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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Amanda Robinson saved her best for last. Knowing that she was one loss away from the end of her season, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s junior forward came through with her best games of the season in last week’s America East Conference Tournament. Robinson averaged 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds — well above her season averages — in three games to help lead the Retrievers to victory over the conference’s top three teams and secure their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. She earned Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament honors for her efforts.
As the 16th seed in the Fresno Region, UMBC (16-16) faces No. 1 Connecticut (29-3) in a first-round game Sunday night at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn.
“We just want to go out there and have fun,” the 6-foot-3 Robinson said. “It’s going to be really exciting to play against a team like UConn in front of the most fans we have ever played against.”
Robinson knows it will take an even greater effort than her play in the America East Tournament for the Retrievers to have a shot of defeating the Big East champ. But she plans on going against the Huskies with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
“All season long, we talked about building up to this point and getting ready for the conference tournament,” Robinson said. “I think the biggest difference in us now is the confidence we have as a team.”
Robinson isn’t sure what is different with UMBC now as compared with the final six weeks of the regular season, when the team limped to a 3-7 finish. The only thing she points to is the sense of postseason urgency that your next loss will be your last game.
UMBC senior forward Sharri Rohde said the Retrievers would not even be talking about playing UConn now if it wasn’t for Robinson’s play last weekend.
“Amanda was just awesome last weekend,” Rohde said. “We probably wouldn’t have won any of those games without her there. That was the best she has played all year.”
THE ROBINSON FILE
» Hometown: Lusby
» Did you know? Robinson this season averages 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds … She has 90 career blocks, which ranks fifth on UMBC’s all-time list … She ranked fourth this season in the America East in blocks per game (1.28).
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2:47 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "Steinmetz: An NBA guy’s take on Kansas-Memphis"
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
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