. They’ll put up a good amount of points but they will allow a lot far more consistently. If the UMBC offense can get rolling at all they should be in good shape.

The one worry is the UMBC perimeter defense and man did a lack of that kill UMBC last year. While they are without Junior Hairston, they still have Troy Barnies, Josh Thorton, RaShawn Polk and David Brewster hitting three’s right after on another (they have combined for 25 threes in four games that’s 6.2 per game). If UMBC can’t force the game inside where it is being defended by Robbie Jackson, they could be due for a sixth straight loss to start the season.

But that can’t happen for UMBC. Right now they absolutely need a win and hopefully this is the one they get.

Press Release from UMBC Athletics- first reported on www.umbcretrievers.com

The UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has selected
eight nominees to be inducted into the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame. The
17^th induction ceremony will take place at the BWI Airport Marriott
Hotel on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at 7 p.m.

The inductees are LaNae Baker (volleyball, 1995-98), Kevin Goh (swimming
& diving, 1997-2001), John Jancuska (head baseball coach, 1978-present),
Huguens Jean (track & field, 1999-2003), Ingrid Kilpe Huber (swimming &
diving, 1999-2003), Craig Linthicum (lacrosse, 1978-81), Monica Logan
(women’s basketball, 1995-99) and Deanna Vecchio (softball, 1999-2002).

There are now 112 members of the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame, which was
was instituted in the 1970s, and in 1990, Director of Athletics Dr.
Charles Brown created The Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction
Ceremony. This event now occurs every other year. Candidates are
nominated throughout the two-year period and are selected for induction
by a committee of current Hall of Fame members based on their excellence
in competition at UMBC and subsequent graduation from the university.

The cost to attend the induction dinner is $75, which includes a ticket
to the basketball doubleheader that afternoon at the RAC Arena. The
women take on Maine at 12:30 p.m., and the men entertain Vermont at 3
p.m. The new class of Hall of Famers will be introduced at halftime of
the men’s game. Please contact Kevin Gibbons O’Neill at 410-455-1532 or
oneillb@umbc.edu for additional information
about the event or to purchase tickets.

*_The 2010 UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame Class _*

* LaNae Baker*, volleyball (1995-98)—Baker is UMBC’s all-time leader in
assists with a staggering 4,722, 1,600 more than any other player in
school history. She is also second in service aces (206), third in digs
(1460) and tied for fourth in matches played (122). The team averaged
more than 24 wins per season in her four years – the most successful
period in school history – won a pair of conference titles and went to
the 1998 NCAA Championships. The native of La Mirada, Calif., was a
First-Team All-Northeast Conference selection in her senior season.

*Kevin Goh*, swimming & diving (1997-01)—Goh was UMBC’s Outstanding
Senior Athlete in 2001. He still maintains school records in the 200
breaststroke, the 200 IM and as part of the 400 medley relay team. The
native of Orange Park, Fla., set an ECAC record in the 200 breaststroke
at the 2000 Championships and repeated as champion in the 200 individual
medley. He also set a meet record in the 200 breaststroke at the Nittany
Lion Invitational. Goh captured an ECAC title as a freshman in the 400
IM and qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials.

*John Jancuska*, head baseball coach (1978-present)— Jancuska has served
UMBC as its head baseball coach for 32 seasons, the longest-tenured
coach in school history. He has compiled over 660 victories, including
19 winning seasons. At the Division I level, he has been named a
conference Coach of the Year in four different leagues. (1992-East
Coast, 1993-Big South, 2000-Northeast, 2008-America East) During his
tenure, UMBC has made three appearances in the NCAA Division II
Tournament (1978, 1979, 1986) and two at the NCAA Division I level
(1992, 2001). Jancuska is a former University of Delaware two-year
starter and co-captain of the baseball team in his senior season of
1975. He was inducted into the Maryland State Association of Baseball
Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. The Sykesville, Md., resident has coached
five All-Americans, four academic All-Americans and 17 student-athletes
who have played professionally. He and his wife, Lee Ann, have three
daughters and two grandchildren.

*Huguens Jean,* track & field (1999-2003)—The undersized high jumper
capped a brilliant career by placing fourth in the nation in the high
jump at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He holds school indoor
records in the high jump and triple jump and an outdoor mark in the high
jump at 2.22 meters (7’3.25”). That mark is believed to be the highest
jump by any athlete competing in the state of Maryland. Jean had placed
10th in the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., three
months prior to his performance outdoors. The Columbia, Md., native and
Howard High School graduate was UMBC’s Outstanding Male Athlete in 2003
and was an Academic All-American in 2002 and 2003. He won the 2002
Northeast Conference high jump indoor and outdoor title, as well as the
ECAC indoor title that same year.

*Ingrid Kilpe Huber*, swimming & diving (1993-97)—Kilpe was UMBC’s
Outstanding Female Athlete in the spring of 1997. She held the school
record in the 200 individual medley until 2003 and was part of three
relay teams which held school marks. The Columbia, Md., native and
Centennial High School graduate won both the 100 fly and the 200 IM at
the 1996 ECAC Championships. She won a pair of golds at Eastern
Championships in the 100 and 200 butterfly events in 1995 after taking
one gold at the 1994 championships. Kilpe also recorded multiple
victories over ACC opponents, including Duke, N.C. State and Maryland.

*Craig Linthicum*, men’s lacrosse (1978-81)—Linthicum was a three-time
All-American, earning Second-Team (1979) and First-Team (1980) honors at
the NCAA Division II level and garnering Honorable Mention recognition
at midfield in UMBC’s first Division I season in 1981. He amassed 74
goals and 28 assists for 102 total points in his career and collected
166 ground balls. The native of Cambridge, Md., produced his best season
in the 1980 championship season, when he scored 24 goals and 33 points,
both career bests, and collected 63 ground balls. His teams were a
combined 37-17 with a national runner-up (1979) and national title
(1980) to their credit.

*Monica Logan*, women’s basketball (1995-99)—Logan is UMBC’s all-time
leading rebounder with 1,141 boards and 10.7 rebounds per game, and she
ranks 16th all-time with 1,036 career points, making her one of just two
players in school history (joining Hall of Famer Tammy McCarthy) to post
both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Logan also ranks among UMBC’s
all-time leaders in a number of other categories, including first in
field goal percentage (.523/415-793), second in blocks (123) and starts
(106), sixth in minutes (3,444) and 12th in assists (201). The native of
College Park, Md., posted three of UMBC’s top 10 rebounding seasons,
including the second-highest total ever, 364, as a senior, and her 13.5
rebounds per game that year led the nation and are a school record. Her
47 blocks that season are also UMBC’s top mark ever. Logan posted 20
rebounds in a game five times during her career. She was a member of the
1996 Big South All-Rookie Team, the 1997 All-Big South Second Team and
All-Academic Team and the 1999 All-Northeast Conference First Team.
Logan led the Big South Conference in rebounding twice and in blocked
shots once. She also excelled in the classroom, double-majoring in
social work and African-American studies.

*Deanna Vecchio*, softball, (1999-2002)—A shortstop for the softball
team and a catalyst at the top of the lineup from 1999-2002, Vecchio was
a career .353 hitter, a four-time All-Northeast Conference First-Team
selection and the 2002 Northeast Conference Player of the Year. Vecchio
holds UMBC’s all-time records in runs scored (179) and stolen bases
(135) and ranks among UMBC’s career leaders in nearly every statistical
category, including second in hits (258), fourth in triples (9) and
at-bats (731), fifth in total bases (338), sixth in walks (61), on-base
percentage (.404) and games played and started (215), seventh in average
(.353), 10th in doubles (29) and extra-base hits (49) and 15th in home
runs (11). Her 88 hits in 2002 are the second-most ever in a single
season in UMBC history, and she batted .402 that season, ranking fourth
all-time. The native of Matawan, N.J., also holds UMBC’s single-season
record with 68 runs scored as a senior, and she is one of three players
ever to steal 40 bases in a season. Vecchio put together a 26-game
hitting streak in 2002, second-longest in UMBC history. She also earned
National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-Region honors as a
senior.

For the second time in three weeks sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski won the America East women’s player of the week award.

During the week the team won a pair of games and she averaged a team-high 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. She shot 44.8% from the field (13-28) and 87.5% from the charity stripe (14-16). She also recorded four assists and four steals in the two games.

To start the week Kurowski recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Towson. He 14 points included two three-pointers and a 4-4 performance from the line. In the game she also had three assists.

Then against Bucknell to end the week she was one point away from her career high with 29 points after going 9-18 from the field. She hit 10 free throws, grabbed seven rebounds, and stole three balls from the Bison. She has 17 points in the first half and scored UMBC’s last eight points to prevent a Bucknell comeback.