Basketball Held Off By Rhode Island, UAlbany Loses at Home for First Time This Season

Albany, N.Y. - Andrea Buck scored 13 of her career-high 17 points in the second half in leading Rhode Island to a 65-60 victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Jan. 2 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes lost for the first time this season on their home floor after opening with five consecutive wins.

Rhode Island (7-7) broke a 35-35 deadlock in the second half with seven straight points. Buck, who made 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from the line, broke the tie when she scored in the lane off a feed from freshman Ashley Rivera. Megan Shoniker connected on a three-point play as she was fouled on a driving layup. Anisha Wilson converted on a move from the top of the arc to finish off the run.

Still leading 44-39, the Rams, who shot 52.2 percent from field overall, used another seven-point outburst to pull away. Lindsay Harris hit a layup from a driving Wilson and Rivera canned a 3-pointer from the top of the arc off a screen for a 12-point cushion. Harris, a senior, posted her fourth consecutive double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

UAlbany (6-6) cut URI's lead in half on three occasions in the stretch over the next five minutes. The Great Danes got as close as 62-58 with 21.4 seconds remaining when Ebone Henry made a three-point play as she was fouled on an offensive rebound basket. Buck answered with two free throws on her team's next possession, and Rhode Island coach Cathy Inglese recorded her 400th win at the collegiate level. Inglese, who is in her first year with the URI program, previously coaches at Boston College and Vermont.

"We were out sync offensively," said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team was 5-of-26 from the three-point arc. "We needed to be more disciplined against their sagging man-to-man and 3-2 zone. These are the type of games that will prep us for (America East) conference play."

In the first half, UAlbany built a 21-14 lead midway through the period. Felicia Johnson, who had 11 points and four steals, made a jumper following a steal, before Tabitha Makopondo scored with her left hand as she rolled to the hoop. Cassandra Callaway's two free throws gave her team its largest lead.

The Rams then ran off 11 unanswered as they held UAlbany scoreless for seven minutes and 43 seconds. Megan Shoniker's three-point field goal from the right wing drew her team even. Harris scored in the lane and Wilson hit a layup after making a steal. Rivera sank consecutive 3-pointers from the left corner as her squad settled for a 31-27 halftime margin.

UAlbany's Julie Forester, a walk-on freshman, had 10 points and 13 rebounds, her third double-double of the season. Henry added nine points for the Great Danes, who were held to 35.4-percent shooting. Rivera, a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference rookie of the week had 14 points, while Shoniker was the fourth Ram in twin figures with 10.

Despite the loss, the Great Danes still have their best 12-game record since the 2002-03 campaign. UAlbany was attempting to win its first six home games of the season for the first time in 18 years.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information