Women’s Basketball Edges Maine, 58-56, To Stay Perfect In Conference Play
BOX SCORE
ORONO, Maine – In a wild contest featuring 12 lead changes and eight locked scores, the University at Albany women’s basketball team pulled out the nail-biter over the hosting University of Maine Black Bears, 58-56, Sunday afternoon at the new Cross Insurance Center. With the victory, UAlbany improved to 23-3 overall and 13-0 in America East play, while Maine fell to 14-12 on the season and 8-5 in conference play.
The win marked the Great Danes’ ninth straight win in the series with Maine, 14th consecutive victory this season, and 36th straight America East conference victory, dating back to January 2012, which is tied for the longest active streak in Division I.
Three UAlbany players recorded double figures in the scoring column, led by freshman Imani Tate’s 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Junior Megan Craig finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while also adding a pair of assists and blocks. Classmate Margarita Rosario also totaled 10 points, including clutch free throws with the game on the line. She finished 8-for-10 from the line.
Outrebounding the Black Bears, 41-36, Tammy Phillip pulled down a game-high 10 boards. Shereesha Richards logged nine to go along with eight points, marking just the first time this season Richards was held to single digits in the scoring column. Early foul trouble limited Richards to just 11 minutes of action in the first half.
“It’s hard to play without her,” said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “Our lineup switched up, but I think Imani Tate did a good job coming off the bench as a freshman.”
For Maine, Cherrish Wallace recorded a game-high 16 points, followed by Liz Wood’s 10-point performance.
With the home crowd on their side, Maine took the lead, 56-55, on Anna Heise’s three-point play, getting the bucket and the free throw, with just 1:21 remaining in the game. That scored stood until UAlbany’s stifling defense forced a shot clock violation with 27.4 seconds left.
On their next possession, Wallace fouled Rosario at the top of the key, putting the Miami, Fla. native at the line. Rosario knocked down both, giving the Danes a 57-56 lead with 15.7 seconds on the clock.
Keeping their composure, the Great Danes forced Maine’s Ashley Roberts deep on the baseline, forcing head coach Richard Barron to call timeout with 6.8 seconds to go. Out of the huddle, UAlbany came up with the stop again, as Craig tipped the ball from Wallace and Rosario came away with it before being fouled with 0.7 seconds left.
“I just didn’t want to foul,” said Coach Abe. “I said to be straight up, get your hands up, and having Megan in there really helps. You can’t get too many shots off with her in there.”
Rosario made one free throw, and let the second fall to the sound of the buzzer, sealing the victory.
UAlbany opened the game by building a six-point lead, 11-5, including a pair of baskets from Craig and Richards. However, the Black Bears battled back to cut the deficit to one, 13-12, on Lauren Bodine’s three with 13:09 remaining in opening stanza.
Another three by Wallace at the nine-minute mark held the margin at one, 17-16, but the Great Danes answered with an 8-0 to give themselves a nine-point lead, 25-16, with 6:19 on the clock. Tate played a key role in the run, contributing three buckets.
However, the tides quickly turned as Maine went on to 12-3 run of their own in the waning minutes of the half. Sigi Koizar capped the run with a three, tying the game, 28-28, with 2:12 remaining.
Phillip answered back for UAlbany with a jumper, but Bodine countered, knocking down her second three of the half to give Maine a 31-30 lead at the break.
The back-and-forth fast paced second half featured 11 lead changes, and the margin was never more than three points, leading up to the exciting finish.
The Great Danes return to action Wednesday, hosting Binghamton at SEFCU Arena at 7 p.m.
