Milestones Keep Piling Up

Over 900 elementary school kids watched as UMBC's Carlee Cassidy scored her 1,000th career point on a three-pointer late in the second half of the Retrievers' 76-63 win over Albany at the RAC Wednesday afternoon. Cassidy becomes the third America East player to hit that milestone this year, joining Vermont's Courtnay Pilypaitis and Boston University's Jesyka Burks-Wiley. "Midday Madness" was certainly just that--- the Baltimore arena saw a record crowd of 1,517 for a women's game, a match-up that tipped-off at noon. Cassidy ended up with 21 points for the day, while freshman Erin Brown earned America East Player of the Game honors with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-for-5 in the first half. Sophomore guard Janea Aiken led the Great Danes with a team-high 18 points, while Britney McGee and Ashley Lindsay each finished with 10 points.

The Terriers, meanwhile, defended their home court well, defeating Hartford, 76-65 Wednesday night. Boston moves into sole possession of first-place at 5-0, while the Hawks drop their first league game and go 3-1. The Terriers got great balanced scoring, as four of the starters finished with 15 points or more as well as 5 or more rebounds, led by Amarachi Umez-Eronini's 19 points and 5 boards. Umez-Eronini also tossed 3 assists and swiped 3 steals. Kristi Dini, the hero of last year's game at Case Gym, hit four three-pointers to give Boston a quick 11-2 start to the game and keep above pace with her league-leading 3 treys per game. Hartford held a 34-31 lead at the intermission, however it was its largest lead of the game. Diana Delva scored the first 9 points for the Hawks, and finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

In one of the oldest rivalries around America East, Vermont easily prevailed over Maine at Patrick Gym, 86-51. Junior May Kotsopoulos scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Catamounts and come within 4 points of her 1,000th career point. That mark will probably be surpassed now on Tuesday night's NESN broadcast when Vermont hosts Hartford. Senior Amy Rosenkrantz could also hit a milestone as she is just 6 rebounds shy of 500. She picked up one against Maine in addition to her 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Sophomore Tanna Ross of the Black Bears scored a team-high 13 points, while freshman Jasmine Rush netted a career-high 11 points. Both players came off the bench to play a combined 45 minutes.

New Hampshire was the lone road team to get the "W" Wednesday night, as the Wildcats defeated Stony Brook, 75-65 at Pritchard Gym. The junior tandem of Candace Williams and Amy Simpson combined to post 47 points and 5 three-pointers. Williams came one shy of her career high with 26 points, while adding 5 boards, 1 assist and 3 steals. Both Simpson and rookie Abigail LaRosa dished out 5 assists each. The Seawolves did win the battle on the boards, 40-36, but couldn't overcome a poor shooting night (37.9%). Sophomore Kirsten Jeter earned a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while classmate Kairsten Nunn finished with a team-high 19 points, 9 boards and 4 assists.

A full slate of games is back on Saturday.