SCORE: LSU 83, UAlbany 61

LOCATION: Maravich Center - Baton Rogue, LA

RECORDS: UAlbany 10-3, 0-0 America East | #6 LSU 15-0, 0-0 SEC

SHORT STORY: Against a relentless LSU team, UAlbany's early spark and defensive grit lit up the court, but the Tigers' late-game dominance turned the tide in a dramatic 83-61 battle.

COACH COLLEEN MULLEN: "I am extremely proud and impressed on how well the team executed the game plan today.  The final score was not indicative of how close the game was, and we showed an ability to compete with the 6th ranked team in the country. Not only were we leading at halftime we were also leading in the 4th quarter, and controlled the tempo for much of the game.  There is a lot to build on from this challenge and a lot to learn from to help better prepare us as we open up conference play on Thursday."

KEY STATS

• Graduate student Kaci Donovan led UAlbany with 17 points, including three three-pointers, and added five rebounds and three assists.
• Graduate Student Kayla Cooper also contributed 14 points and tied Donovan with five rebounds.
• Graduate student Lilly Phillips matched Cooper with 14 points, hitting two shots from beyond the arc.
• Jessica Tomasetti added six points and grabbed two rebounds, while Martina Borrellas chipped in with two points and three rebounds.
• The Great Danes led the game for almost 19 minutes, longer than LSU's 17:46.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game began with UAlbany jumping to an early lead as Kaci Donovan and Kayla Cooper scored back-to-back baskets. 
• Donovan's three-pointer midway through the first quarter helped the Great Danes build momentum, pushing the lead to six.
• UAlbany dominated defensively and held LSU scoreless for several possessions, ending the quarter with a strong 25-16 advantage.
• The second quarter saw the Tigers fight back by cutting into UAlbany's lead with second-chance points off offensive rebounds. 
• Despite the push, Donovan kept the Great Danes in front with another three-pointer, and Cooper contributed key buckets in the paint. At halftime, UAlbany held a slim 38-34 lead.
• In the third quarter, LSU's defense intensified and limited UAlbany's offensive opportunities. 
• The Great Danes managed to stay competitive with a three-pointer from Phillips and timely baskets from Tomasetti, but LSU's dominance on the boards turned the tide. By the end of the third, LSU led 56-53.
• The final quarter was a tough battle for UAlbany. LSU's Aneesah Morrow dominated inside, and their transition game extended the lead. 
• Donovan and Meghan Huerter hit late-game threes to keep the score close, but LSU's consistent scoring down the stretch sealed the win.
• The Great Danes put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell to LSU, 83-61, in a challenging road match-up.

NEXT: The Great Danes will host Vermont for their conference opener on January 2 at 6:30 PM.