Callaway Scores 25 to Lead University of Albany to a 77-68 Win Over Boston U. in America East W Basketball Action - UAlbany Sports 2011

Boston, Mass. - Cassandra Callaway scored a career-high 25 points to lead UAlbany to a 77-68 win over Boston U. in America East Conference women's basketball action at Case Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Great Danes ended a six-game losing streak to BU, handing the Terriers their first conference loss of the season and keeping the program from reaching its 500th win.

The teams kept it tight to start the game, with UAlbany holding a 9-8 advantage at the first media timeout at 14:16. Callaway hit a jumper and a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc in that stretch, before Alex Young drained a trey from the right wing to put BU up, 11-9. The teams continued to exchange baskets, with the score tied up at 16-16 after two free throws by Julie Forster. Young hit her second 3-pointer of the game with 10:38 on the clock to put Boston U. ahead, 19-16.

Callaway, who totaled 14 first-half points, hit three consecutive baskets, including her second three pointer of the game, to put the Great Danes ahead, 29-28, with 4:14 left to play. Back-to-back jumpers in the lane by Caroline Stewart put the Terriers back on top, but Melia Basavand came off the bench to drain consecutive 3-pointers to give the Great Danes a 35-32 advantage with just over two minutes on the clock. A conventional 3-point play by Cashman tied the game at 35-all, before Johnson and Moran exchanged layups to send the teams to the locker rooms knotted at 37-37.

The teams started the second half much like the first, exchanging baskets to remain tied until Johnson hit two free throws at 16:03 to put UAlbany up 43-41. However, Chantal Alford, who was held scoreless in the first half, was fouled on a runner in the lane, making the ensuing free throw to give BU a one-point lead. Alford recorded a steal on the ensuing UAlbany possession, and converted a layup to put the Terriers ahead, 46-43, with just over 15 minutes to play.

Boston U. then embarked on an 8-0 run, as Young was fouled on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws, followed by a jumper by Rashidat Agboola and a trey by Alford, putting the Terriers up, 54-47, at the 12-minute media timeout. Henry ended the run for UAlbany, smacking away a cross-court pass for one of her five steals, laying the ball in with 10:47 left to play. That started an 18-5 run for the Great Danes, which gave UAlbany a 65-59 lead with 4:51 on the clock after Callaway hit a long-range 3-pointer, en route to earning America East Player of the Game honors. Strong free throw shooting down the stretch sealed the victory up for UAlbany, as Callaway and Henry combined to hit 9-of-10 shots from the charity stripe in the waning minutes.

UAlbany (13-11, AE 6-5) shot a season-high 49.1 percent from the floor, including 35.3 percent from 3-point range. The teams were equal off the boards, each pulling down 34 total rebounds, but the Great Danes made the best of their opportunities from the free throw line, converting 19-of-25 shots from the stripe, while Boston U. went 9-of-14 from the line.

Moran led five Boston U. (13-10AE 10-1) players in double figures with a team-high 15 points. Young chipped in with 14 points, while Alford finished with 13, all in the second half. Kerry Cashman and Stewart both scored 10 points for the Terriers, while finishing with eight and seven rebounds, respectively. Forster and Johnson also reached double-figure scoring totals for UAlbany, adding 14 and 13 points.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information