UMBC coach Phil Stern?s desk is a little more cluttered now.
Along with a calendar, a stack of files and other office supplies is a small wooden plaque that represents the biggest accomplishment in the program?s 39-year history: a berth in the NCAA tournament.
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The Retrievers pulled one of the most memorable runs by a team ? men?s or women?s ? in any conference tournament last season. In the America East tournament, UMBC defeated third-seeded Stony Brook, second-seeded Vermont and top-seeded and two-time defending champion Hartford to earn its first tournament title and NCAA tournament berth.
UMBC finished the season just 16-17 after losing, 82-33, to Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament. But the team?s impressive run gave this year?s squad the confidence it can go further this season.
“Making it to the NCAA tournament was a dream come true for all of us,” senior guard Kristen Drabyn said. “Having accomplished that last year proved to us that getting back there is a realistic goal for us every year.”
The Retrievers, who were 6-10 and in seventh place in the America East regular season last year, take their first step toward that getting back to the postseason when they host George Washington in a non-conference game at the RAC Arena on Nov. 9.
“Our program definitely gained a measure of respect last year,” said Stern, who is 57-90 going into his sixth year at UMBC. “We always had the reputation of a team that was fundamentally sound and played the right way.
“But now we are known as a team that can win as well. We couldn?t have asked for any better exposure than playing a team like UConn on national television. We?re hoping this shows other players from around the Baltimore area that this is a school to go to if they want to play college basketball and get a great education.”
This year?s team will have to replace the 35 points per game averaged by three Retrievers who are no longer on the team. Brittnie Hughes and Shari Rohde graduated and rising senior forward Amanda Robinson left the team for personal reasons.
Stern, who was rewarded with a four-year contract extension during the offseason, expects guards Drabyn (9.6 ppg) and Morgan Hatten (4.7 ppg), a senior, and sophomore guard Carlee Cassidy to fill the scoring void.
Stern also is impressed by junior center Mackenzie Butler, who should emerge as the team?s top rebounder to replace Rohde and Robinson, who averaged a combined 11 rebounds a game.
UMBC has six new players, including Michelle Brokans, who is expected to start at point guard and center Jenny Lidgren, who is a member of the Swedish national team.
“We?re a much younger team in many respects,” said Cassidy, who averaged 4.5 points and shot 32 percent from three-point range last season. “This year is a chance for the younger players to show what they can do while last year made us believe that we can compete at a high level.”
