DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team fell to the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 66-50, Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium. With the loss the Wildcats fall to 6-19, 3-8 in America East, while the Retrievers improve to 9-17, 5-8 in the conference.

Freshman forward Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass.) was named America East Player of the Game for the Wildcats and led all scorers with 16 points. Beliveau, along with Candace Williams (Norfolk, Mass.) and Danielle Flowers (Chalfont, Pa.) all recorded a game-high seven rebounds for the Wildcats. New Hampshire outrebounded its opponent, 48-29.

An 18-point first half effort by Kristin Drabyn gave the Retrievers their largest lead of the game, 42-20, at the half. UMBC pulled ahead by five points (9-4) on three 3-pointers within the first five minutes of action, but the Wildcats responded with a trifecta by Beliveau to even the score, 9-9, with 13:31 remaining. The Retrievers pulled ahead yet again and though the Wildcats got as close as three points (19-16) with 6:50 to play, the visitors went on a 10-0 run to take a 13-point lead with 4:29 left in the opening frame. UMBC shot 48.5 percent (16-of-33) from the field in the first half.

The Wildcats held the Retrievers to just four shots (4-for-15) in the second half and outscored their opponent 30-24 during that time. Beliveau nailed three shots from beyond the arc within the first ten minutes of the final frame, leading the Wildcats to a 15-5 run to get within 12-points of the Retrievers, 47-35, at 9:48. Carlee Cassidy’s 11-point second half, along with solid free-throw shooting down the stretch put the game out of reach for the Wildcats. Cassidy finished the game with 16 points.

Freshman forward Alexis Kirsteier (Doylestown, Pa.) notched her first collegiate point on a free-throw and followed it up with a jumper after grabbing an offensive rebound at 2:21. She finished the game with three points and two rebounds in three minutes of action. Redshirt freshman Althena Gaines (Glassboro, N.J.) notched four points and dished out a career-high three assist in the game for the Wildcats.

New Hampshire returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 27 when the Wildcats travel to by the Terriers of Boston University.