Live Blog Recap: UMBC Defeats Albany, Wins America East Title

(FINAL 9:36 p.m.) UMBC women's basketball has defeated Albany 62-55 at RAC Arena, clinching the America East Conference's regular season title in the process.

This is the first America East Conference regular season championship in program history.

The win gives UMBC the conference's No. 1 seed and an automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Retrievers can receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament if they win the America East Conference tournament, which begins March 3 in West Harford, CT.

The Retrievers will host the conference tournament's championship game if they advance that far.

"That was maybe one of the worst second halves we played all year," UMBC coach Phil Stern said. "(But) we showed resilience, we figured out a way to do it, we made some foul shots. ...

"It's not often you get picked fifth and win a regular season championship outright. ... I'm so happy all these guys got to share this together."

Senior Meghan Colabella led the team with 17 points, playing just 27 minutes. She was forced to sit out much of the second half after accruing four fouls.

But Colabella's strong start to the game -- she scored the Retrievers' first six points on two early 3-pointers -- and a strong finish, including putting UMBC up 57-50 with one minute to play, were integral to the Retrievers' win.

"All I wanted to do is win," Colabella said. "I do get in foul trouble (but I've learned how to deal with that)."

Erin Brown had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Michelle Kurowski had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Albany's leading scorer, Ebone Henry, fouled out with 37 seconds to play. Henry had 21 points but went only 5 of 21 shooting from the field, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range. She was 11 of 16 from the free throw line.

(UPDATED 8:56 p.m.) Boston University has lost to Binghamton 59-53.

The Terriers' loss makes it possible for UMBC to win the America East Conference outright this evening, but the Retrievers must beat Albany first.

UMBC leads 55-50. Meghan Colabella just hit two free throws and leads the team with 15 points. Ebone Henry leads the Great Danes with 21 points scored, 17 of those coming in this second half in which Albany has outscored the Retrievers 34-25.

(UPDATED 8:48 p.m.) America East Conference games in Baltimore and Vestal, NY, are going down to the wire.

UMBC has been outscored 27-20 in the second half by Albany, but still leads 50-43 with 3:04 on the clock.

Boston University, meanwhile, trails Binghamton by eight with under two minutes to play. A Retrievers win and Terriers loss gives UMBC soul possession of the conference title.

(UPDATED 8:40 p.m.) Albany drew within 10 points, but Erin Brown just put UMBC back up by double-digits, 48-37. Brown was fouled but could not complete the 3-point play, missing her first free throw of the night. The junior is 7 of 8 from the charity stripe this evening and has 12 points.

Boston University, meanwhile, just lost the lead in Vestal, NY. The Terriers trail Binghamton 50-47 with under five minutes to play and have been outscored 27-20 in the second half, setting up a down-to-the-wire evening as the America East Conference regular season title is up for grabs.

(UPDATED 8:22 p.m.) With under 16 minutes to play UMBC still leads, 37-26, but they've been outscored 10-6 by Albany this half.

Meghan Colabella hit a 3-pointer early on and now has 13 points for the Retrievers. But Great Danes forward Julie Forster has been tough, scoring the first points of the half on a lay-up following a steal and following that with another bucket in Albany's next possession. Forster has seven points.

Boston University's lead is now down to one in Vestal, NY, as the Terriers lead Binghamton 40-39 with 12:07 to play.

(UPDATED 7:58 p.m.) UMBC is holding up its end of the bargain tonight, leading Albany 30-16 at halftime. The Retrievers ended the half on a 6-0 run and are dominating on the boards, out-rebounding the Great Danes 24-6 in the first half.

Michele Brokans made the score 27-16 when she hit a wide-open 3-pointer with one second left on the shot clock and just over a minute remaining in the half. Brokans was wide open on the play because Michelle Kurowski had drawn a crowd of Albany defenders, trying to prevent a shot or pass with the clock winding down.

Erin Brown closed out the half hitting three straight free throws.

Meghan Colabella still leads UMBC with 10 points Brown has five points and Michelle Kurowski has eight.

In Vestal, NY, Binghamton is making things interesting. The Bearcats trail Boston University 27-23 at halftime.

(UPDATED 7:33 p.m.) The Retrievers are on an 11-0 run and lead the Great Danes 17-6 with under eight minutes to play in the first half.

Meghan Colabella has been exceptional, scoring 10 points already for UMBC.

Meanwhile, in Vestal, NY, Boston University leads Binghamton 19-14 with under five minutes to play in the first half.

(UPDATED 7:26 p.m.) With under 11 minutes remaining in the first half, UMBC leads Albany 10-6.

The Retrievers got off to a rough start offensively and were down 4-0 to start the game, but a pair of three pointers by Meghan Colabella -- one from the right side and the other from the exact opposite spot on the left -- gave UMBC a 6-4 lead. Erin Brown added a quick jumper to make the lead 8-6 and Colabella added a two of her own to account for all of the team's scoring.

Albany already has four team fouls and is playing physical underneath the basket.

7:00 p.m. UMBC is finishing warm-ups and will soon tip off on Senior Night against Albany at RAC Arena, where a win for the women's basketball team will go a long way toward earning the Retrievers (18-10, 12-3 AEC) the America East Conference regular season title.

Beating the Great Danes will ensure UMBC at least a share of the conference regular season title. To secure soul possession of the America East's No. 1 seed, Boston University must lose to Binghamton tonight. If the Terriers (14-12, 11-3) win and the Retrievers win, the conference champion will not be decided until the weekend, after a series of tiebreakers plays out.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., as Retrievers seniors Chelsea Barker, Michele Brokans and Meghan Colabella were  recognized at half court by their parents, coach Phil Stern and athletic department officials at 7 p.m.