Albany, N.Y. - Julie Forster scored a career-high 26 points and tied a career-best with 20 rebounds to lead UAlbany to an 81-76 win over La Salle in women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes are 2-0 to start the season for the second straight season.

                UAlbany jumped out to a 6-0 lead on two baskets by Forster followed by an Ebone Henry layup. However, La Salle then went on a 10-0 run to take a four-point lead on a jumper by Nadia Duncan. A lay-in by Forster tied the game at 10-all, before Alexis Scott put the Explorers back on top by six, 18-12, with just under 13 minutes left to play. La Salle held onto a slight lead until 6:37, when two free throws by Forster tied the game at 20-20 and then gave UAlbany back the lead.

The Explorers powered back, building up a nine-point advantage with a 12-2 run, capped by a layup by Brittany Wilson at 3:51. UAlbany would not give in, coming back over the next minute and a half to pull within one, 32-31, on a 3-pointer by Cassandra Callaway at 2:19. A pair of free throws by Jordan Mosley kept the Explorers on top by three, but layups by Forster and Callaway in the closing minute sealed a 35-34 halftime advantage for the Great Danes.

UAlbany came out of the locker room firing, building up a 10-point lead, 65-55, on a 3-pointer by Lindsey Lowrie at 9:08. The Great Danes continued to roll, pushing the lead to 12 on back-to-back shots from long range from Lowrie and Sarah Royals. La Salle attempted to rally, pulling within six, 75-69, on a jumper by Jordan Mosley with just under three minutes to play. The teams exchanged baskets through the final minute, and Ebonee Jones hit two free throws to pull the Explorers withing five, 79-74 with just 12 seconds left to play. Adrienne Jones converted a layup with under 10 seconds to go, before Ebonee Jones hit a jumper in the paint at the buzzer to set the final score.

Forster, who also posted a career-high five blocks, added five steals and three assists while going 10-for-13 from the free throw line and 8-of-10 from the field in 40 minutes of action. Callaway chipped in with 17 points and a team-high five assists, converting all six of her attempted free throws. Royals and Adrienne Jones also reached double-digit scoring totals, finishing with 11 and 10, respectively.

Brittany Wilson scored a team-high 17 points for La Salle (1-1), while Mosley and Jada Payne added 16 points apiece. Duncan added 11 points and six rebounds, while Mosley led the Explorers off the boards, pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. La Salle outshot the Great Danes, going 43.6-percent from the field, but the Explorers also committed 25 turnovers, including 12 steals by UAlbany.

UAlbany (2-0) will return to action on Wednesday, visiting Iowa at 7 p.m.

UAlbany 81, La Salle 76 (11/13/11 at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena))