University of Albany Releases 2009-10 Non-Conference Women's Basketball Schedule - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced today the school's women's basketball non-conference schedule for the 2009-10 season. Women's National Invitational Tournament participants Nebraska and Canisius are among the 13 opponents the Great Danes will face to gear up for the America East Conference slate. Six of the contests will be played at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany faces Nebraska, of the Big 12 Conference, at the DeVaney Center on Wednesday, Dec. 30. The Cornhuskers, who made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2008, bring back all of their starters plus 6-foot-2 senior forward Kelsey Griffin, a two-time all-conference first-team selection who earned a medical redshirt last season. Cory Montgomery, a 6-foot-2 senior forward who was an All-Big 12 honorable mention honoree, and Yvonne Turner, a 5-foot-8 senior guard who was appeared on the conference's all-defensive team twice, are among the returners for the veteran squad which advanced to the WNIT's second round. Montgomery's 15.2 points and 7.8 boards per game last season were team highs.

The Great Danes will visit Canisius, the runner-up squad in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The Griffins set a school record with 24 wins last season and return two starters in senior guard Brittané Russell and Micayla Drysdale. Russell was an all-conference second-team pick and the league's defensive player of the year after averaging 10.9 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Drysdale, who netted 7.9 points per game last season, shot a league-best 42.2 percent from behind the arc. Sophomore guard Stephanie MacDonald, a member of the MAAC all-rookie squad, also returns.

After opening up the season with two road games at Fordham and New Jersey Tech (NJIT), UAlbany will host St. Francis, N.Y. on Monday, Nov. 23 in its home opener. The Terriers return 6-foot-4 senior center Kendra Williams, who averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 2008-09. Atlantic 10 Conference member Rhode Island along with Cornell, Wagner, Army and Fairfield will also visit SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany will renew its crosstown rivalry with Siena on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Times Union Center, the city's downtown arena. The Saints return four of their starters. Serena Moore, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, is the squad's top returning scorer at 7.8 points per game. Sarah Fullmer, a 6-foot-3 senior center, blocked a team-best 1.4 shots per contest and is the leading rebounder among the returnees. The Great Danes will also face Hofstra and Brown on the road.

Head coach Trina Patterson has seven returning letterwinners, including two starters. Senior guard Charity Iromuanya, the only player among the nine conference teams to average a double-double in the 2009 America East Championship, totaled 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds for a team which won three of its final six games and almost pulled off an upset against top-seeded Boston University in the conference tournament. Tabitha Makopondo, a 6-foot-1 forward, had a productive freshman campaign, averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds.

2009-10 University at Albany Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Date, Day, Opponent, Site
Nov. 13, Friday, at Fordham, Bronx, N.Y.
Nov. 19, Thursday, at New Jersey Tech, Newark, N.J.
Nov. 23, Monday, vs. St. Francis, N.Y., SEFCU Arena
Nov. 25, Wednesday, at Hofstra, Hempstead, N.Y.
Nov. 29, Sunday, vs. Cornell, SEFCU Arena
Dec. 2, Wednesday, at Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y.
Dec. 5, Saturday, vs. Siena, Albany, N.Y. (neutral site)
Dec. 12, Saturday, vs. Wagner, SEFCU Arena
Dec. 19, Saturday, vs. Army, SEFCU Arena
Dec. 23, Wednesday, vs. Fairfield, SEFCU Arena
Dec. 30, Wednesday, at Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
Jan. 2, Saturday, vs. Rhode Island, SEFCU Arena
Jan. 6, Wednesday, at Brown, Providence, R.I.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information