Jan. 28, 2008

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BOSTON - Fresh off its thrilling 77-75 win at UNH, the Boston University women's basketball team returns to the confines of Case Gym to host UMBC on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m. The Terriers enter the contest with 10-8 overall record and a 3-2 America East mark, while the Retrievers are 6-12 overall and 2-3 in league play. BU leads the all-time series, 6-3.

The history between the two schools is relatively young. The first meeting between BU and UMBC was a 76-64 BU victory on Dec. 27, 1991. However, the teams did not meet again until the Retrievers joined the America East conference in 2003-04. The Terriers won the first two league contests by 72-53 and 59-40 margins, respectively, before UMBC picked up its first win of the series, a 59-51 decision on Jan. 12, 2005. The Terriers rebounded that year with a 61-54 win on Feb. 10, 2005. Over the last two years, the Retrievers and Terriers have split the season series.

Most recently UMBC edged Albany, 56-55, holding off a late Great Dane rally. Senior Kristin Drabyn posted 20 points, followed by sophomore Carlee Cassidy with 19. The Retrievers were playing without starter Morgan Hatten, who is the team's assist leader and is averaging 7.7 points per game. Even more impressive, an injury-laden UMBC side featured just six players in the game, compared to Albany's 11.

Cassidy leads the conference in scoring (17.5 ppg) and 3-point field goals made (46), while Hatten is the leading rebounder with 6.1 rpg. As a team, UMBC leads the conference in 3-point field goals made (7.50 pg) and is second in free throw percentage (.761) and third in 3-point percentage (.330).

BU is fresh off its second buzzer-beater of the season. Sophomore Aly Hinton's layup with one second on the clock completed the visiting Terriers' come-from-behind victory over UNH. BU was down by as many as 11 points in the second half, but crucial second-half 3-pointers from junior Kristi Dini and a 19-point effort from junior Jesyka Burks-Wiley helped lift the Terriers over the Wildcats.

Burks-Wiley posted back-to-back 19-point efforts to up her season average to 15.2 ppg, while continuing to lead the squad rebounding (7.0 rpg). Junior Christine Kinneary has already dished out 132 assists this season, which ranks eighth all-time for assists in a season at BU. In addition, the point guard ranks eighth for career assists (298). The most recent NCAA statistics lists Kinneary fourth in the nation in assists per game (7.5) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (2.54). Senior Cheri Raffo needs just 37 points to reach the 1,000 for her career. The guard is averaging 9.4 ppg.

The Terriers are out-scoring their opponents by 5.1 ppg but have lost the battle on the glass by 2.4 rpg. BU leads the conference in scoring (69.2), free throw percentage (.770), field goal percentage (.413), 3-point field goal defense (.263) and assist/turnover ratio (1.09).

Following Wednesday's game, BU will host Vermont on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1:00 p.m.