UMBC Reinstates Local Lacrosse Player in Text Threats Case

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A former Broadneck lacrosse player who was one of five women suspended from the UMBC lacrosse team amid allegations of text messages threatening to harm the team’s freshmen has been re-instated by the university.

Brittany Marquess, 20, of Annapolis, was initially believed to be part of a group chat among several UMBC women’s lacrosse players on the chat app “GroupMe” in which they discussed their distaste for the freshmen players, the Post-Examiner reported.

One message reportedly said of the freshmen on the team, “Can we just kill them?” according to WJZ.

A tipster sent photos of the group chat to several media outlets and a day later the university said it had suspended the players for a “violation of team rules,” Lacrosse Magazine reported.

University officials identified the suspended players as Amber Kovalick, Marquess, Meghan Milani, Mackenzie Reese and Alyssa Semones, according to ABC 2 News.

The family of Marquess, who was not part of the group apology, issued a statement to the team explaining that the former Broadneck player’s issue was not with a group of players but with one specific person, The Baltimore Sun reported, related to an incident that happened on the field.

UMBC athletics spokesman Steve Levy released this statement Wednesday to The Baltimore Sun: “After a careful review of the situation and with the well-being of all students involved as the primary concern, the university has determined that one of the five previously suspended players, Brittany Marquess, will remain on the team roster.”

SEE ALSO: UMBC Suspends 5 Lacrosse Players After Alleged Text Threats

Four of the women issued a formal apology through a communications firm.

• UMBC Lacrosse Players: ‘We Let Our Emotions Get the Best of Us’

The athletes were placed on an indefinite suspension last week, Lacrosse Magazine reported. The women’s lacrosse program is now under review by the university, WJZ reported.

UMBC officials said they were working together with the athletics department “to fully understand the situation and support our student athletes,” according to The Baltimore Sun.

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