The UMBC women’s basketball team (19-10, 13-3 AE) defeated Albany (15-13, 8-7 AE) by a score of 62-55 Wednesday evening at the RAC Arena to claim its first-ever America East regular-season title. The win is the sixth straight for the Retrievers, who will be the top seed in next weekend’s America East Championship in West Hartford, Conn., and will face the winner of the first-round game between Stony Brook and Maine on Friday, March 4.
UMBC will host the conference title game on Saturday, March 12, should they reach that contest. In addition, Wednesday’s victory guarantees UMBC a postseason appearance in either the NCAA Tournament or Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Notes: UMBC’s 19 wins are a school Division I record and one shy of the overall mark of 20, set in the 1985-86 season… The Retrievers have won six straight for the first time since Jan. 26-Feb. 12, 2006… UMBC is 12-1 at the RAC this season, a school record for home victories in a season… The Retrievers have won 11 in a row at the RAC, matching the school record set Jan. 28, 1986-Jan. 22, 1987… After starting the season 1-5, UMBC has won 18 of its last 23 contests… The Retrievers are nine games over .500 for the first time since Feb. 28, 1986, when they were 20-9.