52-Point Second Half Keeps UAlbany WBB in First Place with 66-51 Win at Stony Brook
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Down eight at the half, UAlbany scored 52 points in the second period to run past Stony Brook 66-51 and hold first place with an undefeated conference record.
“We started playing UAlbany basketball in the second half; our press defense stepped up and led to the offense playing better,” said UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “Players like Megan Craig, Tammy Phillip and Sarah Royals really stepped up when Shereesha Richards was in foul trouble.
With the victory, UAlbany (18-3, 8-0 AE), which was down 22-14 at the break, stays in sole possession of first place, having defeated all eight other America East schools. In addition, dating back the last two seasons, UAlbany has won 31 consecutive America East games.
Megan Craig led UAlbany with her second double-double of the year, scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds, adding three blocks.
“We calmed down in the second half, as we knew to keep attacking and box out in the paint,” said Craig. “We knew it was critical to play over game and stop them on the boards.”
Going into the top-10 all-time on the UAlbany assist list with 259 assists, Sarah Royals picked up 10 second half points, adding seven assists.
“In the second half, we had to refocus, keep playing our game and not bail them out,” said Royals. “Coach [Abrahamson-Henderson] had us stick to what we do best, getting the ball into the post.”
Tammy Phillip concluded with 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while Shereesha Richards finished with 11 points, all in the second half, and five boards.
For Stony Brook (15-6, 6-2 AE), Ckikilra Goodman earned a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Brittany Snow had 10 points.
An early steal from Margarita Rosario found a running Zakiya Saunders for the fastbreak layup in the opening minute. Each offense had trouble penetrating the opposing defense, with UAlbany playing zone and Stony Brook playing man-to-man.
With UAlbany down 4-2, Phillip hit a couple of baskets to pull UAlbany even at 6-6 by the second media timeout. The teams tugged back and forth, until at 8-8, powered by a Miranda Jenkins corner three, Stony Brook went on an 12-2 run to build a 20-12 advantage, capped by four Goodman free throws, with 34 seconds left in the 1st.
Getting to the line, Craig hit a couple of free throws with 21 seconds left, but a Sabre Proctor layup near the end of the half sent Stony Brook into the locker room up 22-14.
After a Proctor layup to start the second, UAlbany pushed to the paint, with Craig hitting a trio of layups in the resulting 9-2 span by the Great Danes, pulling the team within three 26-23 with 16:10 remaining.
At 29-23, UAlbany continued to strike at the paint, as the Great Danes went on an 10-0 run, fueled by a pair of Craig layups and capped by two more baskets from Phillip, to take a 35-29 lead.
Stony Brook struck back at 37-31, with Snow going on a personal 6-0 run, the final four off free throws on fouls on the floor, to tie the game at the under-eight mark.
Royals and Imani Tate earned chances and scored, with Craig and Richards following up with trips to the paint to put together a 9-0 run, surging UAlbany ahead 46-37.
Both teams tussled as Stony Brook tried to come back. At 47-41, Rosario buried a wing three with two on the shot clock to send UAlbany back up by nine at 3:22 left. Following Goodman hitting a three on the next possession, UAlbany held for a couple of minutes, using a Royals layup and one to send the team back up by nine 50-41 with 2:14 left.
Stony Brook fouled UAlbany to send the Great Danes to the line. Rosario, Royals and Phillip all hit free throws down the stretch to keep UAlbany ahead as the Great Danes took the win 66-51.
UAlbany returns home for the Big Purple Growl at SEFCU Arena on Saturday, February 1st, kicking off the event against Vermont at 5 p.m.
