Home Court Heroes: Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Maine to Stay Undefeated!

FINAL SCORE: UAlbany 60, Maine 55
 
VENUE: Broadview Center – Albany, N.Y.
 
STATISTICS: UAlbany 14-3, 4-0 America East | Maine 7-10, 2-2 America East
 
BRIEF OVERVIEW: The Great Danes maintained their composure to take the lead and secure victory against Maine in the final quarter, Saturday afternoon.

COACH COLLEEN MULLEN: “This was a thorough team victory. Maine poses as a formidable defensive team that is methodical and extremely physical. We had difficulty establishing our offensive flow early as Maine capitalized on inside play for initial scores. In the latter half, the team focused and made significant stops that shifted the momentum heading into the fourth quarter. Key players made crucial contributions as we approached the end.”

 

NOTABLE STATISTICS

• Four Great Danes achieved double-digit scoring – graduate students Kayla Cooper (14), Lilly Phillips (13), Jessica Tomasetti (11), and senior Meghan Huerter (11) – each shooting at least 50% from the field.
• Tomasetti topped the team in rebounding with nine boards, four of which were on the offensive end.
• Cooper and Tomasetti collectively recorded 10 of the Great Danes’ 12 assists, with five each.
• In just the fourth quarter, UAlbany converted 7-9 attempts from the field, featuring 75% shooting from three-point range.

 
GAME RECAP

• The Black Bears kicked off the match with eight points, leaving UAlbany scoreless for nearly three minutes.
• Following a timeout, Jessica Tomasetti initiated what turned out to be a 7-0 scoring spree with a three-pointer.
• Maine took the lead again, but consecutive baskets, including a pull-up from Tomasetti with five seconds left, leveled the score at 12 by the end of the first quarter.
• Meghan Huerter began the second quarter with a three-pointer, but the Black Bears responded by steadily building a seven-point cushion, 25-18, throughout the first half of the quarter.
• UAlbany narrowed the deficit and equalized at 25 with contributions from Tomasetti, Huerter, and Lilly Phillips.
• Maine capitalized on the next two and a half minutes and concluded the first half leading, 29-27.
• The third quarter mirrored the second – the Great Danes scored, then Maine went on a three-basket run to pull ahead, 37-29.
• Huerter and graduate student Kaci Donovan each sank a field goal, trimming the margin to three points with five minutes remaining in the quarter, but the Black Bears ended the quarter in front, 43-39.
• Ninety-six seconds into the final quarter, the Great Danes trailed by one point, 45-44.
• Two timely three-pointers from Phillips and Tomasetti swung the momentum back to UAlbany, bringing them to a 50-47 lead.
• Maine regained the advantage, 51-50, following two field goals from Caroline Bornemann and Sera Hodgson.
• Kayla Cooper’s double- or triple-team defense eased, allowing her to net six points in just over three minutes. Along with two-point field goals from Phillips and Tomasetti, the Great Danes led 60-53 with merely 17 seconds on the clock.
• The Black Bears managed to get the last word with a layup at 0:04, but UAlbany’s defense held firm to secure the win, 60-55.

 
UP NEXT: The Great Danes will travel to compete against Bryant before returning home for their National Girls and Women in Sport Day clash with Binghamton (1/25).
 
Stay updated with all the latest developments, highlights, and insights regarding UAlbany women’s basketball by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.