Lowrie Scores 17 Points to Lead UAlbany Women's Basketball to 68-54 Win Over Western Michigan - UAlbany Sports 2012

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Lindsey Lowrie scored a game-high 17 points, on 5-of-9 shooting from behind the 3-point line to lead UAlbany to a 68-54 win over Western Michigan in non-conference women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon at University Arena. Great Danes had a slow start to the game, getting down 10-4, with five fouls called in the first 6 minutes of play. UAlbany cut the score back to 14-13 on two free throws by Tammy Phillip, but the Broncos continued to roll, getting two 3-pointers from Julia Henderson to open the game up and take a 20-13 lead with 11:18 to play in the first half. The Great Danes battled back behind Megan Craig, who scored five of the next seven points, pulling the score back to 22-20 with 8:57 on the clock. UAlbany continued to fight through the end of the first half, as both Shereesha Richards and Sarah Royals went 2-for-2 from the free throw line to end the half, sending the teams to the locker rooms tied, 27-27. UAlbany came out of the halftime break firing, taking a seven-point lead, 40-33, on a trey by Lindsey Lowrie with just under 16 minutes to play. Two good free throws from Ebone Henry gave the Great Danes their first double-digit lead of the game, 44-33, with 14:33 on the clock. Western Michigan (1-2) attempted to rally, but UAlbany kept ahead by double-digits, getting a 3-pointer by Lowrie to keep a 54-44 lead with just over eight minutes to play. The Broncos tried to rally, getting a layup by A.J. Johnson to cut the Western Michigan deficit to eight, 56-48, but Lowrie nailed consecutive baskets - including one from long range - to put the Great Danes back ahead by 13, 48-61, with 4:21 on the clock. Royals helped UAlbany extend its lead to 15 with two free throws, while Phillip and Lowrie combined for five straight points to give the Great Danes their biggest lead of the game, 68-52 with 36 ticks to go. Western Michigan got a couple of baskets late to set the final score, but the UAlbany defense held on for the 14-point victory. "This win was a total team effort," said UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who has guided the Great Danes to a 2-1 record in the early season. "We got in foul trouble early and had players like [Shereesha] Richards and [Keyana] Williams step up. I was proud of how well we came together for a strong second half." Craig added 13 points for UAlbany, for her second-straight double-digit point total. Julie Forster finished with nine points and seven boards, while Ebone Henry added four points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. UAlbany (2-1) will return to action on Wednesday, visiting Michigan State in non-conference action.