3,016 Watch UAlbany Women's Basketball Defeat UNH 85-48 on Successful Commitment to Education Day
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ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany women's basketball team had another great Commitment to Education Day in front of 3,016 fans, defeating New Hampshire 85-48 to earn its 13th straight win.
Leading by nine after the first period, UAlbany (21-3, 12-0 AE) outscored New Hampshire (8-16, 2-9 AE) by a combined score of 52-24 to break the game open. UAlbany's press forced 13 steals on 26 UNH turnovers while the Great Danes had nine total turnovers as a team.
“It is awesome to have Commitment to Education Day, it is a loud crowd with a lot of people in the gym, we love playing at 12 (p.m.) and it is great for the community here,” said UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “Our press was really good, and we did a good job on [Elizabeth] Belanger.”
3,016 fans came to this annual occasion, including kids from schools all around the Capital District for a fun day of education and athletics.
“We couldn't be happier for the turnout and thank all the schools for attending,” said Nate Mason, UAlbany assistant A.D. for ticket sales & strategy. “A lot of preparation goes into this event, and we could not do it without the support of our area schools.”
Shereesha Richards, who, yesterday, was placed on the Naismith Trophy Mideason 30, and Imani Tate each finished with 26 points and four rebounds. Richards went 10-15 from the field with four steals while Tate was a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line. Zakiya Saunders earned her seventh double-double of the year off 10 points and 11 assists while Tiana-Jo Carter had eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
“We are pretty used to education days by now, we just have to understand the play calls. But, we've been through them a lot,” said Saunders.
In addition, Richards, now with 980 career rebounds, moved into 2nd in UAlbany history in that category. Only former UAlbany great Julie Forster had more with 1,149 rebounds from 2009-13.
For UNH, Belanger led the team with 14 points and six rebounds. Carlie Pogue concluded with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Immediately UAlbany attacked the backboard as Richards scored off the tipoff and Carter added a layup on the next possession. UNH countered and got room in the paint on three straight chances for a 6-0 run, led by four Carlie Pogue points, for a 6-4 lead, eventually going up 8-6.
Using the press and spreading out the UNH zone, UAlbany pushed a 7-0 run off an Erin Coughlin three and free throws off contact in the paint. Stephanie Spoto ended UAlbany's run off a floater on the next possession.
Towards the end of the quarter, Tate hit a long jumper to begin a run. In the last minute of the 1st, Saunders stole a pass and sprinted to hit the short jumper, then Carter stole the ball along the sideline, passed to Saunders who again ran and hit the jumper. UAlbany took a 21-12 lead after one.
Tate kept the run going into the second with a putback layup underneath the basket and a couple of free throws after drawing two fouls on Belanger. UNH got two baskets back to pull within eight.
Richards spearheaded UAlbany's next run, intercepting passes in the corner three times and pushing the transition attack in an 8-0 run to put UAlbany ahead 35-17 with 5:15 left in the 2nd.
Following a Kristen Anderson three with 3:48 left in the quarter, a long Tate jumper sparked a final second quarter run. Tate threaded the needle on a bounce pass to Heather Forster for a layup, with Forster adding another on a putback. Richards had two more free throws for the 8-0 run to send UAlbany into the locker room up 46-22.
UAlbany continued its strong play in the paint with layups from Richards and Carter countering UNH points primarily from Belanger. With 5:16 left in the 3rd, UAlbany held a 57-31 advantage.
The rest of the half, UAlbany constantly switched up shots in the paint and outside the perimeter. After three straight baskets in the paint, Bailey Hixson entered the game and hit a three in corner with a hand in her face. Richards added another later three as the Great Danes finished the quarter on a 16-5 sprint to go into the fourth up 73-36.
UNH tried to fire away from three early in the fourth without success. UAlbany's defense held as Tate added points to extend the home team's lead to 39. Midway through, UAlbany led 79-42. Tate and Hixson each added late baskets as UAlbany took the victory 85-48.
A classic #1 vs. #2 battle will take place on Sunday, February 14th in Bangor as UAlbany takes on Maine at the Cross Insurance Center at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
