Callaway Leads University of Albany Women's Basketball to 62-43 Win & Best Start In Division I History - UAlbany Sports 2010

Staten Island, N.Y. - Cassandra Callaway scored a game-high 20 points to lead UAlbany to a 62-43 win over Wagner in non-conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center. With the win, the Great Danes improve to 5-0 on the season, and continue the program's best start in Division I history. The last time the UAlbany team went 5-0 to start the season was in 1986-87.

In the first half, UAlbany used back-to-back Wagner turnovers, including a steal by Ebone Henry which led to a conventional three-point play by Callaway, to build up a 13-8 lead with 12:36 on the clock. On the next Wagner possession, Callaway recorded a steal and converted a fast-break layup, scoring two of her team-high 10 first-half points, to continue the Great Danes' run. Wagner's Kelly Clark ended the UAlbany rally at 10:42, but Henry hit a 3-pointer from the right side of the arc to put UAlbany up, 20-10, and force the Seahawks to use a timeout.

The Great Danes continued to build their advantage, getting two 3-pointers from Melia Basavand sandwiched around a driving layup by Felicia Johnson, who finished with 14 total points, in the waning minutes of the half. UAlbany held Wagner without a basket from the field for the final four minutes of the half, allowing just two free throws by Stephanie McBride with 43 seconds left to play, setting the score at 33-18 at the break.

Wagner came out of the locker room firing, getting consecutive baskets from Clark and a jumper and 3-pointer from Marie Archambault to pull within 40-27 with 11:46 to play. However, UAlbany continued to roll through the start of the second half, getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Henry and Callaway along with a pair of jumpers by Johnson to stay ahead. The Great Danes built up a 20-point lead, 50-30, on a basket by Henry, who was one rebound short of a double-double, scoring 12 points, with 8:20 left to play.

The Seahawks then embarked on a 10-3 run, getting consecutive treys from Archambault to pull within 53-40 with 2:20 left to play. Callaway sparked the UAlbany offense from there, scoring the next seven points to put the Great Danes ahead, 59-43. Adrienne Jones converted a fast-break layup and the ensuing free throw in the final second to set the final score.

"We played great team defense," said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, whose team forced the Seahawks into 17 turnovers, including eight steals. "We talked before the game, that in order to win, we needed to play good defense. Everyone stepped up. This is a good scoring team, and we held them to 43 points. Cassandra played with a lot of poise, she played great defense on their point guard and hit open shots."

UAlbany shot 40.0-percent from the floor, while holding Wagner (2-2) to 28.3-percent shooting from the field.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information