Score: Cornell 48, UAlbany 34
Location: Newman Arena – Ithaca, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (0-2), Cornell (1-1)
Short Story: Senior Heather Forster recorded the team's first double-double of the year (11 points, 10 rebounds) but it wasn't enough as the UAlbany women's basketball team faltered at Cornell, 48-34.
Head Coach Colleen Mullen:
“Tonight, we struggled to get in a flow offensively. They did a good job pressing us in a good zone defense. We have a couple zone offenses to run but we are still working out the tweaks and have not gotten in a flow offensively to begin the season.”
Game Notes:
- Forester's 11 points tied a career best while her 10 boards marked a season high.
- Kyara Frames matched a career best nine points in the contest.
- Chyanna Canada recorded a season-high eight points.
- Points in the paint were even at 18-18 apiece.
- Cornell's Laura Bagwell-Katalin paced all players with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
- This was Khepera Stokes first game back after 2017-18 season due to injury. She finished the game with three helpers.
Recap: Senior Heather Forster matched a career-high 11 points and added 10 boards in the Great Danes 48-34 loss at Cornell on Monday evening in Ithaca, N.Y.
“Heather had a tremendous game tonight,” said Mullen. “You always know what you are going to get from Heather because she always brings toughness and competitiveness into every day. She took two charges in the game tonight, was diving all over the court for loose balls and overall she's just a great leader out there.”
Forster earned the Great Danes first double-double of the season. Frames chipped in with nine points while junior Kumsal Aslan continued to make noise off the bench with a career-high four points. Junior Alexi Schecter dished out a personal-high three dimes for the second time in as many games.
Cornell shot 39.15% from the field in the second half, outscoring the Great Danes 28-17.
“Defensively, we mixed in different ways to defend them, but we had some miscommunication. We did have some good defensive stops, but we let up too many offensive rebounds and that was a difference maker in the game.”
Each team shared its time with the lead as the opening frame proved to be a back and forth battle. Early in the opening minutes, Canada put back a missed lay up to spark the Great Danes offense and provide her squad with a 2-1 edge. The Big Red would once again jump ahead, 7-4, after draining back-to-back jumpers at the top of the key.
UAlbany began to build momentum as the second quarter got underway. Aslan scored her first basket of the game with a fast break layup, after picking the pocket of Cornell's Hally Mikos, before Frames drained a three pointer to put the visitors ahead, 13-11. UAlbany scored 13 of its 17 first half points in the second quarter on 50% (5-10) shooting from the field.
With a 20-17 advantage after the first half, the home team saw the Great Danes chip away with a 4-0 run to pull ahead 21-20. Seniors Canada and Forster connected on a pair of jumpers to give their team its first lead since 4:35 in the second quarter. Cornell would ultimately rack up 18 points in the third quarter and carry a nine-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
Frames would connect from downtown to make it 40-32 with 5:25 remaining, but the home team answered with a few baskets of their own to hold of their opponents, 48-34.
Next Up: After opening the season on the road, the Great Danes head back to familiar territory to host Manhattan in the squad's home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is slated to begin at 5 p.m. at the SEFCU Arena.
