Richards Ties Career-High 41 Points as UAlbany Women's Basketball Dominates UMass Lowell 88-57
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ALBANY, N.Y. – Paced by Shereesha Richards's 41 points, the UAlbany women's basketball team held its share of first place in the America East with a dominant 88-57 home victory vs. UMass Lowell on Thursday night.
UAlbany (23-4, 14-1 AE) began the game on a 16-2 run against UMass Lowell (4-24, 1-15 AE) and never looked back, building a 31-point lead in the 2nd quarter at 44-13. It was the third time in Richards's career that she scored 41 points, her career-high and the highest amount for a single game in program history.
“I thought we came out in the first and second quarter really well defensively,” said UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “When we play really good defense with our presses and gets stops, we can really score.”
“I just kept moving around and trying not to get double and triple teamed,” said Richards. “We just have to take care of business and win our next game.”
With the win, UAlbany stands tied for first place with Maine for first place in the America East at 14-1. Each team has one conference game left, with UAlbany hosting Hartford and Maine playing at Binghamton on Sunday.
Richards scored her 41 points off 17-28 shooting and 7-10 from the free throw line, adding eight rebounds. Imani Tate earned 23 points, shooting 9-for-14 from the field, with seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. Heather Forster finished with six points, a career-high 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
For UML, Lindsey Doucette, in her final collegiate game, tallied 20 points and six rebounds, each team-highs. Nicole Hayner had 13 points and four assists.
Erin Coughlin hit her first pair of threes off kick-outs against the UML zone, with the second beginning a run. UAlbany used a fast break attack four straight possessions, hitting three layups in those strikes. Tate added free throws as UAlbany led 16-2 in the first five minutes.
UAlbany continued to go into the paint as UMass Lowell went for threes and floaters in the paint. Richards and Tate led the way, with Richards scoring underneath and Tate drawing contact to get to the free throw line, as UAlbany led 29-13 after one quarter.
The fast break off defensive rebounds continued for UAlbany and Richards, Bose Aiyalogbe and Forster spearheaded the attack underneath, leading to a quarter opening 15-0 run as UAlbany took a 44-13 advantage.
UML went on a late second quarter run as Doucette finished the first half with 11 points. A late Forster basket from Coughlin gave UAlbany a 50-23 lead at the half.
The exchanges continued into the third quarter as UAlbany focused on the paint and UML attacked from mid-range. Richards and Tate kept adding points countered by scores from Doucette and Melissa Frase as UAlbany held a 57-32 lead midway through the third.
Tate came out of the media timeout with a layup cleared by a Richards screen, then a steal at halfcourt and subsequent layup for a quick 4-0 run. Following a Kayla Gibbs layup, Tate added another couple of layups to rebuild UAlbany's lead to 31 at 65-34 with under four minutes left in the 3rd. UML cut into the lead with jumpers as UAlbany led 69-42 after three.
Doucette scored five points in a row to pull UML closer, with an Asia Mitchell-Owens three making the score 72-50 with six minutes left.
Richards powered UAlbany through the final quarter as she kept going into the paint and hitting layups plus drawing contact. As the zone defense held for UAlbany, Richards went on a personal 11-0 run over almost four minutes to push the home team's advantage to 33.
Richards earned her record-tying 41st point off a layup-and-one with 2:26 left. Tate added a late layup as UAlbany earned the 88-57 victory.
UAlbany will celebrate Senior Night on Sunday, February 28th at 2 p.m. in its final home game of the year, hosting Hartford at the SEFCU Arena.
