March 4, 2008

Listen Live | Game Notes | Vote Kinneary 2008 AE Fans' Choice Player of the Year

BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team will travel to UMBC for its final regular-season road game on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. The Terriers enter the showdown with a 16-11 overall record and 9-5 mark in the America East conference, while the Retrievers are 9-18 overall and 5-9 in league play. In the last meeting between the two teams, BU overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat UMBC, 72-62, at Case Gym on Jan. 30.

The history between the two schools is relatively young with BU leading the all-time series 7-3. 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. Over the last two years, the Retrievers and Terriers have split the season series.

UMBC is coming off a 71-62 loss to Vermont, despite four Retrievers scoring in double figures. Kristin Drabyn and Amanda Robinson led with 14 points apiece, respectively. Carlee Cassidy remains the Retrievers' leading scoring with 17.0 ppg, while Drabyn is also in double figures with 11.4. Morgan Hatten is the team's leading rebounder with 5.0 rpg. As a team, UMBC is second only to Boston University in free throw percentage (.776) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.329).

BU recently defeated Stony Brook, 70-58, backed by strong offensive performances from senior Cheri Raffo and junior Christine Kinneary with 23 and 17 points, respectively. The Seawolves came on strong in the final five minutes, going on a 12-2 run that cut the BU advantage from 14 points to four; however, with under a two minutes to go Raffo and Devine each hit jumpers and BU went 6-for-7 from the line to claim the 12-point victory.

The Terriers feature three players in double figures with junior Jesyka Burks-Wiley leading with 13.2 ppg. Raffo and senior Kasey Devine follow close behind with 10.4 and 10.0 ppg. Kinneary currently ranks fourth nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.54) and sixth in assists per game (7.0).

BU boasts the conference's most prolific offense (68.7 ppg) and can defend the perimeter, holding opponents to a .282 percentage from the arc. The Terriers are among the nation's leaders in free throw percentage, ranking ninth (.776).

Following Wednesday's contest, BU will host its regular-season finale at Case Gym vs. Albany at 1:00 p.m. In a pre-game ceremony the Terriers will honor their three seniors as a part of Senior Day.