UMBC guard Carlee Cassidy is known as a sharp-shooting guard who leads the Retrievers in scoring. However, her start in the game came as a rebounder ? for her older brother, Chuck.
Several of Cassidy?s fondest memories growing up revolve around her chasing loose balls for Chuck, who is eight years her senior. She considers her older brother one of her greatest role models, crediting him for wanting to play basketball on the highest level.
“My family was always into sports and we were always outside,” Cassidy said. “I?ve always admired [Chuck?s] passion for the game, and it?s always pushed me to want to be better.”
Cassidy?s time spent with Chuck, who played for Division III Cazenovia College in New York, has paid off for Cassidy, as the native of Syracuse, N.Y., enters tonight?s game at Towson averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game for UMBC (4-6).
Cassidy ranks second in the America East in scoring and has scored in double figures in eight of 10 games this season, including a career-high 25 points in a 74-72 win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 9. This season?s performance comes on the heels of her connecting on 5-of-9 shots for 14 points in UMBC?s upset win over Hartford in the finals of the America East Tournament, earning the school?s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
“Carlee is a confident player already and didn?t need one game like that to prove she can play at this level,” UMBC coach Phil Stern said. “She has the ability to one day be the best player in the America East.”
UMBC has leaned on Cassidy even more than Stern expected this season, as the Retrievers have dealt with the unexpected losses of forwards MacKenzie Butler and Amanda Robinson, who both left the program for personal reasons.
Stern said those losses have been mitigated by the play of freshmen Jenny Lidgren and Chrissy Robinson, Amanda?s younger sister.
Towson coach Joe Mathews said UMBC provides an interesting matchup for his team, as the Tigers (4-3) are coming off a second-place finish at the Comcast Lobo Shootout after losing to host New Mexico, 76-63, on Dec. 9.
Towson also relies heavily on its guards, especially senior Holly Mahan (11.6 ppg, 8 rpg) and sophomore Shanae Baker-Brice (12.6 ppg, 5.3 apg). However, 6-foot-1 sophomore Kandace Davis has established a low-post presence by averaging 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a game.
“I discussed with Kandace last spring about ways to improve her game and how to get stronger,” Mathews said. “She listened to what I had to say and showed a lot more confidence this year, especially against New Mexico.”
UMBC (4-6) vs. TOWSON (4-3)
» Tipoff: Tonight, 5:15
» Where: Towson Center
» TV/Radio: None » Tickets: Available
