University of Albany Women's Basketball Punishes Stony Brook - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Britney McGee had 13 points and Janea Aiken added 10 as UAlbany picked up its second road win of the season in a 57-40 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook in the Seawolves’ regular-season home finale on Wednesday, March 4 at Pritchard Gymnasium.

UAlbany led 34-26 in the second half, but then pulled away with a 9-1 run. Aiken’s conventional three-point play pushed the lead to double figures when she was fouled on a driving bank shot. Ashley Lindsey added consecutive baskets, including an 8-foot jumper in the lane. Freshman Tabitha Makopondo later scored in the lane off a feed from a driving Felicia Johnson for a 43-27 advantage with 11:17 remaining.

Kirsten Jeter, who recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, got Stony Brook to within 47-35 with a layup after her steal. But the Great Danes regrouped with six straight points. Kate Cronin, a 6-foot freshman who was making her third start of the year, did all of that scoring. Cronin, who had a career game with eight points and six rebounds, connected in the lane and hit a layup in transition. Her jumper from the left baseline with 5:28 to play gave her team a commanding 53-35 cushion.

"I am from Long Island and my entire family was here,” explained Cronin, whose team avenged a 64-56 loss to Stony Brook in the first meeting this season at SEFCU Arena on Jan. 27. “It was really exciting to play this well in front of them. I feel really comfortable with my increased role on the team, and I hope to continue improving the rest of the year and into next season."

The Great Danes, who had not won on the road since Jan. 3 at Rhode Island, trailed early in the first half, but then scored 12 of the game’s next 14 points. Aiken, a sophomore guard who scored in twin figures for the 19th time this season, converted a drive from left of the key to put her team ahead. Johnson later canned a foul-line jumper, before Makopondo netted back-to-back baskets for a 17-10 lead. Johnson, a redshirt freshman guard, totaled six points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Seawolves, who has their losing streak extended to five in a row, clawed back into the contest and closed within 21-19 when Sarah Kazadi scored from the right block. Kazadi, a 6-foot-2 junior, had 10 points and 12 rebounds. But Aiken followed her own missed drive and Charity Iromuanya delivered a three-pointer from the right corner. The Great Danes, who shot 48 percent in the period, led by as much as 10 before settling for a 30-22 halftime margin.

"We played great defense, and we played as a team,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose squad held an opponent to its lowest scoring output since Dec, 4, 2004. “I think this game also showed that our future is bright, as we had two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior starting for us. This gives us confidence and momentum going into the tournament. Kate (Cronin) is getting better. She doesn't mind physical contact and battling."

Makopondo had 10 points for the Great Danes, who held Stony Brook to 25.4-percent shooting, a season-low by a UAlbany opponent. The Seawolves made just 16 of 63 field goals, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.