University of Albany Men's Indoor Track & Field Places Fifth, Women Sixth at New York Road Runners Armory Meet - UAlbany Sports 2010

New York, N.Y. - Jeffery Barnes, Laura Cummings, Kadine Johnson and Luke Schoen all won events to lead the UAlbany men's and women's indoor track and field programs in their second scoring meet of the winter at the New York City Armory Track & Field Center on Saturday, Jan. 30. The Great Dane men finished fifth overall among 11 teams, while the women were sixth among eight schools at the competition which was being hosted by the New York Road Runners club.

UAlbany's men's team accumulated 74.50 points and finished behind Princeton (126), Cornell (109.50), Virginia (82.50), and Connecticut (82) in a field which featured four reigning conference champions. The Great Danes, which beat out Villanova and Army among others in the team standings, had eight IC4A qualifying marks. The women's squad registered 56 points and finished behind Cornell (162), Virginia (114), Princeton (94.50), Villanova (92.50) and Columbia (76). The squad set or matched two school records and met three ECAC standards.

Cummings accounted for 18 points, which were the most by any Great Dane, male or female, at the meet. The senior opened the evening by winning the 1,000-meter run in 2:50.79, which was just .05 seconds short of Jessica Ortman's school record posted in 2007. She ended the meet with a second-place finish in the mile for crossing the tape in a personal-best time of 4:57.00. Both marks qualified the senior for the ECAC championship.

The men's middle-distance group piled up 15 points and were led by John Moore and Tyler Fogarty's IC4A qualifying marks in the 800 and mile, respectively. Moore's second-place mark of 1:50.87 in the 800 was just .37 seconds shy of meeting the NCAA provisional standard, while Fogarty was seventh in the mile in 4:10.53. Both marks were personal bests by the former Section II student-athletes.

Johnson was victorious in the women's weight throw with a toss that sailed 59-feet, 0-inches. The mark shattered her own school record of 55-8.25 which she recorded at Army's Carleton Crowell Open earlier in the month and eclipsed the ECAC standard. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias, who has won three men's weight throw titles this winter, placed second in the event with a mark of 59-feet, 5.75-inches to qualify for IC4As.

Schoen won the men's pole vault for the third time in as many meets this winter. The senior, who has already cleared the NCAA provisional height, had a winning mark of 16-2.75. On the women's side, Celine Cauderlier matched Corinna Hengen's school-record mark of 11-3.75 from 2007 and tied for ninth.

Barnes, captain Alie Beauvais and Christen Griffin paced the sprinters and hurdlers at the scoring meet. Barnes' winning time of 22.26 seconds in the men's 200-meter dash was only .02 shy of meeting the IC4A standard, while Beauvais was third in the men's 500 for navigating the track in 1:03.76 to qualify for the postseason competition. Barnes also anchored the 4x400-meter relay, which included Peter Rowell, Alan Nimblette and Ebube Abara, to an IC4A qualifying time of 3:18.83. Griffin placed fourth in the 60-meter high hurdles in a personal-best time of 8.95.

UAlbany's men's horizontal jumpers had a pair of IC4A qualifiers in the men's long jump. Fred Casimo's runner-up leap was 23-8.25, while captain Freddie Wills flew 23-4.75. Pat McNish and Ashley Mahlmeister, both freshmen, placed third and fourth in the women's triple jump with marks of 38-0.25 and 37-10, respectively.

Paul Lagno and Jenn Pierson paced the Great Danes in the distance events at the meet for their performances in the men's and women's 3,000. Lagno crossed the tape in a personal-best time of 8:38.78, and Pierson ran her best race as a collegian by over 16 seconds for crossing the finish line in 10:02.25.

In addition, Beauvais and Fogarty anchored the UAlbany's men's 4x400 and 4x800-meter relay squads to top-four finishes at the 103rd Millrose Games, the oldest continuous sporting event held at Madison Square Garden, on Friday, Jan. 29. Both relays posted the fastest times in program history on an 11-lap per mile track.

The Great Danes placed third overall in 7:37.68 in the Byron Dyce Men's College 4x800-Meter Relay. Sean Halpin led off the relay with a split of 1:56.0, while Moore ran the second and fastest leg in 1:51.9. Nick Santos finished the third leg in 1:54.2, and Fogarty anchored the squad with a mark of 1:55.3. Virginia, which entered the race with the fastest time in the country this winter, won the event in 7:32.49.

With a split time of 49.2 seconds, Beauvais anchored UAlbany to a fourth-place time of 3:24.90 in the Gotham Cup Men's College 4x400-Meter Relay. He was joined on the relay by Jonathan Santana, Nimblette and Rowell. Mississippi State won the crown by hitting the tape in 3:19.44.

UAlbany returns to the New York City Armory Track & Field Center to face some of the toughest competition in the country at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 5-6. Texas A&M, which swept the team titles at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, will be among more than 200 colleges in attendance.

New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II Men's Team Standings
1. Princeton 126, 2. Cornell 109.50, 3. Virginia 82.50, 4. Connecticut 82, 5. UAlbany 74.50, 6. Delaware State 40, 7. Villanova 36.50, 8. Army 28, 9. Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 24, 10. Morgan State 13, 11. Columbia 7.

New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II Women's Team Standings
1. Cornell 162, 2. Virginia 114, 3. Princeton 94.50, 4. Villanova 92.50, 5. Columbia 76, 6. UAlbany 56, 7. Morgan State 21, 8. Army 15.

UAlbany Men's Results (New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II):
60-Meter Dash (Semis): 11. Tristan Akong 7.06, 15. Jake Rachiele 7.11, 20. Germain Smith 7.17, 26. Earnest Waters 7.25. 200-Meter Dash: 1. Jeffery Barnes 22.26, 8. Jake Rachiele 22.74, 17. Tristan Akong 23.05, 21. Germain Smith 23.71. 400-Meter Dash: 10. Jonathan Santana 49.49, 18. Alex Petit-Frere 51.37. 500-Meter Dash: 3. Alie Beauvais 1:03.76 (IC4A), 16. Ebube Abara 1:07.71. 60-Meter High Hurdles (Semis): 10. Freddie Wills 8.51, 11. Shane Wagner 8.56, 12. Mohamed Kanu 8.58, 15. Nick Assini 8.68, 16. Alfred Pryor 8.69. 800-Meter Run: 2. John Moore 1:50.87 (IC4A), 7. Sean Halpin 1:55.02, 10. Aaron Lozier 1:55.34, 19. Ryan Florkiewicz 1:58.71. 1,000-Meter Run: 6. Ian Ellis 2:30.18, 12. Ryan Florkiewicz 2:31.62. Mile: 7. Tyler Fogarty 4:10.53 (IC4A), 17. Nick Santos 4:17.54, 25. Cory Greczyn 4:27.36, 28. Ian Ellis 4:46.93. 3,000-Meter Run: 16. Paul Lagno 8:38.78, 22. R.J. Sniffen 8:49.74, 24. Ethan Clary 8:51.82, 26. David Rothman 8:56.10. High Jump: T-5. Freddie Wills 6-6.25, 13. Tim McGreevy 6-0.50. Long Jump: 2. Fred Casimo 23-8.25 (IC4A), 3. Freddie Wills 23-4.75 (IC4A), 7. Nasim Siddeeq 22-1. Triple Jump: 6. Valete Graham 46-6.75, 7. Dong Ning Hu 46-6. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 16-2.75 (IC4A), 13. Ben Brunjes 13-3.50. Weight Throw: 2. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 59-5.75 (IC4A), 13. Cory Thomas 43-7, 14. Jordan Meikle 39-4. 4x400-Meter Relay: 7. Peter Rowell, Alan Nimblette, Ebube Abara, Jeffery Barnes 3:18.83 (IC4A). Distance Medley Relay: 5. Craig Weiss, Alex Petit-Frere, Aaron Lozier, Chris Manico 10:40.51.

UAlbany Women's Results (New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II):
60-Meter Dash (Semis): 9. Alli Rogers 7.91, 19. Patrice Johnson 8.23. 200-Meter Dash: 9. Alli Rogers 25.61, 12. Nyree Richardson 26.06, 14. Tierra Chavis 26.21, 18. Katie Fargnoli 27.06. 400-Meter Dash: 7. Sheena Simpkins 57.67, 14. Brittany Eveleth 59.45, 15. Octavia Clarkson 1:00.12, Elia Francis 1:00.34. 500-Meter Dash: 8. Jessica Hunter 1:17.51, 11. Rebecca Kelly 1:19.93, 13. Kendra Adams 1:20.66, 14. Tenica Roberts 1:20.67. 60-Meter High Hurdles (Semis): 7. Christen Griffin 9.17, 9. Ashley Mahlmeister 9.24, 17. Celine Cauderlier 11.14. 60-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 4. Christen Griffin 8.95. 800-Meter Run: 15. Allie Carlson 2:24.44, 16. Renee Johnson 2:28.32. 1,000-Meter Run: 1. Laura Cummings 2:50.79 (ECAC), 7. Maureen Nweke 3:01.52, 10. Laura Varble 3:16.20, 11. Emily Finnegan 3:20.30. Mile: 2. Laura Cummings 4:57.00 (ECAC). 3,000-Meter Run: 11. Jenn Pierson 10:02.25, 17. Miranda McConnell 10:31.12, 19. Ally Panos 10:38.01, 21. Brianna Service 10:50.62. High Jump: T-11. Karley Giles 4-11. Long Jump: 9. Tiffany Sprenkels 11-9.75. Triple Jump: 3. Pat McNish 38-0.25, 4. Ashley Mahlmeister 37-10. Pole Vault: T-9. Celine Cauderlier 11-3.75 (Matches School Record), 15. Rebecca Power 10-4, 16. Emily Mino 9-10. Shot Put: 7. Kadine Johnson 42-0.75, 8. Candice Mann 39-8.50, 9. Ashley Lewis 38-6.25, 11. Catie Coxon 35-6. Weight Throw: 1. Kadine Johnson 59-0 (ECAC, School Record), 6. Candice Mann 48-8.75, 8. Sineaid Corley 47-8.50, 15. Rebecca Power 39-1.25. 4x400-Meter Relay: 6. Jessica Hunter, Tierra Chavis, Octavia Clarkson, Sheena Simpkins 3:54.49; 7. Tenica Roberts, Brittany Eveleth, Sherez Mohamed, Nyree Richardson 3:57.78. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Melissa Del Rosario, Rebecca Kelly, Kendra Adams, Ada Lauterbach 12:38.58

UAlbany Men's Results (Millrose Games)
Gotham Cup Men's College 4x400-Meter Relay: 4. Jonathan Santana, Alan Nimblette, Peter Rowell, Alie Beauvais 3:24.90. Byron Dyce Men's College 4x800-Meter Relay: 3. Sean Halpin, John Moore, Nick Santos, Tyler Fogarty 7:37.68.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Laine Mackey Leads Women's Tennis to 5-2 Road Victory Against St. Bonaventure - UAlbany Sports 2010

St. Bonaventure, N.Y. - Laine Mackey defeated St. Bonaventure's Maria Barousse at No. 2 singles, while also teaming up with Aubrey Brooks for a doubles win to lead UAlbany to a 5-2 win over the Bonnies in non-conference tennis action on Saturday afternoon.

St. Bonaventure won the top singles match, as Barousse and teammate Amanda Pallikunnel defeated Susan Ma and Livia Gherman, 8-7 (4). UAlbany claimed victories at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the doubles point for the Great Danes. Mackey and Brooks defeated Manuela Marin and Kalia Garcia Rojas, 8-4, while Sarah Iannone and Caitlin Crowley posted an 8-1 win over Kathryn Kvas and Riley Archer.

UAlbany was victorious in four singles matches, led at the top position by Gherman, who defeated Marin, 7-5, 5-7, 10-8. Mackey recorded a 6-4, 7-5 win in her match, while Brooks and Iannone also notched singles victories for the Great Danes. Both players defeated their opponents by scores of 6-0, 6-1. St. Bonaventure's Kvas defeated Ma at No. 3 singles, posting a 6-0, 6-2 victory, while Crowley fell to Pallikunnel, 6-4, 6-4 at the forth singles spot.

UAlbany will return to action on the road on Friday, Feb. 5, visiting Long Island for a non-conference match starting at 7 p.m.

-agate-

Doubles

Maria Barousse/Amanda Pallikunnel (SB) def. Susan Ma/Livia Gherman (UA), 8-7 (4)

Laine Mackey/Aubrey Brooks (UA) def. Manuela Marin/Kalia Garcia Rojas (SB), 8-4

Sarah Iannone/Caitlin Crowley (UA) def. Kathryn Kvas/Riley Archer, 8-1

Singles

Gherman (UA) def. Marin (SB), 7-5, 5-7, 10-8

Mackey (UA) def. Barousse (SB), 6-4, 7-5

Kvas (SB) def. Ma (UA), 6-0, 6-2

Pallikunnel (SB) def. Crowley (UA), 6-4, 6-4

Brooks (UA) def. Garcia Rojas (SB), 6-0, 6-1

Iannone (UA) def. Archer (SB), 6-0, 6-1


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Basketball Drops Second Meeting With Vermont Before Capacity Crowd at Patrick Gym

Burlington, Vt. - Marqus Blakely scored 14 points to lead three players in double figures, as Vermont ended a three-game losing streak with a 64-46 triumph over UAlbany on Saturday, Jan. 30 before a capacity crowd of 3,266 at Patrick Gymnasium.

Vermont (15-8, AE 6-3) reversed a halftime deficit with 11 unanswered to start the final period. Evan Fjeld, a junior forward who had 10 points, six rebounds and six blocked shots, put his team ahead, 30-29, with a pair of free throws. Blakely, the two-time America East player of the year, put back a missed shot with a slam dunk to end that outburst.

The Catamounts, who used full-court pressure to build its lead, pushed out to a 43-30 advantage with 14:04 remaining on two conventional three-point plays. Fjeld was fouled as he followed a missed free throw with an offensive rebound basket. Ben Crenca, a freshman center, added the second as he scored by moving toward the basket from left of the lane.

UVM held the visitors to 24-percent shooting, on 6-of-24 attempts, in the second half and expanded its margin to 54-34 with 8:00 to play. Garvey Young was fouled as he finished a fastbreak off a pass from Joey Accaoui for a three-point play. Accaoui had 11 points and three assists off the bench.

"We put them at the free throw line in the second half and that allowed them to set up their press," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team suffered its fifth consecutive setback. "After controlling tempo in the first half, we were on our heels. That set the tone for the rest of the game."

In the first half, Vermont took an 11-10 lead when Blakely scored on the left baseline. The Great Danes responded with six straight points, as Scotty McRae completed that spurt with two free throws. UAlbany (6-18, AE 1-8) pushed out to an eight-point cushion as Tim Ambrose connected on a back-door cut. The Catamounts followed with a 9-1 run and sliced the deficit to 26-25 on Accaoui's three-pointer from the right side. Derrek Tartt made a foul-line jumper and split two foul shot attempts as UAlbany took a 29-25 lead to the break.

"We caught the ball in bad spots (against the press)," explained freshman guard Mike Black, one of three UAlbany players with seven points. "They trapped us and we didn't do a good job of passing the ball to the middle."
Logan Aronhalt and Fran Urli each had seven points and six rebounds for the Great Danes, who dropped their eighth straight on the road. Vermont also won the first meeting this season, 71-54, at SEFCU Arena.

Paw Prints: UAlbany had won three in a row at UVM's Patrick Gymnasium after earning its first-ever victory there in the 2007 America East Conference championship game ... the Great Danes scored 17 points in the second half, a season-low for any period ... Will Harris made his first appearance since injuring his left knee on Jan. 19th ... the senior forward had four points in nine minutes off the bench.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Foe Survives Late Run by Women's Basketball and Basavand's 3-Point Shooting

Vestal, N.Y. - Erica Carter scored a game-high 21 points, nailed five of her seven field goals from behind the arc and hit the game-clinching free throws in leading Binghamton to a 65-60 victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Events Center. Melia Basavand nailed three of her four second-half shots from long range down the stretch to help the Great Danes close to within a point with under two minutes left, but a clutch field goal by Jackie Ward in addition to Carter's free throws allowed the Bearcats to survive the scare and hang on for their second straight win.

UAlbany (7-14, AE 0-8), which trailed by a 27-19 score at the break, came out strong to start the second half and trimmed the lead down to just two at 33-31 when Julie Forster laid in a floater directly after blocking a Bearcat shot on the other end. Coming out of a timeout, Binghamton got 3-pointers from Andrea Holmes, the league's rookie of the year last season, and Carter to bump its lead up to eight.

The Great Danes used the long ball to hang around and came within three points on three occasions, and Basavand hit one of her four trifectas in the half to make it a 57-55 game with three minutes left. However, Viive Rebane, who scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half, made a bucket and two free throws to shake off the run.

UAlbany, which had been trailing since the 4:17 mark of the first half, came storming back once again. Basavand, the team's player of the game, canned another three from NBA range and Iromuanya added a free throw to close the gap to a single point at 61-60 with 1:18 left.

Following a timeout, Ward, who missed her team's last game with an ankle injury, hit a key turnaround shot from the right elbow to put the Bearcats up three with 49.2 second left. After Iromuanya came driving down the right side and missed a layup, Carter, the team's player of the game, made two clutch free throws with 24.4 seconds on the clock to make it a two-possession game.

Felicia Johnson came back the other way and missed a running jumper, but got her own rebound and signaled for a timeout with 10.1 seconds on the clock. However, Basavand's ensuing inbounds pass was bobbled by Keyana Williams and stolen by Holmes at midcourt. The point guard dribbled out what was left on the clock.

"We are not winning games, but we are getting better and starting to find ways to penetrate zone defenses," said head coach Trina Patterson, whose squad faced another zone defense after seeing man-to-man throughout the non-conference schedule. "They made the plays they needed to down the stretch. I was happy to see Melia make so many shots against their zone, and for the first time in awhile we finished with 14 assists. That shows that we are sharing the ball more."

UAlbany jumped out to a 10-4 lead and forced Binghamton to burn a quick timeout with 16:21 left. Ebone Henry made a 15-foot jumper and a three-pointer from the left wing to ignite the fast start.

Binghamton (8-13, AE 4-4), which won both meetings last year by a combined seven points, clawed back and ended the half on a 15-2 run while keeping the Great Danes off the board for the last 6:44. Carter, who entered the week ranked second nationally for canning 3.8 three-point field goals per game, hit two in a row from downtown to close out the period.

Henry led three Great Danes who scored in double figures with 13 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds. Basavand scored all 12 of her points from behind the arc in the second half, while Johnson added 10 points and matched her career high with six assists. Williams finished with six points and a career-best 12 boards.

In addition to Carter, the Bearcats were also paced by Rebane's double-double. The sophomore contributed 19 points and 11 boards. Holmes ended the game with six points and eight assists, while Orla O'Reilly netted nine.

"This upcoming homestand is going to be very important to gain momentum," added Patterson, whose team will play its next four games at SEFCU Arena beginning with the Big Purple Growl against Vermont on Saturday, Feb. 6. "Our goals are to at least split it and go at least 4-4 the rest of the way. We are going to be better the second time around."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering And JSC Innovative Technopark In Republic Of Tatarstan To Collaborate

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and the JSC Innovative Technopark (IDEA) in the Republic of Tatarstan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a framework for collaboration in nanotechnology education, research and commercialization.

Through the partnership, CNSE will provide assistance to, and participation with, IDEA in areas such as educational, research, and commercialization advisory functions, and consulting services to include specialized training courses for students, faculty and scientists of the Republic of Tatarstan at the CNSE facilities, and the potential creation and program design of nanotechnology centers both in Kazan and at CNSE.

In addition, the partnership provides opportunities for IDEA to procure research and development equipment, and to receive assistance in technology transfer and commercialization opportunities in critical nanotechnology-enabled industrial applications, such as green energy, health sciences and nanomedicine.
IDEA is one of the largest innovative technoparks in Europe, located in the city of Kazan, capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, with a mission to commercialize innovative ideas through the launch and development of small-sized companies through the activities of its three main subdivisions, including a business incubator, innovative technology center, and business park.

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. With over $5 billion in public and private investments, CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex -- the most advanced research complex at any university in the world - employs more than 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, faculty and students, and has attracted over 250 global corporate partners.

Tennis Opens up 2010 Spring Season With Loss to Syracuse

Syracuse, N.Y. - Emily Harman defeated senior Livia Gherman, 6-2, 6-2, at first singles and teamed up with Chelsea Jones for a win at the top doubles position to lead Syracuse to a 7-0 win over UAlbany to open up the Great Danes' spring season.

Syracuse swept doubles play over the Great Danes, with Harman and Chelsea Jones defeating Gherman and Susan Ma, 8-2. At the second singles position, Alessondra Parra and C.C. Sardinha defeated Laine Mackey and Aubrey Brooks, 8-5. The Orange completed the sweep at third doubles, with Simone Kalhorn and Eleanor Peters posting an 8-5 victory over Caitlin Crowlen and Sarah Iannone.

The Orange claimed every singles win led by Harman at the top position. At second singles, Parra defeated Mackey, 6-4, 7-5, and Christina Tan recorded a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) win over Ma in the third spot. Peters posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Crowley in fourth singles, while Kalhorn defeated Brooks, 6-2, 6-0 in the fifth position. Sardinha swept Iannone, 6-0, 6-0, to seal the win for Syracuse.

UAlbany will continue action on the road on Saturday, visiting St. Bonaventure for a non-conference match starting at 1 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Maine Rallies in Final Minutes to Hand Women's Basketball a 61-58 Loss in A-East Play

Albany, N.Y. - Samantha Wheeler netted 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and made a layup and a pair of free throws in the waning minutes as Maine rallied down the stretch to defeat UAlbany, 61-58, in an America East Conference women's basketball matchup at SEFCU Arena on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Down 30-28 at halftime, UAlbany (7-13, AE 0-7) came out hot and started the second period on a 10-0 run to take an eight-point lead. Freshmen Keyana Williams and Ebone Henry each had four points to put the Great Danes ahead for the first time since the opening minutes.

Maine (7-13, AE 3-5) chipped away at the deficit and tied the score at 42 when Wheeler nailed a jumper with 13:24 on the clock, but Felicia Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to ignite a 7-0 run and put the hosts back ahead. The Black Bears, who led for most of the first half, clawed back once again. Katelyn Vanderhoff converted a layup to tie the score at 51, and a Kristin Baker free throw put the visitors ahead for the first time since the opening minute of the stanza.

After Henry hit one of two free throws, the Black Bears scored on three consecutive possessions to take a 58-52 advantage with 1:36 left to play. Wheeler made a driving layup and two free throws, while Baranowski hit a short jumper just outside of the paint.

UAlbany did not go away, as Melia Basavand, who netted seven 3-pointers last week against New Hampshire, hit a bomb taken from the top of the key to slice the lead in half with 41 seconds remaining. Following a missed free throw on a one-and-one by Baker, UAlbany came out of a timeout with a chance to tie the game. However, Tabitha Makopondo's turnaround jumper which would have cut the Black Bear lead to one rimmed out.

Soon after Baker made the back end of two free throws to put the visitors up by a 59-55 score with 13 seconds left, Basavand hit another trifecta to make it a one-point affair at 59-58 with six seconds on the clock. Once Vanderhoff made two clutch free throws with five seconds left to make it a three-point game, UAlbany had one last chance to tie and force overtime. However, Johnson's 30-foot attempt at the buzzer was no good, as the Black Bears held on for their second straight win.

"We competed, but we didn't do the things we needed to do to win," said head coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot 50 percent in the second half but made one of its nine shots from the line in the last 20 minutes. "The team that makes the most free throws down the stretch is the team that is going to win. We are not going to win games if we don't make free throws. Shooting 47 percent from the line is just ridiculous."

Keyed by Baker and Wheeler, Maine built up an 18-6 lead in early going while forcing UAlbany to miss its first eight shots and convert only one of its first 17 attempts from the field in the first 11 minutes. The Great Danes, who struggled early against the Black Bears' 3-2 zone defense and 2-2-1 fullcourt trap, then came alive by netting eight consecutive points on 6-of-8 shooting to make it an 18-14 game. Henry scored six, including two on a fastbreak following a Charity Iromuanya steal in the backcourt, to spark the run.

UAlbany's defense did not allow Maine to make a field goal for almost eight minutes until a Wheeler layup made it 26-19 in favor of the visitors. The Great Danes closed the gap to just two at 30-28 when Forster spinned and made a hook shot that beat the buzzer signaling halftime.

Henry, who was named UAlbany's player of the game, finished with a career-high 18 points and grabbed five rebounds. Iromuanya and Forster each fell short of double-doubles. Iromuanya contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, while Forster also scored 10 and pulled down eight boards.

In addition to Wheeler, who also had four rebounds, Maine was also paced by Baranowski, the team's player of the game, and Baker. Baranowski had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Baker netted 10 and had four assists.

"We were winning games against man-to-man defenses (in non-conference), and now we are playing against zones in conference play," explained Henry, whose team has seen zone defenses throughout the month against America East opposition. "However, we beat ourselves today because we couldn't make our free throws. It's frustrating (to be winless in the conference), but we can't dwell on it and just have to be ready for the next one."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Basketball Edged By Hartford, 64-62, in America East Conference Play at SEFCU Arena

Albany, N.Y. - Joe Zeglinski scored 21 points and Morgan Sabia added 12 in leading Hartford to a 64-62 victory over UAlbany in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at SEFCU Arena.

Hartford (6-15, AE 4-4) snapped a 55-55 deadlock when freshman guard Charles White drilled a three-point field goal from the top of the arc off a return pass from Joel Barkers in the post. After UAlbany's Billy Allen connected on a fastbreak layup after a steal, Zeglinski would later answer with a 3-pointer from the left corner off a screen.

UAlbany (6-17, AE 1-7) closed within 63-62 with 41.4 seconds remaining when Logan Aronhalt made a three-pointer from the left corner that danced on the rim and fell in. Barkers would split a pair of throws to set up the final possession. The Great Danes had two chances at the end, as Jake Lindfors' 10-footer in the lane rimmed out and Mike Black missed on a long-range shot.

The Hawks, who have won four of their last six games, trailed 43-42, but seized the lead with six straight points. White's offensive rebound basket put his team in front. Sabia followed with two foul shots and Barkers scored on put back following a missed baseline jumper. The Great Danes regrouped to tie the contest at 55 apiece when Scotty McRae converted in the lane off a Tim Ambrose feed. McRae, a senior forward who finished with nine points and five rebounds, did all of his scoring in the final period.

"We were looking to run one of our sets (on the last possession), but they did a good job of denying Mike Black," UAlbany coach Will Brown said. "(Jake) Lindfors made an aggressive play and the shot rolled out. We dug ourselves a hole in the first half and that takes a lot out of you to come back."

In the opening period, Hartford used a run of nine unanswered to build a 16-5 lead. Zeglinski hit a fastbreak layup after a turnover, before Milton Burton made a three-point while trailing in transition. Zeglinski's 3-pointer from the right corner later gave his club its biggest lead, a 12-point margin. UAlbany closed the gap to 33-30 at halftime with a run over the final three minutes of the period. Lindfors, a redshirt freshman who had eight points, buried a 3-pointer from the right corner to end that spurt.

"Turnovers were the story of that game and too many times we didn't get a shot," offered Aronhalt, whose team had 18 miscues. "We were sluggish in the beginning of the game. We got more comfortable and played better defense as things progressed."

UAlbany's Aronhalt had a career-high 14 points, on 5-of-9 shooting, while Tim Ambrose added 10. The Great Danes have dropped seven of their eight.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes have lost four in a row ... Hartford is the top three-point shooting team in the conference and was right around its percentage, making 9-of-24 from beyond the arc ... Logan Aronhalt scored in double figures for the fourth time this season ... Tim Ambrose is 22 points from reaching the 1,000-career mark ... Will Harris missed his third consecutive game with a knee contusion.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Chris Simpson Chosen Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Sport of Football - UAlbany Sports 2010

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Chris Simpson has been chosen Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of football, as announced on Tuesday, Jan. 26 by the conference office. Simpson is the third UAlbany student-athlete to receive the annual honor, joining J.T. Herfurth (2000) and Victor Camacho (2003).

Simpson, a senior inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., has a 3.97 cumulative grade point average in physics. A key member of a defensive unit that ranked among the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) leaders in scoring, rushing and total yards allowed, Simpson totaled 58 tackles with 2.0 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as an 11-game starter. UAlbany (7-4) finished second in the NEC standings. He was named both the ECAC and NEC player of the week after recording a career-high 11 tackles and forcing a turnover that led to the winning touchdown in a 20-16 upset of No. 20 Maine in September. UAlbany combined for 31 victories and won a pair of conference championships during his 46-game career.

As a student, Simpson was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy and was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Team. A Presidential Scholar and winner of the CRC Press Chemistry Award, Simpson served as a research assistant with the College of Nanoscale Science and Enginneering and has aided in the research of MOSFET alternatives for electronic devices. He is also a member of the school's Student-Athletic Advisory (SAAC) Executive Committee and has been an academic tutor in math, physics and chemistry.

Simpson is a member of UAlbany's 3+2 engineering program (all of his fall semesters classes were taken at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). He will graduate with a degree in physics from UAlbany this spring and earn a B.S. in mechanical engineering from RPI in May 2011.

NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll: The Great Danes placed 18 players on the 2009 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll ... each student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average to be recognized ... offensive guard Justin Anderson (business administration), outside linebacker Chris Blais (human biology), quarterback Frank Blasinsky (business administration), inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio (communication), fullback Ben Carl (business administration), quarterback Dan Di Lella (criminal justice), offensive tackle Vince Gonzales (history), tight end Matt Goss (criminal justice), inside linebacker Dan Halperin (undeclared), offensive tackle Jordan Migliore (criminal justice), defensive end Wil Moushey (business administration), offensive tackle Keith Peifer (business administration), inside linebacker Chris Simpson (physics), defensive end Tony Sparano (history), offensive guard Andrew Stevens (business administration), inside linebacker Eddie Tretina (undeclared), wide receiver Rhakeem Wiggins (undeclared) and punter Bobby Woods (accounting) were chosen.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Indoor Track & Field Sweeps A-East Awards For Third Straight Week - UAlbany Sports 2010

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Sean Halpin and Luke Schoen and were named America East Conference men's indoor track and field performers of the week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The Great Danes have swept the conference's weekly honors all three times this season, as five student-athletes have combined to win six awards to date.

Halpin, the league's male track performer of the week, was named the Male Track Athlete of the Meet at the Great Dane Classic for winning the mile in an IC4A-qualifying time of 4:08.77. His first-place performance among 36 competitors, which topped the America East performance list by over four seconds, helped UAlbany win its third straight title at the annual meet. The meet-record mark was the 30th-best time in the country and the fifth-fastest time in the nation among freshmen this winter. In addition, Halpin qualified for USA Junior Nationals in the 1,500-meter run, easily beating the mile standard of 4:14.74. The middle-distance standout is currently the only freshman in the conference to qualify for IC4As in four separate events.

Schoen earned his second straight field performer of the week honor after winning his second consecutive pole vault crown at the Great Dane Classic. The senior cleared 17-feet, 7-inches and became the first America East student-athlete, male or female, to meet an NCAA provisional mark in any event. His winning mark among the field of 15 was tied for seventh-best in the nation this winter along with Clemson's Xavier Tromp and Air Force's Nick Frawley. It also topped the America East performance list by over a foot and earned him Male Field Athlete of the Meet honors.

UAlbany will be sending its men's 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay teams to the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Jan. 29. The Great Danes will also send a full squad to the New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II meet on Saturday, Jan. 30. The scoring meet is slated to include Virginia, Connecticut and Villanova of the Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Women's Indoor Track & Field Sweeps A-East Weekly Awards For Second Time This Winter - UAlbany Sports 2010

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Fey Adaramola and Tiffany Sprenkels were named America East Conference women's indoor track and field performers of the week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The Great Danes have now swept the conference's weekly honors twice this season, as three student-athletes have combined to win five awards to date.

Adaramola is being honored for the third time in as many weeks as the league's top female track performer. The senior captain won the 55-meter dash in 6.96 seconds to qualify for the ECAC Championship and beat out one of the longest-standing school records at the Great Dane Classic. The mark broke Ellakisha Williamson's program standard of 7.01, which was recorded in 1998. It was also just .04 seconds short of meeting the NCAA provisional qualifying standard and also tied for third-best in the nation, trailing only the 6.94 time posted by Penn State's Shavon Greaves and Bowling Green's Jeanette Pettigrew. Her first-place performance among 63 competitors, which was tops in America East this season, also matched the meet record and helped the Great Danes place fourth as a team. Adaramola also registered a time of 25.13 in the 200, which was .01 short of qualifying the sprinter for ECACs.

Sprenkels was named the women's field performer of the week after eclipsing the ECAC standard in the triple jump for the third straight season. She placed second among 28 competitors in the event with a personal-best mark of 39-feet, 11.25-inches, bettering her previous mark by 3.5 inches. The jump placed the junior second on the America East performance list and ranks among the top 50 nationally this season.

The UAlbany women will send a full squad to the New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II meet on Saturday, Jan. 30. The scoring meet is slated to include Virginia and Villanova of the Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Christine Hoffman and Field Hockey Squad Claim NCAA National Statistical Awards - Ualbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Christine Hoffman finished the 2009 season as the Division I statistical champion in two categories, helping to lead the UAlbany field hockey team to two nationally leading marks, as announced by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Hoffman, a junior goalkeeper, led the nation with an 0.44 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. Hoffman allowed just four goals while making 32 saves in 18 games played this season. She started every game in the cage for the Great Danes and was one of just two America East Conference goalkeepers ranked in the top 25 nationally.

As a team, UAlbany led the country with an .824 save percentage, as Hoffman and freshman goalkeeper Kristi Troch combined for 61 saves and just 13 goals against in 18 games played. Offensively, the Great Danes also posted a Division I-leading 10.56 penalty corners per game, with 190 on the season.

"We had a very good season in many ways," said UAlbany head coach Phil Sykes, who was named America East Conference Coach of the Year and led the Great Danes to their third straight championship appearance. "One of our main priorities on our team is defense. We work hard on it each and every day. To have achieved four national statistical honors in one year is a tremendous achievement and one that our student-athletes should be very proud of."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Coach Marr Interviewed By Inside Lacrosse - UAlbany Sports 2010

UAlbany head coach Scott Marr talks about the 2010 season and the expectations for his attack unit.

Last-Minute Field Goal Leads Stony Brook Past Men's Basketball in Televised League Game

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Sophomore guard Bryan Dougher made the go-ahead three-point field goal with one minute and eight seconds remaining to lift Stony Brook past UAlbany, 67-61, on Sunday, Jan. 24 at Pritchard Gymnasium.

UAlbany (6-16, AE 1-6) rallied from a 45-42 deficit with 10 of the game's next 12 points. Logan Aronhalt gave his team the lead with a three-pointer from the left wing, before Mike Johnson hit a short jumper in the lane off a drive for a 52-47 cushion. The second half featured six ties and five lead changes.

Stony Brook (14-7, AE 6-2) regrouped with nine unanswered. Tommy Brenton, who had 14 points and eight rebounds, made a 3-pointer from right of the key to help his team regain the lead. Freshman guard Marcus Rouse, who led all scorers with 17 off the bench, drained another long-range shot from the left corner in transition for a 56-52 margin.

UAlbany's Mike Black, who totaled 15 points and five assists, tied the contest at 58 apiece by splitting a pair of free throws. But Muhammad El-Amin moved to the top of the lane and found Dougher open in the right corner to give the Seawolves the lead for good. Brenton later missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, and Black closed the gap to 63-61 with a three-point shot following Brett Gifford's offensive rebound. Dougher sank four free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal the outcome.

"We did a great job on (Bryan) Dougher and made him dribble while limiting his open looks," UAlbany head coach Will Brown said. "They tried to run an isolation play with (Muhammad) El-Amin and good players make that shot. We made progress today and all the freshmen did good things."

The first half set the tone for the tight-fisted battle as Stony Brook took a 26-25 lead to the intermission. The Great Danes built a 23-18 advantage when Black canned a three-point field goal from the right corner. The Seawolves recovered with six unanswered, including Brenton's fastbreak basket that ended the spurt. Tim Ambrose scored on a followed shot of a missed 3-pointer, before Dallis Joyner's inside move put his team in front at the break.

Ambrose finished with 14 points for the Great Danes, who have dropped six of their last seven contests. Jake Lindfors, a redshirt freshman who a key figure throughout the stretch, added seven points, six rebounds and two blocks. SBU's Joyner had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Seawolves have won seven of their last nine and are off to their best start since joining the conference in 2001-02.

"We did well throughout the game and came together as a team," said Ambrose, whose team was playing without injured standout Will Harris who missed his second straight start with a knee injury. "We need to take care of the ball better and find that last piece at the end of the game."

Paw Prints: Tim Ambrose scored in double figures for the 16th time this season ... Ambrose needs 32 points to reach 1,000 for his career ... Jake Lindfors turned in his best performance since November, as his scoring and rebounding were each one off his career-best ... SBU's Bryan Dougher was 0-of-9 from the field before hitting the go-ahead field goal ... the Seawolves and UAlbany have split 22 games since each program moved to Division I ... the league contest was televised by MSG-Plus and seen on ESPN 360.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Women's Basketball Drops A-East Contest to First-Place Hartford; Henry Has Career Day

West Hartford, Conn. - Erica Beverly registered a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Diana Delva contributed 16 points to go along with nine boards in leading Hartford to a 59-36 win over UAlbany before 1,642 fans at Chase Arena on Sunday, Jan. 24. The game was televised live on the Connecticut Sports Network.

UAlbany (7-12, AE 0-6), which trailed 35-18 at halftime, scored three of the first four points to start the second period on a driving jumper and free throw by Ebone Henry. However, Hartford rattled off 15 unanswered to take a commanding 31-point advantage at 52-21 midway through the frame. Daphne Elliott intercepted a pass at the top of the key and went in for a fastbreak layup to extend the Hawks' lead to 20 for the first time at the 16:24 mark, while Beverly, who was named the team's player of the game, added six during the stretch.

UAlbany stepped up its defensive effort by not allowing the hosts to hit a field goal for 8:28. Two shots by Iromuanya from the free throw line sliced the Hawk lead to 17 with 3:02 left to play, but the deficit proved to be too large for the Great Danes to overcome. Jackie Smith drained a jumper and set up Amanda Weaver's three-point field goal from the left wing before the final horn sounded, as the Hawks ended the afternoon as the only America East team still unbeaten in conference play.

"Hartford does a great job of denying passes and with their help-side defense," said head coach Trina Patterson, whose squad was held to its lowest scoring output and field goal percentage (21.8 percent) this season against the league's top-ranked defense. "They always play very physical and also do a great job of blocking shots with Erica (Beverly) as their anchor. Despite {the outcome}, I was very pleased with our effort at the end when we forced six turnovers in a row with our energy. We also finished with 18 offensive rebounds."

Hartford (16-3, AE 7-0), which is currently leading the league in scoring defense for the sixth straight season, scored the first 11 points while keeping the Great Danes off the scoreboard for over five minutes to start the game. However, UAlbany scored eight of the next nine to slash the deficit to just four points at 12-8. Henry, who had started the past seven games, came off the bench to spark the run by driving through traffic and making a jumper at 14:36 and converting two free throws minutes later.

The Hawks recovered by continuously feeding the ball down low to Delva, a two-time all-conference selection, on the post to regain their double-digit lead for good. The senior scored 11 of Hartford's next 24 points to close out the stanza, which ended with Smith's three-point shot that beat the buzzer.

Henry, who was named UAlbany's player of the game, matched her career high with 16 points and also added six rebounds and a career-best six steals. Adrienne Jones contributed a season-high seven points and finished with a career-high three steals off the bench.

Smith provided the spark in Hartford's backcourt to complement the post play of Beverly and Delva, a pair of preseason all-conference selections. The junior guard contributed eight points and a game-high five assists.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Indoor Track & Field Wins Third Straight Great Dane Classic Title; Women Place Fourth - UAlbany Sports 2010

New York, N.Y. - Luke Schoen provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the men's pole vault and Fey Adaramola eclipsed the school record in the women's 55-meter dash to lead the UAlbany indoor track and field teams at the Great Dane Classic on Friday, Jan. 22. The Great Dane men won the team title for the third straight year, while the women placed fourth at the annual event which was being held at the New York City Armory Track & Field Center.

UAlbany's men's team accumulated 136 points, which was 78 points better than second-place Delaware State to easily win the crown among 27 scoring teams. The Great Danes had 14 IC4A qualifying performances, five event champions and two USA Junior National Championship qualifiers while also eclipsing one school record, one meet record and a provisional mark at the competition. The UAlbany women accumulated 58 points, placing fourth among 27 scoring teams and only behind first-place Seton Hall (98) as well as Toledo (92) and Pennsylvania (68.83). The squad had three individuals qualify for the ECAC meet, two win an event title and one set a school and meet record.

Schoen, a three-time All-American, won the men's pole vault for clearing 17-feet, 7-inches. The mark was two inches shy of his program standard and was also tied for fifth-best in the nation. The senior was named the Great Dane Classic Male Field Athlete of the Meet for his efforts.

Adaramola paced the women's squad with a meet-record time of 6.96 seconds in the 55-meter dash to beat out one of the program's oldest school records. The mark broke Ellakisha Williamson's program standard of 7.01, which was recorded in 1998. It was just .04 seconds short of meeting the NCAA provisional qualifying standard and also the third-best time in the nation this season, trailing only the 6.94 mark posted by Penn State's Shavon Greaves and Bowling Green's Jeanette Pettigrew. Alie Beauvais and Peter Rowell each turned in an IC4A qualifying time in the men's sprints. Beauvais placed fourth in the 400 in 48.36, while Rowell was eighth in the 500 and clocked in at 1:05.16.

Sean Halpin was named the Great Dane Classic Male Track Athlete of the Meet for winning the Mile in 4:08.77 and qualifying for the IC4A championship in the event. The meet-record mark was also the seventh-best time in the country as well as the fastest in the nation recorded by a freshman this winter. Halpin qualified for the USA Junior National Championships in the 1,500-meter run, which easily beat out the Mile standard of 4:14.74.

Led by Valete Graham, UAlbany took the top two spots in the men's long jump. The senior, who fell two centimeters short of automatically qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last spring, had a winning leap of 24-6.50. The mark eclipsed his own standard of 24-5 set at last season's Tyson Invitational hosted by Arkansas and qualified him for the IC4A championship. It was also just under a foot shy of the NCAA provisional mark. Fred Casimo also qualified for IC4As by posting a second-place mark of 23-5.50.

Nasim Siddeeq, the reigning USTFCCCA Northeast Region Field Athlete of the Year, and Tiffany Sprenkels each placed second in the men's and women's triple jump to qualify for the IC4A and ECAC championship meets, respectively. Siddeeq leaped 49-0.25, while Sprenkels recorded a personal-best jump of 39-11.25. Kadeem Howell also met the IC4A standard for the first time in his career by finishing fifth with a mark of 47-0.75, rounding out a stellar day for the horizontal jumpers.

Wilfredo de Jesus Elias and Kadine Johhnson eclipsed the IC4A and ECAC qualifying marks in the men's and women's weight throw to lead the throwing corps. de Jesus Elias, who won the event for the third time in as many meets this winter, posted a toss which sailed 60-10.50. Johnson had a fourth-place mark of 54-1.

In addition to Halpin, UAlbany had four other student-athletes meet an IC4A standard in a men's middle-distance event. Tyler Fogarty fell just over a second shy of an NCAA provisional mark for his second-place performance of 1:51.77 in the 800, while Aaron Lozier was sixth in 1:54.62. Nick Santos and Paul Lagno were second and third in the 1,000 for navigating the track in 2:26.92 and 2:27.81, respectively.

Alex Leuchanka highlighted the Great Danes' performances in the distance races. The freshman's second-place time of 14:57.87 in the 5,000-meter run, which was just over a second shy of the winning mark, qualified him for the USA Junior National Championships in June. Laura Cummings led the women's side by winning the 3,000-meter run in a personal-best time of 10:00.97.

The men's 4x400-meter relay team also qualified for IC4A postseason competition. Jonathan Santana, Jeffery Barnes, Ebube Abara and Beauvais combined to post a winning time of 3:14.17.

The UAlbany indoor track and field teams will participate in two different meets next weekend. Select student-athletes will head to Madison Square Garden to compete at the 103rd Millrose Games on Friday, Jan. 29, while most of UAlbany's student-athletes will compete at the New York Road Runners Saturday Night at the Armory II on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Great Dane Classic Men's Team Standings

1. UAlbany 136; 2. Delaware State 58; 3. Villanova 57; 4. Penn 48; 5. Binghamton 45; 6. Manhattan 38; 7. Maryland-Eastern Shroe 33; 8. Long Island 31.50; 9. Virginia Military Institute 30; 10. St. Francis, N.Y. 28; 11. Monmouth 27.50; 12. Seton Hall 26; 13. Morgan State 23; 14. Montclair State; 15. Adelphi 20; 16. Florida International 18.50; 17. Bronx C.C. 11; 18. Fairleigh Dickinson 9; T-19. Delhi 8; T-19. Lafayette 8; 21. St. Thomas Aquinas 6; 22. Coppin State 5; 23. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 3.50; T-24. St. Peter's 3; T-24. C.C. of Philadelphia 3; 26. La Salle 2; 27. Wheeling Jesuit 1.

Great Dane Classic Women's Team Standings

1. Seton Hall 98; 2. Toledo 92; 3. Penn 68.83; 4. UAlbany 54; 5. Massachusetts 49; 6. Monmouth 40; 7. Villanova 37.50; 8. Maryland-Eastern Shore 36; 9. Manhattan 31.83; 10. Florida International 29; 11. St. John's 22; 12. Morgan State 18.50; 13. Delaware 18; 14. Delaware State 17.50; 15. Virginia Military Institute 14; T-16. Adelphi 12; T-16. New Jersey City 12; 18. Long Island 10; 19. Fairleigh Dickinson 8; 20. Ramapo 5.50; 21. Binghamton 4.33; T-22. Wheeling Jesuit 4; T-22. St. Francis, N.Y. 4; T-22. Southern Connecticut 4; T-25. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 3; T-25. Lafayette 3.

UAlbany Men's Results
55-Meter Dash (Trials): 27. Germain Smith 6.68, 28. Tristan Akong 6.68. 200-Meter Dash: 18. Jonathan Santana 22.43. 20. Jeffery Barnes 22.47. 400-Meter Dash: 4. Alie Beauvais 48.36 (IC4A). 500-Meter Dash: 8. Peter Rowell 1:05.16 (IC4A), 14. Alan Nimblette 1:06.18, 16. Ebube Abara 1:06.61. 55-Meter High Hurdles (Trials): 3. Shane Wagner 7.79, 5. Garrett Askew 7.80, 16. Mohamed Kanu 8.08, 20. Alfred Pryor 8.17, 21. Sean Cooper 8.19, 24. Freddie Wills 8.24. 55-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 6. Shane Wagner 7.83, 7. Garrett Askew 7.83. 800-Meter Run: 2. Tyler Fogarty 1:51.77 (IC4A), 6. Aaron Lozier 1:54.62 (IC4A). 1,000-Meter Run: 2. Nick Santos 2:26.92 (IC4A), 3. Paul Lagno 2:27.81 (IC4A), 7. Ian Ellis 2:32.64, 24. Cory Greczyn 2:53.23. Mile: 1. Sean Halpin 4:08.77 (IC4A, USA Junior National, Meet Record), 25. Ryan Florkiewicz 4:29.07. 3,000-Meter Run: 5. Ethan Clary 8:46.52, 7. Chris Manico 8:50.09, 16. Craig Weiss 9:05.56, 23. R.J. Sniffen 9:16.16. 5,000-Meter Run: 2. Alex Leuchanka 14:57.87 (USA Junior National), 14. David Rothman 15:45.47. High Jump: T-15. Tim McGreevy 6-1.25. Long Jump: 1. Valete Graham 24-6.50 (IC4A, School Record), 2. Fred Casimo 23-5.50 (IC4A), 4. Kyle Nadler 22-8.50, T-15. Kevin O'Riley 20-7.75. Triple Jump: 2. Nasim Siddeeq 49-0.25 (IC4A), 5. Kadeem Howell 47-0.75 (IC4A), 6. Jordan Pollock 46-9, 10. Dong Ning Hu 46-0.50. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-7 (NCAA Provisonal). Shot Put: 7. Cory Thomas 46-10, 15. Jordan Meikle 42-7.50. Weight Throw: 1. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 60-10.50 (IC4A), 12. Jordan Meikle 45-6.50, 14. Cory Thomas 44-11.50. 4x400-Meter Relay: 1. Jonathan Santana, Jeffery Barnes, Ebube Abara, Alie Beauvais 3:14.17 (IC4A); 7. Mohamed Kanu, Alan Nimblette, Alex Petit-Frere, Peter Rowell 3:21.31. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Cory Greczyn, Alex Petit-Frere, Jared Leslie, Ian Ellis 10:23.67.

UAlbany Women's Results
55-Meter Dash (Trials): 1. Fey Adaramola 7.11 (ECAC), 11. Alli Rogers 7.30, 42. Katie Fargnoli 7.63, 43. Patrice Johnson 7.63, 48. Jessica Antoniades 7.70. 55-Meter Dash (Finals): 1. Fey Adaramola 6.96 (ECAC, School Record, Meet Record). 200-Meter Dash: 13. Fey Adaramola 25.13, 21. Alli Rogers 25.54, 31. Sherez Mohamed 25.97. 400-Meter Dash: 33. Tenica Roberts 59.83, 36. Nyree Richardson 59.91, 38. Tierra Chavis 59.97. 500-Meter Dash: 7. Sheena Simpkins 1:16.13, 13. Octavia Clarkson 1:17.90, 18. Brittany Eveleth 1:18.47. 55-Meter High Hurdles (Trials): 9. Ashley Mahlmeister 8.43. 11. Christen Griffin 8.53. 55-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 5. Ashley Mahlmeister 8:33. 1,000-Meter Run: 6. Maureen Nweke 3:05.43, 12. Allie Carlson 3:08.44, 17. Laura Varble 3:13.06. 3,000-Meter Run: 1. Laura Cummings 10:00.97, 8. Jenn Pierson 10:18.97, 12. Miranda McConnell 10:31.37, 20. Ally Panos 10:55.51, 22. Melissa Del Rosario 11:10.49. High Jump: 14. Karley Giles 5-1, T-20. Sandy Antenor 4-11, T-22. Emily Curry 4-9. Long Jump: 7. Pat McNish 18-2.50, 8. Ashley Mahlmeister 18-1. Triple Jump: 2. Tiffany Sprenkels 39-11.25 (ECAC), 9. Ashley Mahlmeister 37-0.50, 10. Sandy Antenor 36-7. Pole Vault: T-11. Celine Cauderlier 10-10, 15. Rebecca Power 10-4, 22. Emily Mino 9-4.25. Shot Put: 7. Kadine Johnson 43-1.50, 14. Candice Mann 40-4.75, 15. Ashley Lewis 39-4.50, T-18. Catie Coxon 36-1.75. Weight Throw: 4. Kadine Johnson 54-1 (ECAC), 12. Sineaid Corley 47-1.50, 16. Candice Mann 45-1.50. 4x400-Meter Relay: 9. Sheena Simpkins, Octavia Clarkson, Jessica Hunter, Tierra Chavis 3:54.13; 12. Nyree Richardson, Tenica Roberts, Brittany Eveleth, Alli Rogers 3:57.98; 20. Elia Francis, Kendra Adams, Rebecca Kelly, Katie Fargnoli 4:04.76; 37. Renee Johnson, Allie Carlson, Jessica Panos, Maureen Nweke 4:17.99. Distance Medley Relay: 3. Ally Panos, Rebecca Kelly, Kendra Adams, Ada Lauterbach 12:29.35.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New Hampshire Stops Women's Basketball, 87-77, Despite Melia Basavand's Hot Shooting

Albany, N.Y. - Denise Beliveau had 17 points and Kelley Flynn added a career-high 16 off the bench to pace five player in double figures in leading New Hampshire to an 87-77 America East Conference victory over UAlbany on Friday, Jan. 22 at SEFCU Arena.

The Wildcats shot a torrid 58.8 percent from the field, including 5-of-10 from the three-point arc, in the first half. New Hampshire (7-12, AE 2-4) led 13-9, but then tallied 12 of the game's 14 points. Candace Williams, who totaled 12 points and seven rebounds, followed her missed jumper and Beliveau drilled a three-pointer to ignite the run. The sophomore forward made another long-range shot before Flynn converted in the lane for a 25-11 advantage.

UAlbany (7-11, AE 0-5) trailed by as much as 18 in the half before Melia Basavand came off the bench to connect on back-to-back 3-point shots from beyond the 22-foot mark. Flynn, a 6-foot-5 sophomore who had 12 of her scoring total before the break and grabbed eight rebounds, closed out the period with six unanswered. She made two free throws, hit a left-hander in the lane and put back a missed jumper as the horn sounded to hand her team a 48-30 halftime cushion.

The Great Danes trailed by 21 early in the second half before making a run. Basavand, who scored a career-high 21, keyed a spurt of 10 unanswered. Felicia Johnson hit a baseline jumper, before Ebone Henry followed with a 19-footer. Basavand then delivered two of her seven 3-pointers, including one from the left wing that closed the gap to 66-60 with 9:05 remaining. The freshman made 7-of-11 from beyond the arc, two the school's single-game record.

However, the Wildcats, who had dropped six of their previous seven contests, fought back with eight straight points to end the comeback attempt. Beliveau beat the shot clock with a drive from the right side and Jill McDonald converted on the left block off a lob pass. After Beliveau made a jumper from left of the lane, McDonald scored again in the post for a 14-point lead.

"We were able to do what we wanted on offense," UAlbany coach Trina Patterson said. "But it was the defense that let us down today. We need to focus on playing both side of the ball and we didn't do that in this game. When we got to within six that is when the heated needed to get turned up, but with three freshmen (in the lineup) we showed our inexperience."

Freshman Julie Forster had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes, who suffered their fifth consecutive setback. Charity Iromuanya was the third UAlbany player in twin figures with 14. The senior guard added six rebounds, three assists and three steals. McDonald and Lauren Wells had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Wildcats, who finished the game by shooting 57.9 percent from the field.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Basketball Loses to Second-Place Maine in America East Play at SEFCU Arena

Albany, N.Y. - Gerald McLemore had 21 points and Sean McNally added 14 in leading Maine to a 63-54 victory over UAlbany on Thursday, Jan. 21 at SEFCU Arena. The Black Bears have won seven of their last eight contests.

Maine (12-6, AE 4-1) led 44-43 with less than nine minutes remaining, but then broke the game open with a 12-2 outburst. Junior Bernal converted a drive in transition before McNally beat the shot clock with a three-point field goal from left of the key. The Black Bears pushed the lead to double figures with their defense. McLemore hit a layup after Murphy Burnatowski stripped the ball away. Terrance Mitchell connected after he stole an errant pass for a 55-45 lead.

UAlbany (6-15, AE 1-5) closed the gap to 59-54 when Tim Ambrose made a pair of throws with 52.2 seconds to play. But the Great Danes committed one of their 18 turnovers while trying to get within a single possession. Mitchell, a junior college transfer who had 12 points off the bench, added two foul shots and hit a dunk off his steal to seal the outcome.

"We were playing a veteran group," UAlbany coach Will Brown said. "We didn't take care of the ball and that led to too many easy baskets for them. If we are going to struggle to score, then our defense and rebounding have to be that much better."

The first half featured four ties and three lead changes. The Great Danes, who have dropped five of their last six outings, held a 17-12 advantage after Brett Gifford canned a foul line jumper. McLemore, a sophomore guard who was 8-of-12 from the floor, drilled one of his five 3-pointers and made a bank shot from left of the lane to tie the contest at 17 apiece. Troy Barnies later put his team ahead with a baseline turnaround and Maine took a 27-24 lead to the break.

"We know what we need to do to get a win," said UAlbany sophomore Billy Allen, who had two points and three rebounds as a reserve. "We need to get shots and stops. It comes down to confidence and getting into a groove."

UAlbany's Ambrose, a 6-foot junior, led all scorers with 24 points and eight rebounds. The Black Bears, who are now a half-game behind league-leader Vermont in the conference standings, shot 59.5 percent from the field, including 11-of-16 in the final period. The Great Danes' top scorer Will Harris did not play due to an injured knee.

Paw Prints: Tim Ambrose scored 20 or more points for the 15th time as a collegian ... Ambrose needs 46 points to reach the 1,000-career mark ... Will Harris, who was averaging 14.1 points coming into the contest, missed the game with a knee contustion and is listed as day-to-day ... Maine's 59.5-percent shooting was the best mark by an opponent this season ... UAlbany students returned to campus on Wednesday for spring semester classes.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

America East Favorite Boston University Defeats Men's Basketball at Agganis Arena

Boston, Mass. - John Holland had 21 points and Jake O'Brien added 19 in leading Boston University to a 79-58 victory over UAlbany in America East Conference play on Tuesday,Jan. 19 at Agganis Arena. The Terriers have won five of their last six contests.

Boston U. (10-9, AE 5-2) broke a 12-12 tie with 10 unanswered. Carlos Strong, a senior guard who scored a season-high 18, and O'Brien canned consecutive three-point field goals. Jeff Pelage followed with a dunk off an inbounds play and an offensive basket to complete the run.

The Terriers, who have the top scoring offense in the conference, extended their margin with a barrage of three-point shots, making of 10 of 14 from beyond the arc in the half. O'Brien drilled back-to-back long-range jumpers for a 31-17 advantage. The sophomore's 24-footer from straightaway pushed the lead to as much as 25 before his team settled for a 46-29 lead at the intermission.

In the second half, UAlbany (6-14, AE 1-4) closed within 55-39 on a pair of foul shots by Scotty McRae. But the Terriers answered with 12 of the game's next 15 points. Holland, the league's leading scorer, nailed a three-pointer, and Strong made two of six 3-point shots in that outburst. Corey Lowe, a first-team all-league guard who totaled 12 points, six assists and five steals, added another field goal from past the arc for a 67-42 lead with 9:00 remaining.

"We struggled defensively with their ability to put four shooters on the floor at the same time," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad has dropped six consecutive road games. "Our team can not trade baskets offensively and they did a number on stopping our top two scorers."

Freshman guard Mike Black was the lone Great Dane in double figures with 10 points, while Logan Aronhalt finished with nine. Will Harris, the team's top scorer at 14.7 points per game, played just 11 minutes and left the game early in the second half after suffering a knee contusion.

The Terriers, who are the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, finished the game by making a 16-of-28 from three-point range. After shooting better than 50 percent overall in the opening half, Boston U. cooled off considerably in the final period.

"They were really hot in the first half," offered Black, who also had four rebounds and three assists. "They made three's from everywhere and hit some tough ones where defenders were on top of them."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Women's Basketball's Big Second-Half Rally Falls Just Short in 46-37 Loss

Sam Landers scored 11 points and made an important layup with under a minute left as Stony Brook survived to register a 46-37 win over UAlbany in an America East Conference women's basketball contest on Tuesday evening at Pritchard Gymnasium. Trailing 41-20 midway through the second half, the Great Danes made a triumphant comeback by rattling off 15 unanswered points before Landers' layup and three free throws iced the Seawolves' second straight victory and third overall in conference play.

Stony Brook (5-13, AE 3-3), which held a 28-17 halftime lead, scored the only bucket before the first media timeout in what started as a sloppy second half of cold shooting between the teams. After Keyana Williams made a lefty layup for the Great Danes, Landers hit a three-point field goal and a running jumper to spark an 11-1 run to put the hosts ahead by a 41-20 score.

Despite its shooting struggles, UAlbany (7-10, AE 0-4) did not give up and embarked on a 15-0 run to close the gap to six at 41-35 by the final media timeout with 3:23 left. Julie Forster scored six points during the stretch, while Ebone Henry had a three-pointer that hit off the back iron and off the backboard before finding its way in. Defensively, UAlbany kept Stony Brook off the scoreboard for 9:16 until Landers, the Seawolves' player of the game, came down the left baseline and made a layup for the game's final field goal.

"I thought we came out shaky, but we really gave them a good run at the end," said Forster, who hails from Long Island and recorded her third career double-double while playing in front of a large group of family and friends. "We all believed that we could have had this one."

The first 10 minutes of the game was an offensive struggle and seesaw battle that featured nine lead exchanges between the teams. Cassandra Callaway scored four straight points on two free throws and a layup to give the Great Danes a 15-12 advantage at the midway point of the period.

The Seawolves broke loose by netting 16 unanswered by the end of the half, while only allowing the visitors to net two points on a pair of free throws by Forster with 54.4 seconds remaining. Crystal Rushin keyed the run with seven consecutive points directly after the third media timeout to help give the hosts an 11-point cushion at recess.

"There was confusion on the offensive end," said head coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot just 22.6 percent from the field and went 15:45 without netting a field goal to close out the first half and start the second. "They cut off a lot of openings that we usually get, and we did not make the adjustments that we needed to. We made our own adjustments {at halftime}, and that's when we started to come back."

Forster, who was named UAlbany's player of the game, finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. The freshman walk-on player had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the first half alone. Henry contributed eight points, five rebounds and two steals for the Great Danes, who will host New Hampshire on Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

In addition to Horsey, Stony Brook, which shot only 34 percent from the field, got its strongest contributions from Kirsten Jeter, Rushin and Destiny Jacobs. Jeter, who was named the league's player of the week on Monday, fell just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds to go along with four steals. Rushin added seven points and had three boards, while Jacobs had three points and 12 rebounds in just eight minutes off the bench.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Basketball Meets America East Preseason Favorite Boston University at Agganis Arena

Boston, Mass. - UAlbany travels to America East Conference preseason favorite Boston University on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tip-off is 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Fans can listen to the contest on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Greg Tobben providing the play-by-play from courtside at Agganis Arena.

Boston U. (9-9, AE 4-2) has the two of the top three scorers in the conference. John Holland, a first-team All-America East selection, leads the league in scoring at 19.2 points per game. He scored a season-high 32 against Hartford on Jan. 9. Corey Lowe, a 6'2" senior, also earned first-team all-conference honors last year. He averages 17.2 points and is second among the A-East leaders in assists (4.8 pg). Jake O'Brien, the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year, contributes 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. Patrick Chambers, who previously was Villanova's associate coach for five seasons, is in his first year as head coach.

UAlbany (6-13, AE 1-3) ended a three-game skid with last Saturday's come-from-behind win over UMBC at SEFCU Arena. Tim Ambrose had 17 of his 21 points in the second half. Logan Aronhalt, the conference rookie of the week, matched a career-best, by netting 13, his second consecutive game in twin figures. Will Harris (14.7 ppg) and Ambrose (14.4 ppg) are seventh and eighth, respectively, among the America East point-producers. UAlbany split last year's two-game set with the Terriers

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Track & Field Members Lead Clothing Drive for Haitian Earthquake Victims - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - A catastrophic and massive earthquake that rocked Haiti last week has touched people around the world. The after effects have reached the University at Albany community where members of the track and field program are dealing with the situation.

Alie Beauvais (pictured), a senior who specializes in the men's 400-meter hurdles, and Raphael Jean-Baptiste, a second-year staff assistant and a member of many America East Conference championship track teams, have family ties to a country where the prime minister believes that 100,000 have died as a result of the quake. Because organizational structures have been destroyed, the United Nations had called it the worst disaster the international group has ever confronted.

Jean-Baptiste, who was born in Haiti, has organized a clothing drive where donations can be dropped off at UAlbany's Chapel House, located on University Drive near SEFCU Arena where the Great Dane indoor team practices. This initial effort will continue through Friday, so that the clothing can be shipped quickly. Jean-Baptiste, who has 30 family members in the Port-au-Prince area who he believes are okay, said light clothing, like t-shirts, pants, wind jackets are needed due to average temperatures of 88 degrees during the day.

"People are in need of a change of clothes due to the conditions," said Baptiste, who went through a period of waiting to hear from loved ones although he is not sure about their homes or property damage. "I feel like I should be there. I don't feel like I am doing much, but I am doing what I can."

Beauvais, who had already piled up nearly 60 articles of his own clothing for the drive, has been filled with emotion while watching his parents, both Haitian natives, try to communicate with relatives. "I heard my mother cry and that broke my heart," Beauvais explained. "My father has not been able to contact my grandmother. I want to help in any way possible; I feel like I should be there pulling people out of the rubble."

Born in Hempstead, N.Y., Beauvais was honored to represent Haiti in the Central American and Caribbean Games last summer after finishing 10th in the 400-hurdles at the NCAA Division I outdoor track championships. "I have clothes in the middle of my room," he said. "It's one step in our efforts; it's a start."

UAlbany Chapel House Clothing Drive for Haiti ***clothing must be boxed or bagged***

Chapel House is located on University Drive West across from the SEFCU Arena on the
University at Albany Campus.

Clothing Drop-Off Schedule (through Friday, Jan. 22)
Tuesday: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00-1:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00-1:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00-1:00 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Basketball's Logan Aronhalt Named America East Conference Rookie of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2010

Boston, Mass. - University at Albany's Logan Aronhalt has been chosen America East Conference Rookie of the Week in men's basketball as announced Saturday, Jan. 18 by the conference office. Aronhalt is the second Great Danes to earn the weekly rookie award this season.

A redshirt freshman from Zanesville, Ohio, Aronhalt averaged 12.5 points and shot 52.9 percent from the field in two games last week. He matched a career-high with 13 points in a 76-69 come-from-behind win against UMBC on Jan. 16. Aronhalt, who made 5-of-9 from three-point range during the week, was a key figure in a run of 10 unanswered that reversed a halftime deficit and his 22-footer gave the Great Danes the lead for good. He also had 10 of his 12 points in the second half at New Hampshire on Jan. 13, as his squad nearly rallied from a 17-point deficit with 12:01 remaining.

Aronhalt, who has scored in double figures three times this season, is averaging 4.8 points in 18 appearances. He also had 13 points against Yale earlier this month.

Paw Prints: UAlbany started three true freshmen for the first time as a Division I program against UMBC on Jan. 16 ... Blake Metcalf, a 6-foot-9 center from Camby, Ind., made the most of his first collegiate start by pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds ... freshmen guards Mike Black (9.3 ppg) and Logan Aronhalt (9.0 ppg) have upped their scoring totals over the last six games ... Tim Ambrose scored 20-plus points for the 14th time as a collegian with 17 of his 21 in the second half versus UMBC ... Ambrose is approaching the 1,000-career mark and needs 73 points to become the 30th player in program history to accomplish that feat.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Landmark Reform Package Promises to Transform University of Albany and Public Higher Education Throughout New York

Today, Governor David A. Paterson announced groundbreaking public higher education legislation that promises to transform the University at Albany and all of public higher education in New York State, and in so doing, further drive the knowledge-based, innovation economy throughout the Capital Region and State of New York.

As part of the 2010 Executive Budget, the "Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act" will provide a blueprint for the University at Albany to take control of its future, generate new revenue, hire new faculty and researchers, foster new research and discovery, and serve as an engine for future economic growth and job creation.

This landmark, sweeping reform package would afford the University at Albany tuition flexibility, procurement and operational efficiencies, land-use authority, public—private partnership flexibility, and more. Specifically, the “Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act” would:

• Move tuition outside the state budget process, allowing SUNY and CUNY to receive and disburse revenues from tuition and self-supporting program activities without an appropriation.

• Authorize the Boards of Trustees for SUNY and CUNY to implement a responsible and rational incremental tuition policy that will provide the universities with the discretion to raise tuition up to an annual cap of two-and-one-half times the five-year rolling average of the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), making it easier for students and families to anticipate and plan for the true cost of attendance over the course of a degree program.

• Authorize the SUNY and CUNY trustees to implement differential tuition rates for programs and campuses within their systems, based on the recommendation of the college president and in accordance with specific guidelines promulgated by the trustees.

• Authorize the lease of real property under the jurisdiction of SUNY to other entities in support of its educational purpose, and the participation in public/private partnerships that will benefit SUNY's mission, subject to approval of a newly created State University Asset Maximization Review Board.

• Remove provisions of law subjecting SUNY and CUNY to pre-approval of contracts by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) in order to streamline the procurement of goods and services, while maintaining provisions requiring the post-audit of such contracts by OSC.

• Allow post-audit in lieu of pre-audit requirements for attorney general approval of leases between SUNY and its alumni associations in support of dormitory projects.

• Prescribe specific semi-annual reporting requirements on revenues and expenditures at a campus-specific level to ensure continued transparency and accountability.

Governor Paterson underscored that “We must provide our institutions of public higher education with the freedom and flexibility they need to drive development both on campus and off, preparing our students for the New Economy jobs that will propel New York forward.” Currently, SUNY has an "over-burdensome system of overregulation threatening the ability of our public higher education system to successfully adapt to changing educational and fiscal circumstances.”

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, “I commend Governor Paterson for his leadership in bringing forward the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act. This legislation harnesses high-impact, zero-cost solutions that will create jobs, build the foundation for tomorrow’s economy and strengthen public higher education — while saving millions of taxpayer dollars.

“With the unprecedented cooperation and energetic partnership of SUNY and CUNY, we have taken a major step in unleashing the public university sector to achieve the promise of economic growth through top quality education, from community college to research center. This will positively impact every community in the state with the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs and through billions of dollars in local investment.”

University at Albany President George M. Philip said, "Governor Paterson is offering a new model for public higher education that will allow the University at Albany and other SUNY campuses to achieve their highest potential. His proposal will enable us to foster new opportunities for students, faculty and researchers across the University. It will further strengthen our ability to harness the power of our research and scholarship, and contribute immeasurably to the state’s economic recovery. We are confident this plan will provide meaningful benefits for UAlbany, the greater Capital region and the State of New York."

"The governor's legislation is very important for the City of Albany. This reform package will free the University at Albany and SUNY from being among the most overburdened and overregulated institutions of higher education in the nation. In turn, this initiative will lead to the creation of new jobs and vital economic development for our All America City of Albany," said Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings.

“Governor Paterson clearly recognizes the great importance of the University at Albany and other SUNY institutions to the growth and vitality of our communities,” said the University at Albany Foundation President George Hearst. “His proposal is great news for all who want to assure the highest-quality public higher education in New York State and economically vibrant communities.”

University at Albany Council Member Daniel Tomson was quoted, “Excellence requires investment, and Governor Paterson’s proposed reforms offer a plan to assure needed resources for delivering the highest-quality academic programs to our students. His plan would also further strengthen UAlbany’s role as an economic catalyst in the local and global economy.”

Michael Tucker, President of the Center for Economic Growth, said, “We commend Governor Paterson for his plan to enrich the role of the University at Albany and the entire State University of New York by unleashing the power of public higher education to educate students, advance new research, create new jobs and spur our State’s economy. By providing public higher education with the autonomy it needs to operate like a business, SUNY will be able to create an environment conducive for new knowledge and innovation; both critical components to our success in the 21st century.”

“Governor Paterson’s reforms would offer UAlbany and other SUNY campuses new flexibility and enhance their ability to be entrepreneurial, both important qualities in responding to the challenges of our global economy. This will benefit students, our region and state. It will help power our innovation economy," said Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Eagan.

Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce President Linda Hillman said, "I want to congratulate Governor Paterson for advancing the ‘Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act.’ This pioneering legislation will enable the University at Albany to significantly enhance its academic and research mission as well as the regional and state economy.”

"The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County applauds Governor Patterson for his insightful and landmark legislation that will allow our state's universities to be better positioned to grow, utilize cost efficiencies and ultimately become valuable engines of economic development," said Peter Aust, President of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County. "With this legislation, the University at Albany can now become the leading example of educational excellence in Tech Valley."

Courtesy: UAlbany News