THE BASICS:
RESULT:  Hartford 61, UMBC 54
RECORDS: Hartford (16-12, 8-7 AE); UMBC (3-25, 2-3 AE)
LOCATION: UMBC Event Center (Baltimore, Md.)
 
THE LEAD:
A fourth-quarter rally lifted the University of Hartford women's basketball team past UMBC, 61-54 in Baltimore on Thursday night.

UMBC senior Laura Castaldo led all scorers, netting 19 points and eclipsing the 1,000-career point mark. Junior Lindsey Abed led the way for the Hawks with 18 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Hartford started off with the hot hand, jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead in the opening 2:15 of the game. UMBC quickly responded, though, scoring the next six baskets to cut the Hartford lead to 7-6 with 3:37 reaming in the opening period. Both teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the quarter, with the Hawks taking a 12-9 advantage into the second quarter.
• After swapping the lead on three occasions in the opening five minutes of the second quarter, a UMBC three with 4:13 gave put them in front, 25-22. The Retrievers maintained their edge for the remainder of the half, taking a 30-27 lead into the locker room.
• UMBC extended its lead in the early stages of the second half, extending it to as many as nine points with 4:09 remaining in the third. The Hawks made a dent in their deficit in the closing minutes of the third, though, pulling within three at the end of the quarter, 45-42.
• Hartford continued to cut into the Retriever lead in the fourth before back-to-back threes from junior Alexia Douglas and Abed gave the Hawks a 49-48 lead with 7:05 reaming. UMBC responded a minute later, as a Britanni Burgess layup put the Retrievers back up by one, but a jumper from freshman Jade Young seconds later gave the a lead they would not relinquish in the eventual 61-54 decision.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS & NOTES:

• Hartford held a slim advantage from behind the arc, hitting seven threes to UMBC's six, while also holding the advantage from the free-throw line (10-6).  
• The Retrievers outrebounded the Hawks, 37-35.  
• With her lone steal, senior Janelle Harrison now sits tied for third on the Hawks single-season steal list.
• Abed now sits tied for seventh on the Hawks all-time single-season steals list.
• Senior Darby Lee notched her 100th career assist.

 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks wrap up the home portion of their regular-season schedule on Sunday afternoon when they welcome Binghamton to Reich Family Pavilion. Prior to the 2 p.m. tip, Hartford will honor Janelle Harrison, Darby Lee and Mary Pattison in a Senior Day Ceremony. CLICK HERE for ticket information.