UAlbany Places 60 Student-Athletes on America East Academic Honor Roll

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany had 60 student-athletes named to the 2007 America East Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon. Students had to earn grade point averages of 3.0 or above for the fall semester to receive this recognition. Students earning a 3.5 GPA or better were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. America East honored 614 fall student-athletes from around the conference.

The UAlbany men’s soccer team featured the highest number of honorees for the Great Danes, with 17 student-athletes earning recognition. Mikael McNamara, Michael Dineen and Sander Anker also earned Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades.

The UAlbany field hockey team had nine members recognized, with all nine student-athletes earning the top academic honor with over a 3.5 GPA. All-conference honorees Ashley Ross and Anouk Vandenburg highlighted the award recipients.

Women’s soccer had 11 student-athletes recognized, with six being named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, while women’s cross country had eight selections, three earning commissioner’s distinction. The defending conference champion volleyball squad had seven players named to the honor roll, with four posting over a 3.5 GPA. Men’s cross country also had eight student-athletes on the list, including ECAC Champion Ricardo Estremera.

Vermont had the most honor roll members, with 91 student-athletes earning the award. New Hampshire and Stony Brook followed with 89 and 83 honorees, respectively. Maine had 77 honor roll award winners, including the most Commissioner’s Honor Roll members with 48. Binghamton (66), Hartford (51), Boston U. (48) and UMBC (33) rounded out the nine member schools.



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2007 America East Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll

Men’s Cross Country: Joseph Belokopitsky, David Rothman, Jonathan Hilbert, Jared Jupin, Christopher Jiminez, Mitchel Troise, Ricardo Estremera, Johnathan Moore.

Women’s Cross Country: Briana McNamee, Laine Sefick, Lea Lovell, Jessica Chichester, Kristin Grab, Kristine Mun*, Laura Cummings*, Alexandra Panos*.

Men’s Soccer: Erik DiLorenzo, Gabriel Seguin-Gauthier, Ian Peach, Anthony Desalvo, Joshua Kwilecki, Kenneth Ibe, Bozidar Jelovac, Andrew Fojanesi, Andrew Newnham, Joseph Hogan, Christian Valasquez, Don Johnson, Brian Gordon, Colin Veney, Mikael McNamara*, Michael Dineen*, Sander Anker*.

Women’s Soccer: Jaclyn Rosada, Caitlin Mulligan, Meghan Garrity, Teresa Boring, Sarah Morrell, Kelly McGuire*, Ashley Tirabassi*, Uju Ogbuawa*, Maria Ligouri*, Jaclyn Schaaf*, Kaylin Connolly*.

Field Hockey: Carrie Brown*, Susan Clephane*, Jess Lindsey*, Joanna Irey*, Ashley Ross*, Anouk Vandenburg*, Sarah Deane*, Samantha Daly*, Vanessa Walter*.

Volleyball: Casey Wright, Teresa Coppiellie, Natasha Marquis, Laura Livergood*, Tawny Dahmes*, Valerie Sourbeer*, Samantha Jacobson*.



* Denotes America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll

University of Albany's Men's Lacrosse

#12 UALBANY - HOME GAMES:
Feb 26 - Siena 2pm
Mar 15 - Drexel 1pm
Mar 21 - Princeton 1pm
Mar 29 - Binghamton 1pm
Apr 08 - Yale 7pm
Apr 20 - Vermont 1pm
Apr 26 - Stony Brook 7pm

University of Albany Women's Basketball Cruises to 80-60 Win Over Binghamton in America East Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sherri Mikus and TaNika Thrower each scored 15 points to place five players in double figures in leading UAlbany to an 80-60 win over Binghamton in America East Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at SEFCU Arena.

Binghamton (6-13, AE 4-2) scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer by Erica Carter, but it would be the only lead the Bearcats would hold. UAlbany tied the game with a trey by Thrower on the next possession, and took the lead at 17:51 on a jumper in the paint by Charity Iromuanya. The Great Danes built up an 8-point lead, 15-7, with 15:33 in the game on a shot from beyond the arc by Kristin Higy, who would finish with 12 points for UAlbany. Carter dropped another three of her own on the ensuing Binghamton possession to cut the lead to five, but the Great Danes would continue to add to their lead, taking a 12-point advantage at 10:37 on a Mikus bucket.

Binghamton cut the lead back to single digits on two free throws by Muffy Sadler at 7:17, but UAlbany would outscore the Bearcats 12-1 over the remainder of the first half to take a 42-21 advantage into the locker room.

The Great Danes took over again to start the second period, building up a 24-point lead, 47-23 on a 3-pointer by Iromuanya. Binghamton continued to push a comeback, pulling within 18 on Carter’s third trey of the game with 10:27 left to play. An Amira Ford layup at 6:24 gave UAlbany a 71-48 advantage. The Bearcats would get to within 17 on two free throws by Darryll Peterson with 4:33 on the clock, but they would get no closer.

Free throws by Kirsten Peterson and Ashley Lindsay down the stretch would build back the 20-point advantage, and a steal by Kim Clements with seven seconds remaining sealed the win for the Great Danes.

“This was a must-win for us,” said Mikus, who started her third straight game for UAlbany. “We lost a game against UMBC that we knew we should have won, and this win was step one of digging ourselves out of the hole we got ourselves into with that loss. We needed this momentum heading into the weekend with the Big Purple Growl coming up on Saturday.”

UAlbany (5-14, AE 3-3) received 10 points and five assists from Britney McGee. Iromuanya added 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Great Danes. She also went 2-for-2 from behind the arc, helping the Great Danes to 54.5-percent (6-of-11) from 3-point land. Senior Gia Sanders, who returned to the court for UAlbany after missing the last two games with injury, and contributed three steals and a block, along with three points and two boards in 20 minutes of action.

“We had a great team effort,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot a season-best 50.8-percent (32-of-63) from the floor. “I have said that I think we are the most athletic team in the conference. When we start flying around like we did tonight on offense and defense, the sky is the limit with what we can accomplish. This was a very good win for us.”

Carter paced Binghamton with 14 points, while center Laine Kurpniece added 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Juta Jahilo finished eight points for the Bearcats.

Men's Basketball Rally Falls Short in 69-65 America East Loss to Conference-Leader UMBC

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. -- Cavell Johnson had 18 points and Darryl Proctor added 15 as UMBC held off UAlbany, 69-65, in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Retriever Activities Center. The Retrievers remained in a virtual first-place tie in the conference standings.

UMBC (14-7, AE 6-2) led 38-30 early in the second half, but then tallied nine of the game's next 11 points. Proctor, who grabbed eight rebounds, hit a reverse layup, before Justin Fry canned a three-point field goal from the left corner. Johnson later made a jump hook for a 47-32 margin with 13:33 remaining.

UAlbany (9-11, AE 4-4) trailed by as much as 17 points in the period and were still behind, 58-44, with less than four minutes left. However, the Great Danes scored 10 unanswered to get back into the contest. Brian Lillis, who had 17 of his 19 points after halftime, drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to close the gap to 58-54.

The Great Danes, who had won six straight in this series, got within four on two other occasions in the stretch. Tim Ambrose was fouled while converting a drive in the lane that got his team within 64-60 with 38.6 seconds to play. But that was as close as UAlbany would get when Ambrose missed the subsequent free throw. UMBC's Johnson split a pair of foul shots and Proctor made two from the line to seal the outcome.

Ray Barbosa finished with 14 points for the Retrievers, who are having their best season since 2002 and have won eight of nine home games. UAlbany's Jon Iati and Brian Connelly scored 14 and 10, respectively. The Great Danes had their three-game road winning streak halted.

"I thought we played well for about 10 minutes,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team fell into a tie for fifth place in the America East standings. “It was a little too late against a very talented offensive team. I was proud of the way we came back, but we can't break down like we did on defense. The only way we can improve on that end of the floor is to communicate better."

Proctor helped the Retrievers get out to a 16-8 lead in the opening seven-plus minutes. Proctor made a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a fastbreak layup. He followed with a jumper from right of the lane in transition. UMBC extended its advantage to 29-17 when Barbosa tipped in his own miss. The Great Danes, who shot just 33 percent in the period, stayed within striking distance at halftime behind the play of Iati, who had 11 points off the bench.

"Our offense is not our problem,” explained Lillis, who has scored in double figures in 19 of 20 games this season. “Our defense drives our offense which is the way it should be. We got back into the game because we had more energy and played with a sense of urgency on defense."

University of Albany Prepares for 11th Annual Big Purple Growl on Saturday, Feb. 2

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The 11th annual Big Purple Growl and Ferocious Feast is set for Saturday, Feb. 2 on the University at Albany campus. The University’s Winter Homecoming features a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader with America East Conference opponent Stony Brook University at SEFCU Arena. The women’s game begins at 4:30 p.m., while the men follow at 7:00 p.m.

For ticket information, contact the UAlbany Athletic Ticket Office, at 518-442-4683. The Big Purple Growl is well on its way to becoming a sold-out event for the third consecutive year. There are currently 200 reserved seats available for general sale. The BPG event has averaged 3,555 fans in its 10-year history.

“The Big Purple Growl is an opportunity for students, alumni and fans to stay connected to the University at Albany and its athletic program,” UAlbany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy said. “It has been a pleasure to see the event grow and at the same time watch the excitement it brings to the campus environment.”

Big Purple Growl T-shirts, courtesy of Verizon Wireless, will be distributed to the first 750 fans at the doubleheader. Students will participate in the CDTA Shot for Tuition, with the winner receiving an award that is equivalent to one semester’s in-state tuition. Alumni will also shoot for prizes. Residential Life will sponsor a housing lottery for five lucky UAlbany students during halftime of the men’s game. In addition, one fan, chosen in a random drawing, will play for two other fans in the SEFCU Money Machine. UAlbany’s pep band, dance team and cheerleaders will perform. The Earth Tones, the school’s men’s a capella group, and women’s basketball team captain TaNika Thrower are scheduled to sing the National Anthem prior to each game.

The Ferocious Feast will be held in University Gymnasium, adjacent to SEFCU Arena, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The Feast is completely sold out. The expanded menu includes, soy whiskey chicken, barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and more. The Puppy Pound for younger children highlights a list of entertainment options.

Jean Juste Named America East Conference Track Performer of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jean Juste has been named the America East Conference men’s indoor track performer of the week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.

Juste, a junior from Hempstead, N.Y., won the 55-meter hurdles to lead the UAlbany men’s team to a first place finish at UAlbany’s Great Dane Classic on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. Juste, also a cornerback on the UAlbany football team, crossed the finish line in an IC4A-qualifying time of 7.45 seconds, the fastest in meet history and the America East Conference this season. He was just two-hundredths of a second shy of breaking the Armory collegiate record.

UAlbany returns to the track on Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2 at Yale’s Giegengack Invitational in New Haven, Conn.

University of Albany NanoTech and IMEC to Collaborate on EUV Lithography Research

Researchers from the UAlbany NanoTech and IMEC (Leuven, Belgium) consortia, together with lithographers from IBM Corp. and ASML Holding NV (Veldhoven, Netherlands), will collaborate on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography research.

The collaboration comes as the ASML alpha demonstration tools (ADTs) at both Albany NanoTech and IMEC are being upgraded with higher-power sources of the EUV radiation.

An initial upgrade will boost the source power at the intermediate focus to ~5-10 W, enough to process ~5 wph with full-field exposures. In the second quarter of 2008, plans call for the source power and debris mitigation modules to be upgraded again, giving IMEC and Albany NanoTech ~10 wph capabilities, according to Kurt Ronse, lithography program director at IMEC.

Ronse said, “Since EUV is still in a development phase, the alpha demo tools have to be upgraded occasionally. By opening our facilities for each others’ EUV experiments, we can guarantee acceleration of EUV research to our industrial partners.”

The majority of the EUV activities will focus on the advanced imaging capabilities of the ADTs, “with additional effort devoted to the understanding of new materials and various aspects of equipment technology,” the announcement said.

Alain Kaloyeros, chief administrative officer at the University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), said, “The UAlbany NanoCollege is pleased to partner with IMEC, the leading European R&D organization, and welcome our IMEC colleagues to CNSE’s Albany NanoTech Complex, where together with our partners from IBM and ASML, we have a unique opportunity to enable significant advances in EUVL technology that are vital to the manufacturing of future generations of nanoelectronics devices."

Courtesy: Staff - Semiconductor International

UAlbany Men Win Great Dane Classic For First Time, Women Finish Third

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New York, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Michael McCadney tied his own school record in winning the triple jump to lead his team to the men’s title at the sixth annual Great Dane Classic at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. The UAlbany men won the competition for the first time in the meet’s history, while the women’s team placed third.

McCadney, who originally set the triple jump record at the 2007 IC4A championship, registered a leap of 50-feet, 11-inches to garner first place and qualify for this season’s IC4A meet. Jean Juste, a cornerback on the UAlbany football team, won the 55-meter high hurdles in an IC4A-qualifying time of 7.45 seconds, while freshman Daniel Avery qualified for the IC4As by placing fourth in 7.69 seconds.

Sophomore Jeffery Barnes (Albany High) crossed the finish line second in the 200-meter dash in 22.04 seconds to qualify for the IC4A meet. Junior Joe Greene posted another IC4A mark in the 400-meter dash with a second-place time of 48.76. Barnes and Greene combined with Lynval Clarke and Torshiro Jenkins to place fourth in the 4x400-meter relay in an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:17.93.

In the high jump, senior David Parker (Niskayuna) cleared the bar at 6-feet, 7-inches to record a first-place finish. Valete Graham (23-9.5) and Freddie Wills (23-2.75) finished first and second, respectively, in the long jump as both qualified for the IC4A meet. Freshman Wilfredo de Jesus Elias established an IC4A-mark of 57-feet, 3.5-inches in the weight throw register a second-place finish.

In the women’s competition, Kamilah McShine won the 55-meter hurdles with an ECAC-qualifying time of 8.16 seconds. In the triple jump, Jenn Gurrant was second with a leap of 40-feet, 6.25-inches, while Arina Gerasimova (38-7) was fifth. Each athlete qualified for the ECAC championship. Brenna Militello placed second in the high jump by clearing a height of 5-feet, 5-inches.

The Great Danes return to the action at Yale University’s Giegengack Invitational on Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2.


UAlbany Men’s Results

55m Dash: 7. Dieuseul Joseph 6.55, 12. Raphael Jean Baptiste 6.60, 20. Kyle Nadler 6.69, 23. Michael McCadney 6.73. 55m High Hurdles: 1. Jean Juste 7.45 (IC4A), 4. Danny Avery 7.69 (IC4A), 6. Joe Greene 7.77, 7. Freddie Wills 7.81, 10. Anthony Assent 7.99, 11. Nick Assini 8.00, 16. David Parker 8.10, 19. Garrett Askew 8.15, 29. Alfred Pryor Jr 8.45. 200m Dash: 2. Jeffery Barnes 22.04 (IC4A), 18. Raphael Jean Baptiste 22.71, 26. Drew Harrison 23.02. 400m Dash: 2. Joe Greene 48.76 (IC4A), 21. Lynval Clarke 50.59. 500m Dash: 17. Alan Nimblette 1:08.23. 800m Run: 5. Tyler Fogarty 1:55.23, 23. Bryan Lasky 2:00.14. 1,000m Run: 7. Joe Belokopitsky 2:35.56. 1 Mile Run: 21. Jon Hilbert 4:39.75. 3,000m Run: 4. Brian Yurkewecz 8:38.51, 23. David Rothman 9:11.70, 25. Chris Jimenez 9:16.94. 4x400m Relay: 4. Lynval Clarke, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes, Joe Greene 3:17.93 (IC4A), 16. Drew Harrison, Alan Nimblette, Andrew Overbaugh, Tyler Fogarty 3:27.82. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Joe Belokopitsky, Alan Nimblette, Bryan Lasky, Brian Yurkewecz 10:28.77. High Jump: 1. David Parker 6-7, 5. Freddie Wills 6-5, 9. Anthony Collica 6-3.25. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 16-2.75 (IC4A), 3. Michael Dempsey 15-9 (IC4A), 6. David Parker 15-3, Nick Jones NH. Long Jump: 1. Valete Graham 23-9.5 (IC4A), 2. Freddie Wills 23-2.75 (IC4A), 4. Kyle Nadler 22-7.75, 8. Kevin O'Riley 21-6, 15. Dong Ning Hu 21-0.75, 16. David Parker 20-11.25, C.J. Ross 18-5.25. Triple Jump: 1. Michael McCadney 50-11 (IC4A), 2. Freddie Wills 46-10.75, 5. Dong Ning Hu 44-9, 6. Kevin O’Riley 44-6.75, 11. Valete Graham 42-9.5, 13. C.J. Ross 42-6.25, Ray Gilman FOUL. Shot Put: 6. Will Anger 49-0.25, 11. Renauld Buck 44-11.75, 13. Frank Fazzino 44-2, 19. Jordan Meikle 38-11.75. Weight Throw: 2. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 57-3.5 (IC4A), 5. Will Anger 53-7, 6. Kevin Lee 51-7.75.


UAlbany Women’s Results

55m Dash: 21. Sarah Lapierre 7.44, 27. Sandy Antenor 7.68, 31. Arielle Roberts 7.78, 34. Traequanda Brock 7.89. 55m High Hurdles: 1. Kamilah McShine 8.16 (ECAC), 20. Valerie Maignan 8.74. 200m Dash: 50. Sarah Lapierre 27.94, 53. Arielle Roberts 28.20.
400m Dash: 19. Corrine Porter-Stepney 59.64, 22. Melissa Lee 1:00.26, 26. Laura Bolognino 1:00.80, 42. Lesan Mattis 1:04.79. 500m Dash: 19. Rebecca Kelly 1:20.05, 22. Octavia Clarkson 1:21.29. 1,000m Run: 4. Laura Cummings 2:59.89, 12. Danielle Trimpop 3:09.32, 17. Tashia Alexander 3:20.71, 18. Briana McNamee 3:22.71. 3,000m Run: 4. Kristine Mun 10:27.99, 11. Laine Sefick 10:53.32, 21. Kristin Grab 11:23.24. 1 Mile Run: 26. Briana McNamee 5:45.78. 4x400m Relay: 7. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Corrine Porter-Stepney, Melissa Lee 3:57.49, 16. Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Ashley Vives, Rebecca Kelly 4:10.16. Distance Medley Relay: 4. Kristine Mun, Ashley Vives, Zuliana Fontanez, Laura Cummings 12:15.10. High Jump: 2. Brenna Militello 5-5, Denise Parker NH. Long Jump: 5. Jenn Gurrant 18-6, T9. Valerie Maignan 17-11, 12. Tiffany Sprenkels 17-8. Triple Jump: 2. Jenn Gurrant 40-6.25 (ECAC), 5. Arina Gerasimova 38-7 (ECAC), 7. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-1.5, 9. Sandy Antenor 37-5.25, 17. Traequanda Brock 35-9.5. Weight Throw: 5. Kadine Johnson 46-8.25, 6. Sineaid Corley 46-3.25, 7. Ritshell Verdier 45-7.25. Shot Put: 4. Kadine Johnson 43-6.5, 13. Ritshell Verdier 37-10.5, 14. Ashley Lewis 37-0.25. Pole Vault: 9. Corinna Hengen 9-4.25, 10. Krystal Myers 9-4.25.

Women’s Basketball Falls to America East Conference-Leader Hartford, 63-55

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

West Hartford, Conn. – Senior Danielle Hood scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead Hartford to a 63-55 win over UAlbany in America East Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Chase Arena.

Hartford (15-4, AE 5-1), the coaches’ preseason selection to win the conference, used back-to-back three-pointers from Hood and MaryLynne Schaefer to open the second half to pull away from the Great Danes. Hood, a 6-foot-1 center who made 6-of-10 from the field and all seven of her free throw attempts, connected on a layup with 8:22 remaining in the second half as Hartford built its largest lead at 51-37.

UAlbany (4-14, AE 2-3) scored the game’s next eight points to close with six at the 5:36 mark on Sherri Mikus’ jump shot in the paint. Mary Silvia followed with a basket and Diana Delva converted layups on consecutive possessions as Hartford pushed the lead back to 57-45 two minutes later.

Sophomore TaNika Thrower, a 5-foot-6 guard, tallied seven of her team’s final 10 points to deliver the final score. Thrower tallied 17 points, one off her season-high, and was the lone Great Dane in double figures. She added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

"Our goal was to play hard, with intensity, and don't play softly,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team dropped its third straight conference game after starting league play with a pair of wins. “We played well, especially in the second half. We knew they were post-dominant, and we had a hard time stopping (Danielle) Hood. Their offensive rebounds hurt us."

Schaefer and Erica Beverly each recorded 10 points to join Hood in twin figures for the Hawks, who remained tied atop the America East standings with Vermont. Delva registered a game-high 12 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass, to go along with nine points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Hartford jumped out to a 17-9 lead midway through the opening half on Delva’s layup. The Great Danes responded with 14 of the game’s next 23 points to close within three at 26-23 with 3:58 remaining in the stanza on a Kirsten Peterson layup. Thrower keyed the run by hitting a three-pointer and a jump shot. The Hawks closed out the half with a stretch of seven straight points to go into intermission with a 33-24 advantage. Hood tallied four of her 12 first half points in that span.

#12 UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Opens Practice, Prepares For Opener on ESPNU

The University at Albany men's lacrosse team held its second practice of the season on Thursday in snow flurries that made it hard to see the ball.
The two-hour workout had a strange conclusion. The players made snow angels on the Fallon Field turf.

"That was fun," said head coach Scott Marr, whose team opened practice on Wednesday, when classes resumed. "(Sophomore attackman) Kyle Brunk is from Arizona and had never made a snow angel before, so he had to make one. It was great. He's 6-5, so he made a pretty big one."

While encouraging his players to enjoy themselves, Marr is reminding the Great Danes they're out to prove their breakthrough 2007 season was no one-year wonder.

"You have to continue to win to earn respect," Marr said. "We have to go out and re-prove ourselves, almost, so it isn't considered a fluke. We're not rebuilding at all. We have a lot of guys back from last season."

National pundits have agreed by choosing UAlbany 12th in the preseason polls. The Great Danes open their season at defending national champion Johns Hopkins on Feb. 23, a rematch of UAlbany's stunning upset that began its run last season.

Except this time, UAlbany won't have attackmen Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson, the two leading scorers in program history, who graduated. They combined for 113 goals last season, 46 percent of the team's total, as UAlbany had a program-record 15 wins and advanced to the NCAA Division I quarterfinals for the first time.

The season ended with an overtime loss to top-ranked Cornell only one game from the Final Four in Baltimore. Junior attackman Corey Small, who scored 24 goals in part-time duty last season, said that memory lingers.

"We don't want to forget last year," Small said. "We want to look at last year to improve on what we did last year and see if we can make it to the Final Four and national championship game (in Foxborough, Mass.)."

Small moves into Thomson's spot as a left-handed attack and highly touted 6-4 freshman Brian Caufield of Bay Shore assumes Resetarits' role.

"Our biggest issue is the scoring issue," Marr said. "Typically, when you lose your leading scorer, it hurts you. We lost two kids with over 500 (career) points combined. ... We feel confident we have kids capable of (scoring), but they haven't been in those situations yet."

Although UAlbany will remain an up-tempo team, Marr said his team will compensate for its offensive losses by tightening its defense.

The Danes return a solid core with senior midfielder Jordan Levine, a preseason All-American, senior defenseman Craig McDonald and senior goalkeeper Brett Queener, who was granted an extra year of eligibility. Courtesy: M.SINGELAIS


UAlbany Opens Season @ National Champion Johns Hopkins on ESPNU

As part of its multiyear agreement with Johns Hopkins University lacrosse, ESPNU will continue to televise every home game of the men's team and because of that deal the University at Albany will help open the network's 2008 season.

The Great Danes will be at Johns Hopkins on Feb. 23 to kick off ESPNU's regular-season college lacrosse schedule. The game is scheduled to start at noon.

UAlbany was ranked 12th in the nation in Lacrosse magazine's preseason rankings. The Great Danes made their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years by winning the America East Conference championship in 2007. The Great Danes, who finished 15-3 overall, dropped a 12-11 overtime decision to top-ranked Cornell in the quarterfinal round. The NCAA matchup was rated last season's top game by Lacrosse magazine.

Johns Hopkins is ranked third in the preseason poll.

UAlbany's Luke Schoen Named America East Conference Field Performer of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen has been named the America East Conference men’s indoor field performer of the week, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., placed second in the pole vault at the Gotham Cup hosted by New York University on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. Schoen, the school record holder in the event, cleared the bar at an IC4A-qualifying height of 16-feet, 2.75-inches, the third-best performance in program history.

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Armory Track & Field Center as they host the sixth annual Great Dane Classic.

Maine Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Men's Basketball

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Mark Socoby had 18 of his 20 points in the second half as Maine rallied from a double-figure deficit to upend UAlbany, 81-70, in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (9-10, AE 4-3) trailed at halftime, but opened the final period with an 11-2 run. Brent Wilson put the Great Danes ahead with a jump hook. Jimmie Covington later scored off an offensive rebound, before Brian Connelly’s three-point play provided his team with a 41-37 advantage.

The Great Danes, who had won four of their last five entering the contest, pushed out to a 12-point margin with 10:58 remaining. Connelly, who had 15 points, converted a drive on the right baseline for a 51-39 lead. Maine (6-13, AE 2-4) responded with 15 of the game’s next 16 points and was propelled by a seven-point possession. UAlbany’s Brett Gifford, a 6-foot-11 center, was called for a technical foul after he fouled Kaimondre Owes. After the Black Bears made four free throws, Socoby drilled a three-point field goal from the right wing.

Socoby, who made 4-of-6 shots from long distance, eventually put his team in front when he nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner in transition. After the Great Danes tied the contest at 54 apiece on Jerel Hastings’ tip-in, Maine scored eight unanswered to pull away for good. Socoby ignited that stretch with a bank shot off the dribble. He and Owes each made two free throws, before Junior Bernal added a fastbreak layup for a 62-54 margin with 5:49 to play.

UAlbany was still within five of the lead two minutes later, but Socoby sealed the outcome with a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass. Bernal, who had 16 points and four rebounds, pushed the margin to double digits by sinking two foul shots. Owes, playing in his eighth game since transferring from St. Peter’s, finished with 17 points and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the line.

“Any win is important,” said Maine coach Ted Woodward, whose team knocked off conference-leader UMBC on the road 11 days ago. “After we had a good win at UMBC, we struggled some at home. But we were still pleased with certain things. This team is growing all the time.”

The first half featured 10 lead changes and three ties. UAlbany’s Tim Ambrose, who scored 16 off the bench, tallied off a fastbreak to draw his team even at 28 apiece. But Maine followed with seven of the stanza’s final eight points. Sean McNally keyed that spurt with a 3-pointer from right of the key, as his team took a 35-30 lead to the break.

Brian Lillis had 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Great Danes, who have lost back-to-back home games for the first time since January 2005. The Black Bears, who halted a three-game losing streak, shot 64.7 percent from the field and made 31-of-36 from the charity stripe.

“It’s real frustrating because we didn’t start off the game with a lot of energy,” said UAlbany center Jimmie Covington, who had four points and a season-best seven rebounds. “Basketball is a game of runs, but we didn’t get any stops. Everyone (on this team) has to look within themselves and hold themselves accountable.”

University of Albany's Van Orman Wins National Award

UAlbany doctoral student Kimberly Van Orman is one of 10 recipients nationwide of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award for 2008.

The award will give Van Orman an opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) Jan. 23-26 in Washington, D.C., where she will participate in a discussion panel about her work.

Orman is a Future Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Teaching, Learning & Academic Leadership (ITAL), working on the design and implementation of a Preparing Future Faculty program at Albany. She is currently completing her dissertation in the Department of Philosophy while spending 20 hours a week on the project.

The K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education, and whose work reflects a strong emphasis on teaching and learning.

The awards are sponsored by K. Patricia Cross, David Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emerita, at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1996 through 2005, the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards were administered by the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE), where Cross had served as chair of AAHE's board of directors. The AACU became the partner association in 2006.

The award recipients were chosen in a highly competitive selection process out of approximately 150 nominees from universities across the country. The honorees "represent the finest in the new generation of faculty who will teach and lead higher education in the next decades," said AACU President Carol Geary Schneider.

Great Danes Fall Short in 56-55 Defeat Against UMBC in America East Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kristin Drabyn had 20 points and Carlee Cassidy added 19 as UMBC held off UAlbany, 56-55, in an America East Conference contest on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at SEFCU Arena.

UMBC (6-12, AE 2-3) snapped a 33-33 tie early in the second half with 11 unanswered. Drabyn, who made 8-of-11 from the field, buried one of her four 3-point field goals, before Cassidy followed with another long-range jumper from the left wing. After Michele Brokans converted a driving layup, Cassidy ended that outburst with a 3-pointer from the right corner.

UAlbany (4-13, AE 2-2) rallied with 12 of the game’s next 14 points to close the gap to 46-45. Sherri Mikus, who posted season-highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds, scored three baskets and made two free throws in that span. Kristin Higy converted in the lane off Charity Iromuanya’s feed to finish off that run with 9:50 remaining.

The Retrievers, who had dropped six of their previous seven entering the game, pushed out to a 53-47 lead when Meghan Colabella nailed a jumper from the just above the foul line. But UAlbany fought back again behind Higy, a 6-foot-1 senior who had eight of her 11 points in the stretch. Her three-pointer from the left side drew her team within 54-52.

After UMBC’s Jenny Lidgren connected in the lane from a driving Cassidy, Higy sliced the deficit to 56-55 when she stepped out on the right wing to drill a 3-pointer. Lidgren would turn the ball over with 16 seconds left on a travel call, but UAlbany failed to get off a clean attempt on its last possession when Higy’s long-range shot fell short.

“It shouldn’t have come down to a last-second shot,” explained Higy, whose squad was without the services of leading rebounder Gia Sanders due to a fractured finger on her right hand. “Unfortunately I couldn’t get a good shot off, but we put ourselves in that position.”

The Great Danes built a 22-15 lead with 7:50 left in the opening period by making nine of their opening 16 shots. Mikus hit a bank shot in the lane and freshman guard Janea Aiken, who had 10 of her 12 points in the period, canned a 16-foot jumper to give their team its biggest margin.

UMBC regrouped with a string of 11 consecutive points. Drabyn, a senior guard who netted 14 in the stanza, put her club ahead with a jumper in the circle. Cassidy, the conference’s top scorer, added a pair of free throws for a 26-22 advantage. The Retrievers, who reached the NCAAs for the first time last year after winning the conference tournament championship, would settle for a one-point halftime lead.

“This was a must-win for us if we were going to stay in the top four in the conference standings,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot 37.9 percent against UMBC’s zone defense. “We didn’t play with energy, we didn’t rebound like we normally do and we didn’t guard their key shooters. I am disappointed in the team’s effort.”

Colin Disch Among Four Players on Sports Network Mid-Major All-America Football Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Northeast Conference champion University at Albany placed four players on the 2007 Sports Network Mid-Major and Independent Division I FCS All-America squad. Michael Dungey, Sam Pagano and David McCarty were first-team selections, while Colin Disch was named to the second team.

Dungey, who has previously has been named to several All-America teams, led a defensive unit that was ranked nationally in several categories. Dungey, who started all 12 games at the tackle and end positions, was voted All-Northeast Conference for the third year in a row. At 6-foot-2 and 275-pounds, Dungey made 44 tackles with 11.5 hits for a loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks.

Pagano, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound left guard, blocked for an offense that averaged 28.4 points and 362.5 total yards. The Great Danes were 20th among Division I FCS teams in rushing at 208.3 yards per game. Pagano made his third straight appearance on the All-NEC unit. McCarty, a sophomore tailback, rushed for the third-highest single-season total in team history with 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 100 or more yards in eight games. McCarty, who piled up 247 yards in the conference championship against Central Connecticut State, averaged 125.3 per game, the tenth-leading FCS rushing mark nationally.

Colin Disch earned Sports Network mid-major honors for the third consecutive season. Disch, a senior inside linebacker, led the Great Danes with 70 tackles. He became the third UAlbany player to be named all-conference four times. Disch finished his career as the school’s all-time tackles leader with 416. He ranks third on the NEC’s career list.


Jon Volpe Leads Group of 13 on Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll

Jon Volpe, an all-conference defensive end, leads a group of thirteen UAlbany football players who have been named to the 2007 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced on Tuesday, Jan. 22 by the league office.

Volpe, who is enrolled in the school’s master’s program, has a 3.40 grade point average. He has an undergraduate degree in business administration with a minor in economics. Chris Simpson, a sophomore linebacker, and junior tight end Dan Archer were also recognized. Simpson has a 3.95 GPA in physics, while Archer owns a 3.21 GPA in business administration.

Other UAlbany athletes named were quarterback Frank Blasinsky (3.40, business administration), flanker Daniel Bocanegra (3.20, business administration), fullback Chris Bright (3.55, biology), offensive guard Mike Falatyn (3.78, biology), inside linebacker Joe Grassia (3.43, business administration), defensive end Wil Moushey (3.72, business administration), offensive tackle Keith Peifer (3.34 business administration), defensive end Tony Sparano (3.27, history), offensive tackle Andrew Stevens (3.31, business administration) and defensive tackle Tyler Vernieu (3.32, business administration).

University of Albany's Brian Connelly - A Warrior On and Off the Court

University of Albany's Connelly hasn't allowed diabetes to control his life. A junior forward, Brian battles basketball opponents two or three times a week. His fight against Type-I diabetes is non-stop.

Trying to keep Type-I diabetes in check is difficult for anyone afflicted with the disease. For a Div­ision I athlete who makes extreme demands on his body, it is even tougher.

“It’s a constant thing,” said the native of Audubon, N.J. “I always have to stay on top of it. I can’t take one day off. It seems like every two hours, I’m taking a needle or pricking my finger [to test blood-sugar levels].”

“Trying to keep blood sugar constant is difficult for any Type-I diabetes patient, given the dietary restrictions that are necessary, and the constant insulin injections,” said UAlbany team physician

Dr. Tony Marinello. “For an athlete like Brian, it’s even more of a challenge. The main difference between Type-I and Type-II

diabetics is that a Type-I diabetic can’t produce any insulin at all, and must take it either through injection or through a pump. Type-II diabetics do produce adequate insulin, but they are usually overweight, and need some help with medication.

“The other main difference is that Type-I diabetics are the only ones that usually have to be concerned with low blood-sugar levels. Athletes like Brian are at risk when they exert themselves.”

Connelly, who is 6-foot-8 and a chiseled 220 pounds, takes at least two injections of insulin every day, and often requires three.

“I’ve got the long-lasting insulin that lasts throughout the day, and helps keep me on an even keel,” he said. “I take it once in the morning and once at about 5 or 6 p.m. But I’ve also got to take a fast-acting shot from time to time.

“The amount of activity I have also determines how much insulin I need. For me, I can use my level of activity, like lifting weights or basketball practice, as a means of controlling my blood-sugar levels. But it takes a long time to figure out what’s the right mix. I’m still figuring it out to this day.”

Ultimately, Connelly understands that it’s his responsibility to control the disease, but he does get plenty of help from the UAlbany athletic staff.

“Obviously, I’ve got to do most of the care myself, but our trainer, Jay Geiger, is always there with Gatorade if I need it. He’s always asking me how I’m doing. Plus, the coaching staff is always monitoring my situations. When we’re running sprints, they are always asking me how I’m doing. And they always order low-sugar, healthy foods for me when we’re on the road.”

Most of the time, Connelly is in complete control during games, but he remembers one game when his diabetes acted up while he was playing.

“The one situation that comes to mind was when we were playing at Harvard last year. It’s the only upset I’ve had during a game. I had low blood sugar, and it was terrible timing. We were making a big comeback. We were down by 13 or something like that, and we tied the game with two minutes left. All of a sudden, I got weak. You start to sweat more, and your legs feel like rubber. You also start to shake a little. If you keep going, you could black out. In severe cases, you could even die.

“I figured out what was happening during a timeout. Since we were staging a comeback, I didn’t want to come out, but the trainer went and got a Snickers bar for me. It stinks having to come out of the game when everything is on the line, but I had to do it.”

Connelly discovered he had diabetes when he was a senior in high school.

“My father always kept track of me, because he had diabetes himself,” Connelly said. “But since I was an athlete, I didn’t think it would be a big concern, and I didn’t really think I would ever get it. I always kept in good shape, and ate right. A month before my doctor confirmed it, my father noticed some symptoms, and he made an appointment with the doctor for me right away. But the first thing the doctor told me was that it shouldn’t affect my athletic career, as long as I learned to take care of the disease. That made me feel better.”

Connelly said treating the disease was easier in high school.

“You didn’t work as hard on conditioning in high school as you do at college. In college, you reach a whole different level of training. It’s a lot more difficult,” he said. “For example, when we lift weights, which is about two or three times a week, I take a protein supplement before and after lifting. There are a lot of carbs in it, but it’s low sugar. The problem is, the carbs event­ually turn into sugar. I can usually burn off those carbs during my lifts, but when we have practice right after, I have to make some adjustments.”

Connelly is one of the key players for the 9-9 Great Danes, who, at 4-2, are in a three-way tie for first place with Binghamton and the University of Maryland Balt­imore County in the America East Conference.

He is the team’s second-leading scorer at 10.1 points per game, and is third in rebounding at 5.7 rpg. He leads the Danes in offensive rebounds with 34.

“One of the things that has helped me as a first-time starter this year is that I have more confidence, in general,” he said. “I have the con­fidence in my ability, and I know that I can put the diabetes aside.”

By Bob Weiner

UAlbany's Brian Lillis Named America East Conference Basketball Co-Player of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Brian Lillis has been selected as the America East Conference Co-Player of the Week in men’s basketball on Monday, Jan. 21 after leading his team to a pair of conference road wins. He shared the weekly award with Vermont’s Marqus Blakely.

Lillis, a senior from Urbandale, Iowa, averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists last week. He had 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 70-63 triumph against Boston University on Jan. 16 to become the first UAlbany player to register back-to-back doubles at the Division I level. Lillis tied the school’s single-game record by making 15 free throws in the contest. The 6-foot-5 guard totaled 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in last Saturday’s 73-63 victory at Harford. In that effort, Lillis became the first Great Dane to record a double-double in three straight games since February 1998.

Lillis, who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds, ranks among the America East leaders in scoring (5th), steals (6th), rebounding (9th) and assists (9th). UAlbany (9-9, AE 4-2) has moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings.

University of Albany Campus: Spring Semester Highlighted by an Abundance of On-Campus Events

This winter and spring, students, alumni, and locals will have ample opportunity to take advantage of the many campus events and activities, including theatre productions, concerts, Division I athletics, films and lectures. The fun starts immediately when the men's basketball team takes on America East rival Maine at 7:30 p.m. on January 23 at SEFCU Arena.

Some other highlights coming in 2008 include:


Feb. 2
11th Annual Big Purple Growl and Ferocious Feast 5-7 p.m. Featuring a pre-game party and feast and men's and women's basketball games against Stony Brook. The women play at 4:30 p.m.; the men at 7 p.m. in UAlbany's SEFCU Arena.

Feb. 6
Men's Basketball vs. New Hampshire 7pm SEFCU Arena

Feb. 7
Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Luncheon, 12 p.m. Campus Center Ballroom Featuring civil rights activist and writer Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

Feb. 8
Plays in Process 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center Readings of new works to nurture and encourage student playwrights

Feb. 9
Men's Basketball vs. Hartford 2pm SEFCU Arena

Feb. 20
Men's Basketball vs. UMBC 7pm SEFCU Arena

Feb. 26
Men's Lacrosse vs. Siena 2 p.m. at John Fallon Field

March 2
Men's Basketball vs. Boston University 2pm SEFCU Arena

March 5
Dangerous Music Project - Clogs 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
This Aussie-American alt-classical quartet, which composes and improvises using sounds, textures and influences from across the musical spectrum, presents a demonstration.

March 11
Visiting Writers Series Seminar & Reading 4:15 p.m. Seminar 8 p.m. Reading Poet Marie Howe's newest collection is The Kingdom of Ordinary Time (2008); Prize-winning poet Campbell McGrath's latest poetry collection is Seven Notebooks (2008).

March 13
Visiting Writers Series author Gregory Maguire visits 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center Reading/talk by the much acclaimed, Albany-born Gregory Maguire, revisionist fairy tale writer and UAlbany graduate, who is best-known for Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995), which was adapted as a Broadway musical in 2003.

March 15
Men's Lacrosse vs. Drexel 1pm @ John Fallon Field

March 21
Men's Lacrosse vs. Princeton 1 pm @ John Fallon Field

March 29
Men's Lacrosse vs. Binghamton 1 pm @ John Fallon Field

April 3
Capital Trio 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center Pianist Duncan Cumming, violinist Hilary Cumming and cellist Solen Dikener comprise this new chamber ensemble in residence at UAlbany.

April 5-6
Relay for Life TBD, Collins Circle Students of Albany Against Cancer

April 8
Men's Lacrosse vs. Yale 7 pm @ John Fallon Field

April 18
Japanese Student Association Japan Night 6:30-9:30 p.m., Campus Center Ballroom Japanese tradition and culture with dancing, singing, food and activities.

April 20
Men's Lacrosse vs. Vermont 1 pm @ John Fallon Field

April 26
Men's Lacrosse vs. Stony Brook 7 pm @ John Fallon Field

April 27
Fountain Day, an annual rite of spring, is set for April 27 at the Main Fountain. Noon-4 p.m., Share the spirit as the fountain is turned on for the first time in 2008

May 2-18
Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition 10 a.m.-5 p.m., University Art Museum. The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition features work produced by candidates for the University at Albany Art Department's three-year, 60-credit-hour program of intensive training and study in traditional and contemporary fine arts practices.

May 17
Graduate Commencement 9-11 a.m., SEFCU Arena

May 18
Undergraduate Commencement 10-11 a.m., Science Library Lawn University-wide degree-granting ceremony for those receiving bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and certificates of advanced study.

University of Albany Takes Pleasure in New York Giants' Journey to Super Bowl XLII

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The New York Giants are off to their fourth Super Bowl and first since the 2000 season following Sunday’s 23-20 overtime victory over Green Bay in the NFC championship game at ice-cold Lambeau Field. The Giants will meet the AFC champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The Giants have made the University at Albany its summer training camp home since 1996. UAlbany has played host to the second-longest stint of any Giants’ training camp. The National Football League camp annually begins in July and continues for a four-week period and averages more than 31,000 fans per year.

“There is more to coaching than X’s and O’s,” said UAlbany football coach Bob Ford, who has known Giants coach Tom Coughlin for nearly 40 years. “He deserves all the credit for getting his team to play as “one.” I knew him when he played at Syracuse and coached at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). He has great integrity and is a good human being. You are definitely happy for those kinds of people.”

UAlbany dedicated the University’s football practice field in honor of Wellington T. Mara and Preston Robert Tisch, the late co-owners of the New York Giants, in August 2007. Mara and Tisch were instrumental in making UAlbany home to the Giants’ summer training camp.

UAlbany Lacrosse's All Time Leading Scorer Merrick Thomson Off to a Strong Start in NLL

Former University of Albany star Merrick Thomson, playing for the Philadelphia Wings in the NLL, is off to a strong start this season. On Friday versus the defending champion Rochester, Merrick scored three goals and also added three assists. In the season opener, Merrick led the Wings with 4 goals and 2 assists.

Philadelphia Wings Homepage:

Philadelphia Wings Player Profile:

Merrick helped the Great Danes to its most successful season of the program's history last year. The Great Danes reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division I National Tournament. They played Cornell, the game reaching sudden death, but unfortunately lost by a last second goal by Cornell in the extra period.

UAlbany Men's Lacrosse 2008 Schedule

2008 FULL SCHEDULE

February
23 (Sat.), at Johns Hopkins, 12:00;
26 (Tue.), Siena, 2:00

March
1 (Sat.), at Notre Dame, 1:00;
8 (Sat.), at Delaware, 1:00;
11 (Tue.), at Massachusetts, 3:00;
15 (Sat.), Drexel, 1:00;
22 (Sat.), Princeton, 1:00;
29 (Sat.), Binghamton*, 1:00.

April
5 (Sat.), at Hartford*, 1:00;
8 (Tue.), Yale, 7:00;
12 (Sat.), at UMBC*, 1:00;
18 (Fri.), at Syracuse, 7:00;
20 (Sun.), Vermont*, 1:00,
26 (Sat.), Stony Brook*, 7:00

May
1 (Thu.), at America East Conference Tournament+;
3 (Sat.), at America East Conference Tournament+.

*America East Conference Opponent +Played at No. 1 Seed's Home Facility All Times Eastern

UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Ranked Opponents

2008 RANKED OPPONENTS:

#1 - Johns Hopkins
#8 - Princeton
#10 - Notre Dame
#11 - Syracuse
#14 - Delaware
#15 - UMBC
#18 - Drexel
#20 - UMass

UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Home Schedule

#12 UALBANY - HOME GAMES:

Feb 26 - Siena 2pm
Mar 15 - Drexel 1pm
Mar 21 - Princeton 1pm
Mar 29 - Binghamton 1pm
Apr 08 - Yale 7pm
Apr 20 - Vermont 1pm
Apr 26 - Stony Brook 7pm

University of Albany Men's Basketball beats University of Hartford, 73-63, Earning Share of 1st Place in America East

West Hartford, Conn. - Brent Wilson had 17 points and Jerel Hastings added a career-high 16 as UAlbany held off Hartford, 73-63, in America East Conference play on Saturday evening at Chase Arena. The Great Danes recorded their third consecutive road win.

Hartford (8-11, AE 2-2) trailed by as much as 18 early in the second half, but rallied behind Jaret Von Rosenberg. The junior guard had eight of his 12 points in a run of 14 unanswered. His three-point play sliced the deficit to 46-43 with 11:21 remaining. The Hawks, who had won six of seven at home entering the contest, stayed within three over the next five minutes.

UAlbany (9-9, AE 4-2) finally broke free when Jon Iati drilled a three-point field from right of the key and Brent Wilson scored off an inbounds pass for a 57-49 advantage. Wilson, who made 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, registered his fifth career double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds.

"There are stretches where we get complacent,” explained Wilson. “It's a whole new team and it's our (the seniors) job to get everyone together. We are starting to create an identity on the road. We were disappointed with the way we played at home against Binghamton (Jan. 12)."

Warren McLendon, who led all scorers with 19, closed the Hawks within 59-54 by delivering in the paint. But Iati would beat the shot clock with a rainbow 3-pointer on his team's next possession that seemed to seal the outcome. The Great Danes used the free throw line to hold their lead over the final two minutes.

Brian Lillis posted his third consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, the first by a UAlbany player since 1998. The Great Danes moved into a virtual five-way tie for first place in the conference standings. Joe Zeglinski was the third Hawk in twin figures with 13 points.

"We set the tone on defense in the first half, but we couldn't make a shot on offense,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team reached the .500 mark for the first time since mid-December. “The first six or seven minutes of the second half we just kept turning the ball over. We finally settled down and made some plays down the stretch."

The Great Danes held Hartford scoreless through the first media timeout and without a field goal for nine-plus minutes at the start. Meanwhile, Hastings, who scored 10 in the period, canned a pair of free throws for an 11-3 lead during that stretch. Hastings pushed the lead to double figures when he made a conventional three-point play as he was fouled on a basket in the lane.

UAlbany still led 23-11 with four minutes left in the stanza, but then ran off seven unanswered. Lillis connected off an offensive rebound and nailed a 17-footer from the right side, before Tim Ambrose hit two foul shots to provide his team with a 19-point cushion. The Hawks shot just 19 percent before the break on 4-of-21 attempts.

"One of our goals was to defend the three-point line,” said Lillis, whose team was confounded by a Hartford zone press for a majority of the second half. “They took advantage of our size advantage with their pressure (in the second half). They were scrappy and were beating our guys to the ball."

Brenna Militello Wins High Jump at NYU's Gotham Cup as Six Great Danes Qualify For ECAC and IC4A Competition

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New York, N.Y. – UAlbany’s Brenna Militello won the high jump and qualified for the ECAC meet to highlight the Great Danes performance at New York University’s Gotham Cup on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Armory Track & Field Center. Five members of the men’s team and a relay team qualified for the IC4A meet with their showings.

Militello qualified for the ECAC meet by winning the high jump by clearing the bar at 5-feet, 7-inches. Junior Laura Cummings placed fifth in the one mile run in a time of 5:01.19 and was a member of the second-place distance medley relay. Cummings, Laura Bolognino, Corrine Porter Stepney and Kristine Mun combined for a time of 12:35.39. Freshman Kadine Johnson finished second in the weight throw with a toss of 48-feet, 6.75-inches.

In the men’s competition, junior Joe Greene qualified for the IC4A meet in the 500-meter dash with a second-place performance in a time of 1:03.12. Greene also anchored the IC4A-qualifying 4x400-meter relay team that placed second in 3:13.34. Lynval Clarke, Torshiro Jenkins and Jeffery Barnes (Albany High) combined with Greene in the race. In the 60-meter hurdles, junior Jean Juste qualified for the IC4A meet with a fourth-place finish in 8.21 seconds. Sophomore Luke Schoen (16-2.75) and freshman Michael Dempsey (15-9) finished second and third in the pole vault to qualify for the IC4A competition. In the long jump, Valete Graham had a leap of 23-feet, 6-inches to place third and qualify for the IC4A event.

The Great Danes return to the track as they host the UAlbany Great Dane Classic at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City on Friday, Jan. 25.


UAlbany Men’s Results

60 Meter Hurdles: 4. Jean Juste 8.21 (IC4A), 7. Garrett Askew 8.43, 11. Anthony Assent 8.52, 24. Daniel Avery 8.70, 30. Nick Assini 8.90. 60 Meter Dash: 17. Dieuseul Joseph 7.16, 19. Raphael Jean-Baptiste 7.17, 29. Torshiro Jenkins 7.24. 1 Mile Run: 32. Chris Jimenez 4:36.37. 400 Meter Dash: 8. Jeffery Barnes 49.51, 32. Alan Nimblette 51.36, 38. Andrew Overbaugh 51.61. 500 Meter Dash: 2. Joe Greene 1:03.12 (IC4A), 22. Lynval Clarke 1:07.65. 1,000 Meter Run: 26. Joe Belokopitsky 2:36.33, 38. Bryan Lasky 2:41.04. 3,000 Meter Run: 15. Brian Yurkewecz 8:48.14, 24. David Rothman 9:21.50. 4x800 Meter Relay: 8. Joe Belokopitsky, Alan Nimblette, Bryan Lasky, Brian Yurkewecz 8:05.72. Distance Medley Relay: 12. Chris Jimenez, Drew Harrison, David Rothman, Jon Hilbert 11:12.84. 4x400 Meter Relay: 2. Lynval Clarke, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes, Joe Greene, 3:13.34 (IC4A). Shot Put: 7. Renauld Buck 47-4.25. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 16-2.75 (IC4A), 3. Michael Dempsey 15-9 (IC4A), 4. David Parker 14-9. Long Jump: 3. Valete Graham 23-6 (IC4A), 8. Kevin O’Riley 22-3.5, 9. Kyle Nadler 21-9. Weight Throw: 9. Will Anger 49-3.5, 10. Kevin Lee 47-10. High Jump: T4. David Parker 6-5, T4. Freddie Wills 6-5, Anthony Collica NH.



UAlbany Women’s Results

60 Meter Hurdles: 11. Valerie Maignan 9.31. 60 Meter Dash: 39. Sarah Lapierre 8.31, 41. Sandy Antenor 8.34, 50. Arielle Roberts 8.57. 1 Mile Run: 5. Laura Cummings 5:01.19, 34. Tashia Alexander 5:47.57. 400 Meter Dash: 6. Corrine Porter-Stepney 58.92, 17. Melissa Lee 59.65, 26. Laura Bolognino 1:01.49. 500 Meter Dash: 13. Zuliana Fontanez 1:19.16, 19. Octavia Clarkson 1:20.69, 24. Rebecca Kelly 1:22.55. 1,000 Meter Run: 31. Briana McNamee 3:23.37. 3,000 Meter Run: 7. Kristine Mun 10:39.86, 17. Kristin Grab 11:43.85. 4x800 Meter Relay: 7. Tashia Alexander, Lesan Mattis, Briana McNamee, Kristin Grab 10:42.13. Distance Medley Relay: 2. Laura Cummings, Laura Bolognino, Corrine Porter Stepney, Kristine Mun 12:35.39. 4x400 Meter Relay: 4. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Octavia Clarkson, Melissa Lee 3:57.0. Shot Put: 5. Ritshell Verdier 43-7, 7. Kadine Johnson 41-1.75. Pole Vault: 13. Corinna Hengen 9-10, Krystal Myers NH. Long Jump: T6. Jenn Gurrant 17-9.75, 18. Sandy Antenor 16-5.75. Weight Throw: 2. Kadine Johnson 48-6.75, 5. Ritshell Verdier 46-2.75, 6. Sineaid Corley 46-2. High Jump: 1. Brenna Militello 5-7 (ECAC), 21. Sandy Antenor 4-11, Denise Parker NH. Triple Jump: 5. Tiffany Sprenkels 37-10.75, 13. Traequanda Brock 35-11.25.

University of Albany's Applebee and Frank Named Distinguished Professors by the State University of New York

Arthur Applebee and Joachim Frank have been named to the rank of Distinguished Professor by the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees. Distinguished Professor is the highest rank for a faculty member in the SUNY system.

Applebee, a leading professor in UAlbany's Department of Educational Theory and Practicee who joined UAlbany in 1987, is known internationally for his seminal scholarship in the fields of literacy and language learning. He is the director of the National Research Center on English Learning & Achievement (CELA). His studies focus on how children and adolescents develop the advanced language and literacy skills necessary for success in school and life.

Applebee is a past president of the National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy, and has been recognized for the contribution of his work by election to the International Reading Hall of Fame and by the David H. Russell Award for Distinguished Research in the Teaching of English. He has also been a Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation Center at Bellagio, Italy, and received the SUNY Chancellor's award for Research Excellence.

Applebee is currently director of the National Study of Writing Instruction, examining teaching and learning in the core academic disciplines in schools across the United States.

Frank, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Public Health, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. An investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Wadsworth Center in Albany and a lab chief of the Laboratory for Computational Biology and Molecular Imaging, he has been a faculty member at the School of Public Health since its inception in 1986. A distinguished scientist at the Wadsworth Center for more than 30 years, he was honored with the University's Excellence in Research award in 2001.

Frank's pivotal role in the development of the field of molecular electron microscopy culminated in the publication of his papers on the structure of the ribosome and on the protein elongation cycle in the prestigious journals Nature, Science, and Cell. His lab develops methods of cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction to study the mechanisms of protein biosynthesis.

His most recent work, published in EMBO Journal and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, addresses the mechanism of translocation by which transfer RNA and messenger RNA are moved stepwise through the ribosome.

The techniques of three-dimensional visualization he developed are also useful for studying a wide range of other dynamic processes in the cell, including transcription, DNA repair, splicing, protein export, protein degradation, and signaling.

Appointment to the rank of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon individuals who have achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within a chosen field.

This distinction is attained through significant contributions to the research literature or through artistic performance or achievement in the arts. The candidates' work must be of such character that the individuals' presence will elevate the standards of scholarship of colleagues both within and beyond these persons' academic fields.

Atotech, UAlbany NanoCollege Launch $5M Nanoelectronics R&D Partnership

Atotech, a world leader in the development and manufacture of chemistry applications for the nanoelectronics industry with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, will conduct its next-generation research and development ("R&D") in copper-plating technology as part of a $5 million program being launched in partnership with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany.

A team of Atotech researchers, led by its Vice President of Semiconductor Technology Robert Preisser, will be located at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex as part of the joint program, which is focused on the development of copper deposition technologies for use in advanced device structures. R&D activities will target chemistry development, mode of operation and analytical techniques, including online technologies, usable for computer chip, chemical and biological sensors for the health and energy industries, and biochips for medical applications.

A global company with more than 3,300 employees in 36 countries around the world, Atotech will provide international support for the CNSE-centered program through its operations in Berlin and Yokohama, Japan. And, as part of the collaboration, Atotech will also fund two fellowships for students at CNSE, which was ranked by Small Times magazine in May 2007 as the world's number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology.

Atotech Vice President of Semiconductor Technology Robert Preisser said, "We are very excited to launch this cutting-edge research and development program in collaboration with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at its state-of-the-art Albany NanoTech Complex in the state of New York. This program will play a critical role in Atotech's push to develop and refine next-generation copper-plating technology to be used in the fabrication of nanoelectronics devices, and it is made possible by the unparalleled intellectual know-how and world-class infrastructure in place at the UAlbany NanoCollege."

Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of CNSE, said, "It is a pleasure to welcome still another global corporate leader to the growing list of leading high-tech companies at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex. This new collaboration with Atotech provides further evidence that New York State is a desired location for the world's foremost nanoelectronics companies, and demonstrates the first-class nature of the intellectual and physical assets of the UAlbany NanoCollege, which provide unparalleled competitive advantages to leading high-tech companies engaged in innovative research, development and commercialization at the nanoscale."

The agreement between Atotech and CNSE also includes the potential for further R&D initiatives in the future, which may involve the location of additional Atotech employees and tools at CNSE.

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About Atotech. A global leader in the field of metallization technologies and chemistries, Atotech has more than 3,000 employees that support the integration and use of metallization chemicals in general metal finishing (GMF), electronics and semiconductors. Sixteen production and service facilities in the different countries assure a close customer support and short turnaround time. For more information, visit http://www.atotech.com/.

About CNSE. The UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. In May 2007, it was ranked as the world's number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology in the Annual College Ranking by Small Times magazine. CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex is the most advanced research facility of its kind at any university in the world: a $4.2 billion, 450,000-square-foot complex that attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience. The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. More than 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex, from companies including IBM, AMD, SONY, Toshiba, ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and Freescale. An expansion currently underway will increase the size of CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex to over 800,000 square feet, including over 80,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanroom space, to house over 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty by mid-2009.

Big Purple Growl Celebrating its 11th Year

Catch the Great Danes spirit and enjoy an evening of Great Danes basketball, fabulous food, games and prizes!

Watch the UAlbany Great Danes dominate the boards as they
tip-off with the Stony Brook Seawolves at the SEFCU Arena.

When:
February 2nd
4:30 p.m. Women's Game
7:00 p.m. Men's Game

Join the fun! Entertainment, giveaways, contests, prizes and more.

Alumni! When you attend the Feast you're entered into a drawing to be part of the "Great Alumni Shoot Out" during the men's game.

Food and Fun at the Ferocious Feast

5:00-7:00 p.m. at the University Gym

We've expanded our menu - enjoy great food: barbecue pulled pork sandwich, soy whiskey chicken, macaroni and cheese and more. Drink and dessert included. Cash bar available.

Loaded with entertainment and games, including the Pupply Pound for younger children.

Musical performance from UAlbany's men's a capella group, The Earth Tones.

Free Big Purple Growl T-shirts.


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Tickets and Registration

Package for the Ferocious Feast and both basketball games:
$13.00 Varsity Club members
$16.00 nonmembers
$6.00 children 6-12

Ferocious Feast tickets only:
$10.00 Varsity Club members
$13.00 nonmembers
$5.00 children 6-12

Children 5 and under - game and Feast free (Note: Children 5 and under are not assigned a seat in the arean unless a ticket is purchased for them. Game tickets are $1.00.)

You must preregister for the Feast online. RSVP deadline is January 25. This event has SOLD OUT the last few years, so register early!

To purchase tickets for the men's and/or women's basketball games only, call (518) 442-4683 or visit the box office, Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Reserved tickets are $10. Special prices for groups of 20 or more also are available.
For more information call (518) 442-4683 or visit www.UAlbanySports.com

For more information:
PHONE: (518) 442-3080 or 1-800-836-ALUM
EMAIL: alumniassociation@uamail.albany.edu

Beat the buzzer! Register early for this sell-out event.

NO BONES ABOUT IT, WE LOVE OUR GREAT DANES -
AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!

University of Albany's Economic Impact Estimated at 1.3 - 1.5 Billion

Conservative estimates of the University of Albany's Economic Impact on the Capitol District, Albany County, range from 1.3 to 1.5 Billion. Based on the Capital District Regional Planning Commission's (CDRPC) economic impact study from 2003, the University of Albany's present-day economic impact on the capitol of New York is thought to be even greater than this conservative estimate though.

Estimates are generated based on the previous economic impact study which was released: June 3, 2004. See below:

2003 UAlbany Economic Impact Tops $1 Billion Annually

The economic impact of the University at Albany upon New York State has topped the billion-dollar mark annually, it was announced Thursday at an event sponsored by the Center for Economic Growth and KeyBank, and held at the Marriott Hotel.

The findings were released in a publication, “A Capital Investment: The $1.1 Billion Economic Impact of the University at Albany,” which used the results of an extensive economic impact study of the University conducted by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC). The study by CDRPC indicated that just over $1 billion of the University’s total economic impact is felt in the Capital Region.

“The University is an essential part of the economy through employment, through the money its students spend while attending, and through its research growth, which has played an enormous role in attracting technology-related industry to what we now know as ‘Tech Valley,’” said Thomas X. Geisel, president of KeyBank and co-chair of the UAlbany Economic Impact Statement subcommittee of the University at Albany Foundation’s Council for Economic Outreach.

“In reality, the University’s economic impact goes far beyond what its direct expenditures suggest,” said Kelly Lovell, president of the Center for Economic Growth and Geisel’s fellow co-chair of the Economic Impact Statement subcommittee. “The University has created a climate through its own initiatives that has had a tremendous ripple effect. It has been a key player in the transformation of this region into one of the nation’s high-technology research and development leaders.”

Using the latest methodology of RIMS II, the chief system for weighing economic impact of organizations used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce, CDRPC estimates an overall UAlbany economic impact of $1.119 billion annually in New York State -- $1.005 billion of that in the Capital Region.

University at Albany Interim President John R. Ryan, after unveiling a four-foot reproduction of the Impact Statement front cover, noted that there are many UAlbany initiatives creating economic impact and yet not covered by the RIMS II model. These include the success of nanotechnology research in attracting a Tokyo Electron, Ltd., research and development center to the Albany NanoTech campus, conducting numerous cooperative ventures with high-tech firms in the region and in helping to encourage several regional spin-off companies. He also noted the business incubator program at UAlbany’s biotechnology-oriented east campus, and the impact of the Campus’s researchers and facilities in attracting anchor east campus tenants Albany Molecular Research, Inc., and Taconic Biotech.

Ryan also noted “the public policy leaders of great foresight who have meant so much to the economic impact of this University, this state, and this region over the last decade. I speak of New York Governor George Pataki, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and our local state legislators.”

David Lang Wardle, principal planner and economist for CDRPC, acknowledged the ripple effect, beyond RIMS II, created by such efforts. “These are all real factors for economic growth,” said Wardle. “UAlbany is a university of substantial size that is not in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, in itself it is a critical part of the critical mass of the regional economy. It adapts to the needs of its community. Its education school impacts K-12 education. It positions itself with other universities in the region to create valuable synergies. Because it provides quality higher education at a reasonable cost, it keeps more New Yorkers within the state, both for college and after graduation.”

The Economic Impact Statement released Thursday compared the University’s growth in overall impact from its 1990 to 2000 statements and then to the current one. It indicated that whereas, in the first ten years, economic impact grew at 5.4 percent per year -- from $400 million to $679 million -- in the last four years it has grown to two and a half times that rate, 13.3 percent. Much of that, according to the Statement, has been due to a surge of research funding and expenditures, the latter of which climbed from $64 million in fiscal 1997-98 to $121 million in 2002-03. Research funding, which predicts future expenditures, was even more impressive, climbing to $193 million in 2002-03.

The Statement also showed that UAlbany’s economic impact has climbed while basic support to the University has remained fairly constant since 1990. In fiscal 2003, UAlbany’s state appropriation was $126.5 million; meaning that the University returned an economic impact of $8.85 for every $1 provided it by New Yorkers.

The Statement viewed the University’s total revenues, expenditures and employment for its last year of record, 2002-03, as well as estimated its annual regional impact due to non-tuition student spending ($89.5 million) and visitor spending ($12.8 million). It noted as well the University’s “Impact Beyond Numbers” in terms of cultural, educational and recreational assets.

Hugh A. Johnson, Jr., of First Albany Companies, was keynote speaker at the Economic Impact Statement event. He recalled UAlbany’s research promise of a decade ago. “Although I expressed optimism at that time, I secretly had my hand behind my back with my fingers crossed and a whole ton of skepticism in my heart,” said Johnson. “I no longer have my fingers crossed and a whole ton of skepticism in my heart.”

Lisa James Goldsberry

Brian Lillis' Double-Double Leads UAlbany Past Boston University 70-63

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass - Brian Lillis had 27 points and 12 rebounds in leading UAlbany to a 70-63 victory over Boston University in America East Conference play on Wednesday evening at Case Gymnasium. The Great Danes posted their second straight road win.
Boston U. (4-12, AE 1-3) rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to close within 38-37 on Valdas Sirutis' three-point shot from the left wing. UAlbany (8-9, AE 3-2) responded with 13 of the game's next 17 points. Jon Iati ignited that stretch with a 3-pointer. Brent Wilson, who had 12 points, later scored on a follow shot, before Brett Gifford added another offense rebound basket for a 51-41 lead midway through the period.

The Terriers would cut that margin in half when Tyler Morris made a 3-pointer from the right side that brought his team within 60-55. Lillis then drained four consecutive free throws for a nine-point lead with 2:10 remaining. But Boston U. came up with a pair of steals in making another run. Freshman John Holland, who scored 19, converted a three-point play after the second theft. However, Lillis, who made 15-of-16 from line, made five more from the charity stripe in the final minute to seal the verdict. Corey Lowe, one of the league's top scorers, led the Terriers with 20 points, including five 3-pointers. Morris finished with 11. Brian Connelly added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Great Danes, who shot a season-best 54.5 percent from the floor.

"Brian Lillis took this team on his back tonight,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team has won three of its last four games. “He is certainly the most valuable player in this conference. We made some mistakes at the end of the first half after we got the 17-point lead, but we still overcame that. BU is hard to guard because they stretch the defense. I think Corey Lowe is going to make every shot."

The Great Danes tallied the opening nine points. Wilson, who went scoreless in his last outing, hit a jump hook and canned a three-point field goal in that stretch. Wilson, a 6'8" senior, would later drill another long-range jumper for an 18-6 lead.

UAlbany held a 10-point margin five minutes later, but then ran off seven consecutive points. Lillis, who had 14 in the period, sank a pair of free throws before Rob Moores made a 3-pointer from the left wing for a 31-14 advantage. The Terriers sliced that lead in half by the break, as Lowe nailed a deep triple and made two free throws in the final 30 seconds of the stanza.

"We played with confidence and a sense of urgency,” said Lillis, who recorded his fourth career double-double and is averaging nearly 23 points per game in conference play. “Any win is significant, especially one on the road. It is great to see your teammates happy when you come in the locker room. We were letting our offense affect our defense earlier, now it is the other way around."

Women's Basketball Drops 73-58 Decision at Vermont in America East Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Burlington, Vt. – Courtney Pilypaitis scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Vermont to a 73-58 win over UAlbany in America East Conference women’s basketball action on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Patrick Gymnasium.

Vermont (11-5, AE 2-1) scored off the opening tip and led the duration of the game. Pilypaitis hit a three-pointer to open the game as the Catamounts jumped out to a 13-4 lead less than five minutes into the contest. UAlbany (4-12, AE 2-1) scored 10 of the game’s next 15 points to close within 19-14 on an Amira Ford fastbreak layup.

Vermont responded with a 16-6 run to open up its largest lead of the half at 35-20. The Catamounts were led over the stretch with contributions off the bench as Tonya Young scored seven points and Sy Janousek added five points. Senior forward Gia Sanders led the Great Danes in the opening half with 11 points and six rebounds.

"The difference in the game was rebounding,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team was off to its best start in the program’s America East history. “They had 25 offensive rebounds, which led to 74 shot attempts. It was a matter of not boxing out. We also had trouble shooting, and when we aren't making baskets, we can't get into our press."

After May Kotsopoulos scored to open the second half for Vermont, UAlbany rattled off seven straight points to move within nine points of the Catamounts capped off by a shot in the paint from TaNika Thrower at the 15:13 mark of the second stanza. Following back-and-forth action over the next five minutes, the Great Danes pulled within eight points on a pair of free throws at the midway point of the half.

The Catamounts answered back with a 17-6 run to pull away from the Great Danes. Young opened the stretch with five points and Pilypaitis tallied the six points on the back end as Vermont built a 67-48 advantage.

Pilypaitis was one of four Catamounts to score in double figures. She was joined by Young with 14, Janousek with 11 and Amy Rosenkrantz added 13 points.

Britney McGee scored all 13 of her points in the second half to reach double figures for the eighth consecutive game. Sanders finished with 11 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks to go along with her 11 points. Freshman Janea Aiken joined McGee and Sanders in twin figures with 11 points off the bench.