Richards Scores Career-High 24 Points as UAlbany Remains Undefeated in
Conference
Photo: Shereesha Richards (above) set a career-high 24 points against Vermont.
BURLINGTON, VT. --
The University at Albany women's basketball team rolled for their 14th
straight conference victory with a 68-52 win at the University of Vermont on
Sunday, Feb. 24. The Great Danes are now just two victories away from going
undefeated in America East play for the first time in program history.
In her first collegiate start, freshman forward Shereesha Richards
took command for UAlbany. She set a career-high in points with 24 and added
eight boards. Senior guard Lindsey Lowrie found her groove behind the arc hitting five three's and scoring 19 points. She also added six steals.
"Shereesha [Richards] did a good stepping up today," said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. "We needed some 'x' factors in this game and I think she played that role today along with Lindsey [Lowrie]."
UAlbany started the game on an 11-2 run. Richards scored
seven points over the span. As the game continued, UAlbany (23-3; 14-0 AE) opened
a lead at 19-6 with 9:13 left in the first.
Lowrie sunk a three to give the Great Danes a double-digit scoring
margin.
Kayla Burchill looked to get the Catamounts back into the
game, hitting a three to cut the deficit to eight, 19-11. However, Lowrie
continued to hit from three-point land. Back-to-back three's by the guard
gave UAlbany a commanding 29-17 advantage.
Richards built on her strong performance with five straight
points to end the half. The Great Danes went into the locker room with a 42-20
lead – tying their highest point total in a first half this season. Richards and Lowrie combined for 28 points through
20 minutes.
Vermont (8-19; 5-9 AE) looked to make adjustments, opening
the second half on a 6-0 run. Yet, just as the crowd began to get back into the
game, Lowrie again quieted them. She swished her fourth three of the game and put
UAlbany back up by 19, 45-26. After two free-throw makes by Richards with 13:44
to go, the Catamounts would again go down by 20-plus.
Vermont looked for one more run to try and cut down the UAlbany
lead. They went on an 8-2 run to close the gap to 59-43 with 6:20 left. That would be the closest they'd come. Lowrie
landed her fifth three to put the Great Danes up, 67-45.
Behind Richards and Lowrie, junior forward Julie Forster
scored 12 points. The trio combined for 55 points. The Great Danes only committed 14 turnovers to
Vermont's 25. They shot 44.2 percent (23-52) from the field.
UAlbany will next
travel to Durham, N.H. to face New Hampshire on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. inside Lundholm
Gym.
