UAlbany Women's Basketball's 13-Game Win Streak Ended After 65-53 Defeat at Maine
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BANGOR, Maine – The UAlbany women's basketball team saw its undefeated start in America East play end today as 13 three-pointers helped Maine defeat the Great Danes 65-53 in Bangor.
“It was a good game, they have a great environment,” said UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “They hit a lot of threes today, and that was the game.”
UAlbany (21-4, 12-1 AE) and Maine (21-7, 12-1 AE) are now tied for first place in the America East. The pair will combine to be the one and two seeds in the upcoming America East Tournament, with each having three conference games left. Previous to this game, UAlbany had won its last 17 games against conference opponents.
Trailing most of the game, UAlbany pulled to within five with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter. A pair of Liz Wood three-pointers in the next two Maine possessions effectively sealed the game for the home team.
As a team, UAlbany outrebounded Maine 31-28. Maine shot 56.5% from three, including 7-for-11 (63.6%) in the second half.
Imani Tate led all players with 22 points off the bench for UAlbany, adding three steals and four rebounds. Zakiya Saunders had 13 points and four assists while Shereesha Richards nearly notched a double-double off eight points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
Wood finished with 14 points, including 11 in the second half, off 4-6 three-point shooting, six rebounds and three steals. Sigi Koizar led Maine with 15 points and four assists.
After each side hit a layup, the defenses kept forcing turnovers with UAlbany stealing the ball and Maine drawing charges. Tiana-Jo Carter hit a pair of layups against double teams as the scoring began back and forth. UAlbany led 6-4 after the first 4:20.
Maine kept drawing the UAlbany zone defense in and kicking out for threes, hitting a pair to go up 10-6. Tate entered and hit a couple of baskets, including a steal at halfcourt and sprint for the fast break layup. A couple of Maine mid-range jumpers gave the Black Bears a 14-10 lead after one.
As the exchanges on baskets went on, Tate continued to hit her shots, hitting a mid-range off the screen then stealing a pass off the half court press and scoring on the fast break to pull UAlbany within two. Wood hit a three on the next possession to make it 21-16 Maine with seven minutes left in the 2nd.
UAlbany focused on the mid-range while Maine fired away from three as the home team kept a small lead the rest of the quarter. Jumpers by Tate and Saunders got UAlbany to within one, then a Lauren Bodine three next possession returned the home team's lead to four.
Bodine hit another couple of threes to make it a two-possession lead. In the closing seconds of the second, Saunders came off a screen and hit a jumper to pull UAlbany within four down 34-30 at halftime.
Saunders went after the Maine zone and hit her first three shots of the third, including a corner three, for a 7-2 run to tie the game at 37-37. Maine responded with a Mikaela Gustafsson turnaround layup and a Koizar corner three to build a 42-37 lead with 5:47 left in the 3rd.
Again UAlbany pulled closer with a couple of baskets in the paint by Carter and Richards. Maine made a couple of steals and quick baskets to put the lead back at five. Later, Anna Heise hit an underhand layup, then Sophie Weckstrom added a top of the arc three to complete a 9-0 run. Tate hit a couple of late free throws as UAlbany trailed 51-43 after three.
The defenses controlled the early part of the fourth, with UAlbany holding Maine to one field goal in the first five minutes. Capped by Richards free throws, UAlbany pulled to within five down 54-49 with just under five minutes left.
The next two Maine possessions, the home team drained the shot clock and saw Wood make a pair of threes, the second off a one-handed heave against a double team. Tate hit a pair of jumpers on UAlbany next two chances to pull the visitors within seven, but the Great Danes did not score again after the 2:30 mark. A Bodine three put the lead back into double digits as Maine took the win 65-53.
UAlbany will play its final road game of the conference regular season on Wednesday, February 17th, taking on SUNY-rival Stony Brook at 7 p.m. on Long Island.
