UMBC's beleaguered women's team faces a final test on its threshold for pain - and adversity - this weekend when the Retrievers defend their America East Conference tournament title in Hartford, Conn.
"It's been a year where our character was tested," coach Phil Stern said. "The bottom line is, we didn't win as many games as we'd like to, but I think we put ourselves in position to make another run at it."
Adversity?
How about losing your starting center - and most outstanding player in last year's conference tournament - to a pregnancy? Amazingly, Amanda Robinson returned to the team in late January after giving birth to her son, Jaden, in December.
Or losing a senior captain, Morgan Hatten, for four games in January to knee surgery? Hatten moved back into the starting lineup just last week.
Or have your best scorer suffer a stress fracture? Carlee Cassidy, averaging 17 points per game, missed the past two games and will come off the bench in Hartford.
A year ago, the Retrievers won the America East's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as a seventh seed. This year, at 9-20, they're a sixth seed. They meet third-seeded Boston University tomorrow at 2 p.m.
"We're pretty much under the radar now," Stern said. "The way we play [UMBC runs the Princeton offense] certainly makes us someone who can win three games."
After eight consecutive conference tournament losses - dating to America East play in 1999 - Towson's women's team can end the drought tonight against 12th-seeded Hofstra in a first-round, Colonial Athletic Association tournament game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Del.
The fifth-seeded Tigers (20-9, 12-6) posted the most wins in school history and had their best-ever finish in the CAA this season. They beat Hofstra by 15 and 11 points and won four of their past five games. But they are 0-6 in the CAA's postseason tournament.
Towson is led by senior Holly Mahan (13.6 points per game, 7.3 rebounds) and sophomore point guard Shanae Baker-Brice (11.7 points, 4.3 assists).
Navy coach's contract extended
After a comeback season in which Navy won 13 of its last 19 games and nearly won the Patriot League regular-season title, the school has extended the contract of men's coach Billy Lange through the 2012-13 season.
"He has diligently and professionally rekindled a sense of excitement and pride within the basketball family," athletic director Chet Gladchuk said. "We are again legitimate contenders for the league."
The Midshipmen (16-14, 9-5), playing with a four-guard lineup, had the Patriot League Player of the Year in Greg Sprink and three of the league's top 10 scorers.
UMBC's Shepherd recognized
UMBC shortstop Dana Shepherd (Oakland Mills) is one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award honoring the nation's best softball seniors who excel in the classroom and are involved in the community.
Shepherd, who ranks among the all-time offensive leaders at UMBC, has a 3.66 grade point average as a financial economics major.
ken.murray@baltsun.com