Four Years in the Making: America East Champions

ALBANY, N.Y. - Closing the season at the NCAA First Round, the UAlbany women's basketball team saw a very successful year. Continue reading for a couple of highlights.

The Beginning

Hired in May 2018, the former Army West Point Associate Head Coach, Colleen Mullen, joined the UAlbany staff as the 12th women’s basketball coach, the third in a three-year span.

Coming off their seventh-straight postseason appearance, the Great Danes’ new coach lost many players to graduation and the transfer portal. Despite the lack of returning starters and missed recruitment periods, Mullen was not dismayed. She had a four-year plan for UAlbany to become a championship-level program with high-character individuals on her team.

“Each year, I have worked to build relationships with current players, focused on their development holistically, provided a positive environment for growth and learning, supported them in their goals, and put an emphasis on a team-first culture,” said Mullen.

In her first year as a Great Dane, Mullen worked with her players to create trust and build relationships both on and off the court. 

“We taught the importance of intangibles such as work ethic, teamwork, hustle, and attitude,” added Mullen. “If we couldn’t be the most talented on the court, we focused on being the hardest working and positive role models for our fans and supporters.”

In putting a focus on the person as a whole, Mullen’s team saw academic progress and an increased interest in the community and volunteering. 

Each year following the first, Mullen and her staff continued to recruit people that molded well into the culture they were building.

“We want the players we bring into our program to possess a strong desire to compete for a championship and want a true student-athlete experience - on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”

In sticking to her values, Mullen was well on her way to providing UAlbany with a successful four-year plan.

America East Preseason Poll

Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Mullen’s fourth, UAlbany was chosen to finish fifth in the America East. Stony Brook drew 78 points and six first-place votes to earn the favorite over Maine, who tallied 74 points and three first-place votes. The Great Danes followed UMass Lowell (63 points) and Vermont (54 points) with 51 points.

Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops

In October 2021, the University at Albany announced an expanded partnership with ESPN Radio 104.5 the Team and City Line Bar & Grill. Head coaches of both the men’s and women’s basketball programs, along with a variety of student-athletes, would join ESPN Radio 104.5 the Team’s Charlie Voelker and Dan Bahl every Monday from 6-7 pm. This segment, to be shot live from City Line Bar & Grill, was titled Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops.

Season Opens with a Bang

Welcoming fans back to SEFCU Arena for the first time since February 2020, the Great Danes opened the season with a powerful 70-41 victory over Hofstra. 

The win marked the first against the Pride in program history. In the first of many double-digit wins, all 13 student-athletes came together to win as a team. Each one of the players saw time on the court and contributed to the score, tallying either a basket or an assist, “which showed that the depth and versatility of our team were special.”

"They saw their hard work over the summer and fall pay off in that decisive win."

Albany Cup

In their fourth double-digit win, the Great Danes defeated Siena, 64-44, to return the Albany Cup to UAlbany. In an outstanding performance from the team, Helene Haegerstrand led all 13 student-athletes with a season-high 23 points, shooting 100% from the line and 50% from the field.

“The Albany Cup is a rivalry game for the Capital Region. It creates excitement for the community and both institutions. Anytime you can compete against a rival, and for a trophy, there is an added level of intensity brought to the game.”

UAlbany welcomed a season-high 1,366 fans to SEFCU Arena for the community matchup.

“The gameday environment was fantastic and we saw tremendous fan and community support. This [game] is another way we can deliver on our promise to provide a great student-athlete experience for our players.”

Winning Winter

The contest against Siena began a seven-game win streak that lasted throughout winter break. After defeating the Saints, the Great Danes went on to beat Canisius (65-46), CCSU (65-52), and Union (88-37) to close out 2021. 

Before starting conference play, UAlbany had worked its way to an undefeated record at home with six wins.

Continuing its defense in SEFCU Arena, the Great Danes opened conference play, and 2022, with a double-digit victory against New Hampshire. 

Closing the winter break, UAlbany defeated UMass Lowell and NJIT on the road to earn a 3-0 start to its America East slate.

Autism Awareness Game

The Great Danes hosted Hartford for their Autism Awareness game on February 5. 

UAlbany showcased the stories of head coach Colleen Mullen and student-athlete Taniya Hanner to raise awareness for this developmental disability throughout the contest. 

“Awareness leads to acceptance, which is critical for those families and individuals affected by the disorder to live happy and fulfilled lives,” said Mullen. “It is especially important to me, personally, because I have two sons on the spectrum and we have a current player, Taniya Hanner, who is also on the spectrum. Taniya is a model of courage to the community and to anyone with different abilities.”

In addition to raising awareness for autism, the Great Danes hosted several alumni of the program for a halftime ceremony.

In what proved to be an eventful afternoon, the Great Danes defeated Hartford, 53-24. UAlbany’s defense held the Hawks to the lowest amount of points in program history against a Division I team.

Number One Defense in the Nation

On February 7, the NCAA updated their stats and the Great Danes’ defense was on top. Holding their opponents to just 46.9 points per game, UAlbany had the best scoring defense in the nation.

“[Reaching] this stat was a validation of the grittiness, competitive spirit, and work ethic of our team. As coaches, we put a strong emphasis on defense and we were constantly working on improving in that area. Our defense attitude lies in a desire to do all the intangibles and to consistently outwork our opponents. We wanted to dictate the tempo of the game by using pressures and changing defenses, and always win the battle of the boards.”

As the season continued and came to a close, the Great Danes finished with a defense allowing just 49.6 points per game. 

Final Regular-Season Game

In the final regular-season game, the Great Danes hosted Stony Brook. At the conclusion of the first quarter, the score remained tied at 13 but the Seawolves grabbed a 26-22 lead at halftime. 

At the end of the third, Stony Brook held a 47-33 advantage.

“Our team hadn’t been in that situation many times during the season, and they needed to prove to themselves that they could perform under those circumstances.”

To begin the fourth quarter, the Seawolves extended to a 16-point lead with just over nine minutes remaining. When all seemed cemented in place, UAlbany grabbed two three-point baskets in a row and the attitude on the court completely changed.

Beginning with 6:38 on the clock, the Great Danes went on an 18-3 scoring run to win the game, 57-56. The game-winning basket, scored by Helene Haegerstrand and assisted by Grace Heeps, was followed by 15 seconds of pure defense from UAlbany.

“The players demonstrated confidence and poise down the stretch and made big plays. It may have been the best come-from-behind game I have ever been a part of.”

In an exhilarating fashion, the Great Danes defeated the Seawolves and guaranteed the second seed heading into the America East tournament.

“I believe the momentum we got from [this] victory prepared us to win a championship. Stony Brook was at the top of the league and [the win] gave us the confidence that we could defeat anyone in the [America East].”

America East Tournament

Holding the second seed, UAlbany prepared to host a quarterfinal round, and if victorious, a semifinal round.

“It was very exciting to earn the second seed in the America East Tournament.”

Once all was solidified, the Great Danes welcomed New Hampshire for the quarterfinal contest on Saturday, March 5.

“There certainly were some nerves in our first game vs. UNH. They kept us off-balance by face guarding some of our players and changing defenses frequently, but we were able to grind out the win with a very solid defensive effort.”

After a 49-44 win over the Wildcats, UAlbany readied for Vermont, the third seed, and the America East semifinals on Tuesday, March 8. 

“We played with more confidence during the semifinal game versus UVM.”

With only a five-point advantage in the first half, the Great Danes kicked up the offensive effort seeing quarters with 21 and 18 points, respectively. Overall, the defense held Vermont to no more than 16 points in a quarter, with an 11-point low from the first quarter.

“We played one of our best second halves of the season and our offensive execution was tremendous. Defensively, we were able to shut down Vermont’s powerful inside-out offensive attack and slow them down in transition.”

With a definitive 67-54 victory over the Catamounts, UAlbany was headed to Maine for the America East Championship.

Just like that, the Great Danes got on the bus and prepared for the battle that awaited at the Pit. Expecting a loud crowd, UAlbany practiced for two days with blasting music and crowd noise to get ready for what was to come.

In their final night before competition, “our team went through a guided visualization. Step by step, we walked through the game, starting with the pre-game ritual all the way to cutting down the nets.”

Ellen Hahne scored the first basket and UAlbany never gave up the lead throughout the rest of the game. The 20-12 advantage gained in the first quarter proved fruitful with a final score of 56-47, just one point more than the first-quarter lead.

“We had one of our best first quarters offensively; the team was knocking down shots and playing focused. During this game, we were clicking on both ends. Even when Maine made their runs, we responded and never got frazzled. Our players made big plays at the end to seal the victory.”

The Great Danes fought until the very last second. The Black Bears attempted to catch UAlbany off its feet and take the lead but the Great Danes went 7-10 on the line in the final minute of play to guarantee the victory.

“As the buzzer went off, I felt so much gratitude. I was so happy, for the players, that their hard work and months of sacrifice had paid off. Their goal of being CHAMPS had come to fruition and I am so grateful. I’m grateful for my staff’s commitment and continued belief in the process, as well as their investment in each player.”

Next Up: March Madness

The Great Danes spent Friday night celebrating - cutting down Maine’s net, dancing, and singing on the bus. It was a night to be remembered forever.

Two days later, the team and their fans collected at Madison Theater to watch the Selection Show.

“To earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament and hear your name called on Selection Sunday is truly surreal.”

Louisville. The Great Danes were headed to Kentucky!

“From our charter flight down to Kentucky to our visit at the Muhammad Ali Museum, this was truly an experience of a lifetime for our student-athletes.” 

Several friends and family of the program made the trip to the Bluegrass State to support the women’s basketball team.

“Many of our player’s families and friends were able to make the trip, along with athletic department members and University Administration. To have President Rodríguez and his wife present at the game was special for our players. Leadership that is visible helps our players feel valued and, certainly, delivers our promise of providing them with a world-class student-athlete experience.”

Upon arrival at KFC Yum! Center, the Great Danes attended a press conference and prepared for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

This was it. It was finally game day.

With the size and athleticism of the Cardinals, the Great Danes saw a tricky first half.

“Louisville was a tough opponent, who eventually made a Final Four appearance. They pressured us full court throughout the game and have athleticism at every position.”

At halftime, play turned around for UAlbany. Despite a 28-point difference at the half, the Great Danes did not give up.

“I was extremely proud of our team’s resiliency and determination. After trailing at the half, we outscored Louisville in the third quarter and nearly played them even the rest of the way.”

A third quarter that saw 18 points from the 16-seed and just 17 from the number one-seeded team showed what the Great Danes could do. At the conclusion of the contest, the Cardinals held just a four-point advantage in the final 20 minutes of play.