Gia Sanders Leads UAlbany to a 70-63 Win Over St. Francis (NY)

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior forward Gia Sanders recorded her third double-double of the season, with a career-high 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in leading UAlbany to a 70-63 win over St. Francis, N.Y. in women’s basketball action on Friday evening at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (2-11) jumped out to a seven-point lead, 15-8, on a Charity Iromuanya layup with 15:35 on the clock in the first half. St. Francis (3-9) embarked on a 15-2 stretch to take a 23-17 advantage with two free throws by Kristen Miah with 8:36 to play. After two made free throws by Janea Aiken gave the Great Danes a 34-33 lead with 29 seconds on the clock, Iromuanya stole the ball from Miah to hold onto the halftime advantage for UAlbany.

The Great Danes, who broke a nine-game skid with the win, used a 15-2 run in the second half to build up a 61-46 lead with 5:22 left to play. St. Francis cut the lead back to single digits, pulling within 62-53 on two foul shots by Katja Bavendam, who finished with 20 points and 11 boards for the Terriers. UAlbany used strong foul shooting down the stretch, as Sanders, Britney McGee and Iromuanya hit six straight from the line as time wound down.

“This was one of our must-wins,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson. “Confidence is key, along with getting on a roll heading into conference play. If we continue to play the way we have played the last two games, we are going to get some wins against our conference opponents.”

Sanders, who recorded her 500th career rebound in the game, also finished with four steals, three blocks and two assists en route to being named the America East Player of the Game. McGee shot 5-of-9 from beyond the 3-point line to finish with 18 points to stretch her double-digit scoring streak to five straight games. Iromuanya also reached double figures for the Great Danes, adding 11 points, four steals and two assists.

Tiffany Hill led all players with 24 points and seven rebounds, playing all 40 minutes for St. Francis. Miah, who went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, added nine points, four boards and a game-high five assists.

UAlbany will have an eight-day layoff before starting conference play in the New Year, visiting New Hampshire on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m.