UAlbany Volleyball Hands Out Season-Ending Awards at Banquet

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany volleyball team, which won its second-consecutive America East Conference Championship last season, recently handed out the 2007 team awards at the annual post-season banquet.

Junior middle blocker Kamisha Kellam was named the team’s most valuable player after averaging 3.24 kills and 1.06 blocks per game. Kellam was named to the all-conference first team after earning second-team accolades as a sophomore. She was a top-10 conference leader in hitting percentage (.322), kills per game (3.27) and points per game (3.94), and finished the regular season ranked fifth in blocks with 1.05 per game. She is currently second on UAlbany’s career blocks chart with 283.

Sophomore Valerie Sourbeer was chosen as the team’s most improved player. Sourbeer, who played in her first season with the Great Danes after transferring from Pacific University, averaged 2.27 kills per game. She recorded her first career double-double at Pennsylvania, recording 14 kills and 13 digs against the Quakers.

The Great Danes awarded sophomore Laura Livergood the team’s “Bring It” award, given to the player who best embodies a team-first attitude. The “Bring It” award winner is an athlete that is consistently practicing on her competitive edge and shows tremendous leadership in times of success and adversity. Given by head coach Kelly Sheffield, Livergood earned the “Bring It” award because she is a player that is always supporting teammates in order to build a positive system and community.

Additionally, seniors Ashley Crenshaw and Natasha Marquis were honored for their contributions to the program. Crenshaw averaged 3.14 kills and 0.90 blocks per game in her final season with the Great Danes, and finished her career ranked ninth on UAlbany’s career kills chart with 1,043. She is also second in career blocks with 317. Crenshaw, who earned all-conference honors for the third time in her career, led the America East in hitting percentage (.331) for the second straight season. Marquis recorded 33 kills and 11 block assists as a senior, finishing third on the team in hitting percentage (.267).

The Great Danes, who were the third seed in the conference tournament, defeated New Hampshire and host Stony Brook to claim their third America East title in the last four years. UAlbany posted a 24-10 overall record, and won the program’s first-ever match in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Cleveland State, 3-0, in the first round of play. The Great Danes fell in the second round of tournament play to eventual National Champions Penn State.

Brian Lillis Chosen to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Basketball Squad

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – University at Albany’s Brian Lillis has been voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I University Division Men’s Basketball Team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Lillis, who has a 3.23 cumulative grade point average in business administration, advances to the national ballot. The Academic All-America squad will be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Lillis, a 6-foot-5 senior from Urbandale, Iowa, ranks fifth in the America East Conference in scoring at 16.3 points per game. He is one of nine NCAA Division I players who leads his team in points, rebounds (6.3 pg) and assists (3.1 pg).

Lillis, the 2007 America East Defensive Player of the Year, has scored in twin figures in 21 of 22 games this season, including a career-high 29 against Vermont. He has recorded five double-doubles in points and rebounds this season.

Joining Lillis on the District I academic team is Rhode Island’s Jimmy Baron, Sacred Heart’s Drew Shubik, Columbia’s Ben Nwachukwu and Brown’s Mark McAndrew.

UAlbany Moves into Tie for Third in A-East Standings After 80-59 Win Over New Hampshire

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Brian Lillis had 19 points and Tim Ambrose added 14 in leading UAlbany to an 80-59 victory over New Hampshire in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes moved into a three-way tie for third place in the conference standings.

UAlbany (11-11, AE 6-4) went 7-of-8 from the field in opening five-plus minutes to take a 15-4 lead. Ambrose hit a 12-foot bank shot and Brent Wilson made a jump hook to complete a run of seven unanswered. The Great Danes pushed out to a 24-10 advantage with freshman guard Josh Martin and Wilson buried back-to-back three-point field goals and Jimmie Covington connected on a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a basket in the lane.

The Great Danes, who led by as much as 18 in the first half, settled for a 41-28 margin at the intermission. New Hampshire (7-15, AE 4-6) shot just 29 percent from the field in the period on 9-of-31 attempts.

In the second half, the Wildcats sliced the lead to 10 points on two occasions, including 46-36 with 15:54 left on freshman Alvin Abreu’s 3-pointer from the left wing. Abreu tallied 10 of his 13 points in the period. UAlbany pulled away with 13 of the game’s next 16 points. Brian Connelly made a baseline turnaround and scored off a high-low pass from Wilson in that outburst. Ambrose sank two foul shots before Jerel Hastings converted a fastbreak layup for a commanding 59-39 lead midway through the stanza.

“I was trying not to make mistakes and not letting the game come to me,” said Ambrose, a redshirt freshman who made 5-of-8 from the field and grabbed six rebounds in his second career start. “You have to play defense in order to get on the floor. I have been watching more film in attempt to work on my help defense and guarding the ball.”

Tyrone Conley had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Wildcats, who won the first meeting between these teams by a 75-66 score on Jan. 3. Tyrece Gibbs added 16 points and eight rebounds. Lillis, a 6’5” senior, netted 14 of his scoring total in the second half and collected nine rebounds. Wilson totaled 13 points and eight boards off the bench.

“Tim Ambrose is fearless and wants to get better,” offered UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team limited UNH to 33.9-percent shooting, the second-lowest mark by an opponent this season. “Brent (Wilson) gave us some productive minutes. He dove the floor, took charges, and maximized his time out there.”

UAlbany Women's Basketball Wins Third Straight in 76-50 Triumph Over Boston U. at SEFCU Arena

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Charity Iromuanya and Gia Sanders each scored 15 points in leading UAlbany to a 76-50 America East Conference victory over Boston University on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes, who have won three straight conference games for the first time since 2004-05, were playing a rare 12 noon game on NCAA Commitment to Education Day.

UAlbany (7-14, AE 5-3) reversed an early 15-14 deficit with eight unanswered. Sanders, who made 6-of-10 from the field and grabbed six rebounds, put her team ahead with a baseline jumper. Iromuanuya, a sophomore guard who posted the second-highest scoring total of her career, and Sanders each sank back-to-back three-point field goals to end that run.

The Great Danes led 27-21 later in the period, but finished the opening half with seven of the half’s final eight points. Sherri Mikus, who totaled eight points and 11 rebounds, put back a missed free throw. Freshman guard Janea Aiken, who had 12 points and six assists off the bench, converted a driving layup, before Sanders’ 16-foot jumper provided her team with a 34-22 halftime cushion.

In the second half, Boston U. (12-9, AE 5-3) closed within 36-26 on Amarac Umez-Eronini’s fastbreak layup. But the Great Danes put the game away with a 13-4 run. Iromuanya scored off an offensive rebound and made a pair of free throws in that stretch. Aiken connected in transition and Sanders made a fastbreak layup for a commanding 49-30 advantage with 11:49 remaining. UAlbany extended the margin above 20 points in the final eight minutes.

“We’re making small steps as a result of hard work in practice,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot a season-best 54.2 percent from the field on 32-of-59 attempts. “Our bench play was awesome. Our seniors are playing with passion and the freshmen are growing.”

Kasey Devine, a 6-foot-3 senior, was the lone BU player in double figures with 12 points. Cherri Raffo added nine points, including the 1,000th of her career. The Terriers, who had their three-game win streak halted, had captured 11 of the previous 13 games in this series.

“I loved the crowd with all of its energy,” stated Iromuanya, who reached double figures for the sixth time this season by hitting 5-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the line. “We were very aware on offense by passing well and finding the open player. When you play the better teams you need to bring your best game. We got a lot of help from our bench and there was no difference when they came in.”

Former UAlbany All-America Attacker Merrick Thomson Named NLL Rookie of the Month

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. -- Former University at Albany standout Merrick Thomson, a first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Wings, has been named the National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Month. Thomson, who led all rookies in the month of January with eight goals and nine assists, has Philadelphia off to its best start since 1997 with a 3-0 record. The 24-year-old left-hander also scooped up 11 loose balls.

Thomson, the Great Danes’ all-time scorer with 244 career points on 188 goals and 56 assists, led UAlbany to a 15-3 record and an NCAA quarterfinal appearance as a senior. He was chosen to the USILA All-America third team and was a four-time All-America East Conference selection.

From UAlbany to Arizona ... New York Giants Are Super Bowl XLII Champions

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Glendale, Ariz. – Eli Manning hooked up with Plaxico Buress on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining in lifting the New York Giants to an improbable 17-14 victory over the previously unbeaten and heavily favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, Feb. 3.

Manning, the Super Bowl MVP, and the wild-card Giants (14-6) pulled off the upset with a 12-play drive that covered 83 yards in the final minutes of play. The Patriots, who finished 18-1, had taken a 14-10 lead with 2:42 left when Tom Brady hit Randy Moss with a 6-yard scoring pass. The fantastic finish capped the Giants run to the NFL title with playoff road wins against Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay.

Head coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants’ journey to the championship started in the Capital Region on the UAlbany campus last summer. The Giants have held their annual training camp at the University since 1996.

“This is a thrilling time for the many people on this campus who put their heart and soul into Giants training camp each summer,” UAlbany Director of Athletics Lee McElroy said. “It is particularly appropriate than in a year where the University named the football practice field after former owners Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch that the Giants would achieve their ultimate goal ... a Super Bowl championship.”

The Giants, who also won Super Bowl championships to cap the 1986 and 1990 campaigns, will most assuredly receive a hearty welcome back to UAlbany when the NFL team returns for its 13th training camp in July.

Men's Basketball Will Travel to Canisius for Non-Conference Clash on Saturday, Feb. 23

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany will travel to Canisius, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, for a non-conference men’s basketball contest on Saturday, Feb. 23. The matchup came out of the BracketBusters pool of teams that represent 16 conferences. Game time will be announced.

The Golden Griffins, whose four wins have all come at home this season, play in the Koessler Athletic Center, a facility that seats capacity crowds of 2,176. Sophomore guard Frank Turner, the 2007 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, is Canisius’ top player. He averages 12.5 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds.

UAlbany (10-11) played much better on the road in month of January by winning three of its last four away games. The Great Danes, who are currently tied for fourth in the America East Conference standings, have registered consecutive NCAA Tournament berths after capturing a pair of conference championships.

Brian Lillis, the 2007 America East Defensive Player of the Year, ranks fifth among the league’s scoring leaders at 16.1 points per game. Lillis, a 6’5” senior who is averaging 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists, is one of nine players at the NCAA Division I level who leads his team in points, rebounds and assists.

The Great Danes appeared on national television as part of the O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters series the last two seasons. UAlbany played thrilling games in narrow defeats at Virginia Commonwealth (70-67) and Boise State (83-82).

UAlbany Women's Basketball Celebrates NCAA Commitment to Education Day on Feb. 6

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany women’s basketball program will welcome 15 elementary schools to the NCAA’s Commitment to Education Day, sponsored by SEFCU, on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The day features an America East Conference contest between UAlbany and Boston University. Tip-off is 12 noon at SEFCU Arena. The game will be televised in the Capital Region on Time Warner Cable (TW3).

Students will participate in various activities throughout the day. The school-age children will start by taking a guided tour of UAlbany’s athletic facilities, led by nearly a dozen members of the school’s coaching staffs. UAlbany student-athletes will also sign autographs, while cheerleaders will conduct a face-painting session. Students will also take part in various educational sessions, covering nutrition, math, geography, social studies and physical education.

All students will meet Damien the Dane, receive t-shirts and participate in a basketball-shooting session at University Gymnasium.

Participating area schools include Red Mill School, Van Corlear Elementary, Philip J. Schuyler Academy, Lynwood Elementary, Sheridan Preparatory, Howe Magnet School, Westmere Elementary, Brighter Choice Charter School, Eagle Point Elementary, Doane Stuart School, Niskayuna Schools, Woodlawn, School No. 19, Bethlehem Children and Rensselaer Park.

UAlbany's Hall and Mackey Lead Women's Tennis to 4-3 Triumph Over Massachusetts

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Amanda Hall and Laine Mackey each won their singles matches and combined for a doubles win to lead the UAlbany tennis team to a 4-3 victory over Massachusetts on Sunday, Feb. 3 at the UAlbany Bubble.

Hall picked up a three-set win at No. 6 singles by topping Lauren MacKay 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Mackey dropped her first set against Laura Danai at No. 5 singles, but rebounded for a 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 victory. The duo teamed together to defeat Maude Lecluyse and Danai 8-5.

Juniors Kim Weltman and Charlotte Tatler swept their singles matches by scores 6-3, 6-2 at No.3 and No.4 singles, respectively. Weltman and Tatler were topped at No. 3 doubles by Kristin DiPiero and Tanisha Hodgson by the score of 9-7.

Senior Aimee Kern lost at No. 1 singles 6-3, 6-3 to Masha Pozar, while freshman Susan Ma fell at No. 2 singles, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, to Candynce Boney. The duo also dropped their No. 1 doubles match, 8-2, to Pozar and Boney.

UAlbany, off to a 5-0 start on the season, exceeded last season’s win total with the victory and avenged last year’s 6-1 loss to the Minutewomen. The Great Danes return to the court on Saturday, Feb. 9 at St. Bonaventure.



UAlbany def. Massachusetts, 4-3
Singles
Masha Pozar (M) def. Aimee Kern (UA), 6-3, 6-3
Candynce Boney (M) def. Susan Ma (UA), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
Kim Weltman (UA) def. Tanisha Hodgson (M), 6-3, 6-2
Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Kaitlyn Carpenter (M), 6-3, 6-2
Laine Mackey (UA) def. Laura Danai (M), 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 7-5

Amanda Hall (UA) def. Lauren MacKay (M), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles
Pozar/Boney (M) def. Kern/Ma UA), 8-2

Mackey/Hall (UA) def. Maude Lecluyse/Danai (M), 8-5

Kristin DiPiero/Hodgson (M) def. Weltman/Tatler (UA), 9-7

2008 NCAA Lacrosse Preview: No. 12 Albany Great Danes

5 Things to Know

The Resetarits era is over at Albany

1. Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson aren't here.

Albany coach Scott Marr made it clear he doesn't plan on changing his offensive approach, despite the graduation of attackmen Merrick Thomson and Frank Resetarits. The two combined for 113 of Albany's 248 goals in 2007. Resetarits became Albany's first DI first-team All America and Thomson finished as the Great Danes' all-time leading scorer (188 goals, 56 assists).

"It's a big hit," Marr says. "We're not downplaying that loss. But what they created in four years is something they passed on for the younger guys to do."

The 'younger guys' include senior Derek Dale, junior Corey Small and freshman Brian Caufield, Inside Lacosse's No. 16 attackman.

2. Team unity can help

Though Albany lost to Denver, 12-9, in a scrimmage on Oct. 21, players thought the travel out west strengthened team chemistry, as the group visited several sites together on the trip west.

"We have (18) new players," senior midfielder Jordan Levine says. "That definitely helped the team bonding in getting us to know each other."

The team went for a team hike at Rocky Mountain National Park, the Denver Zoo and a tour of Invesco Field - the venue of the NFL's Denver Broncos and the MLL's Denver Outlaws.

3. Tightening up the defense

When Albany's defensive unit studied film this fall, it was pleased with how its athleticism helped spark a transition game after making defensive stops.

The defense also noticed that it sporadically lacked focus as the Great Danes finished 30th in defense and allowed 9.44 goals a contest. Senior defenseman Craig McDonald says the team hopes its maintained focus will hold opponents to eight goals a game.

"I'm trying to harp on everything the coaches are saying," McDonald says. "When we were watching film, I could tell there were some careless things that resulted in breakdowns defensively."

4. Brett Queener even more offensive?

After goalie Brett Queener saved 52 percent of the shots he saw and played on Albany's man-up unit last year, Marr has decided he wants to use Queener more offensively. Marr thinks junior Dan McKeon, who split time with Queener in the cage last year, is a viable candidate at goal. He played in 18 games and stopped 56 percent of the shots he saw.

"There may be times, not just in a man up situation, where we'll be putting Danny in goal and putting Brett out on offense," Marr says.

"Danny's a good goalie and Coach (Marr) wants him to get in the mix," Queener says. "If that involves me playing midfield, it doesn't matter to me what I play. I want to win."

5. Early litmus test

A quick look at Albany's 2008 schedule shows it's strikingly similar to last year's schedule. Albany visits No. 1 Johns Hopkins in its season opener on Feb. 23 and has early games against No. 10 Notre Dame (March 1) and No. 20 Massachusetts (March 11).

Last year, Albany pulled off an 8-7 upset in its season opener over Johns Hopkins, which held the pre-season No. 1 ranking. It also won, 10-9, in overtime against UMass. Marr hopes the schedule's similar structure will yield to the same results.

"The success came to us because we learned how to win a close game against quality teams," Marr says. "When you win by one goal against Hopkins or UMass, it shows we found ways to become stronger during the times when things got tough."

Coach Marr Video
http://tv.insidelacrosse.com/index.cfm?video=510

Mark Dixon's thoughts on the Danes
http://tv.insidelacrosse.com/index.cfm?video=511

Fall Ball Highlights
http://tv.insidelacrosse.com/index.cfm?video=388
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UNIT TO WATCH

Senior midfielder Jordan Levine

Midfield

Marr specifically looks for athletic players on the recruiting trail. In an age of specialized positions, Marr breaks conventional wisdom and avoids using defensive middie specialists, instead maximizing his players' production on both sides of the field.

"Everyone gets a feel for it both ways," Marr said. "For some, it sinks in. For some, it doesn't. But that makes it easier to see who separates from the pack."

The midfield's athleticism is the primary reason why Marr thinks his team is more than capable of maintaining its offensive firepower despite the graduation loss of Resetarits and Thomson.

The midfield unit will also benefit from its numbers. Albany's top five middies return, allowing Marr to mix and match midfield lines to maximize intensity. The options include Levine (23 goals, 16 assists), junior Mike Cometti (he returns after redshirting last year from a hamstring injury), twins Mike and Steve Ammann, John Alpizar and Tyler Endres.

"This is as strong as we've ever been at the midfield," Marr says.

"Our attack is looking good and once the chemistry starts going, we'll be dangerous," Levine added. "For now, our defense and middies need to pick up the slack."

Fallball injuries to Dale (undisclosed) and Caufield (ankle) increase the possibility the attack might face a transition period, though Dale scored 20 goals last year. Injuries from defensemen Greg Shondel (shoulder) and Michael Banks (broken hand) as well as Queener's absence (academic eligibility) don't make things any easier.

Marr says the injuries are fully healed and the attack unit should gel quickly. But it's always nice for an athletic midfield to lean back on.

"A lot of teams will get the ball and slow it down," Cometti says. "We're pushing the ball and they're slowing it down. Most teams usually never see that coming."



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BIG QUESTION

Senior Brett Queener

Can Albany surpass last year's performance, let alone replicate it?

Queener had too many flashbacks. Anytime he saw the color red, scenes of the Cornell Bid Red's 12-11 overtime victory over Albany in the 2007 NCAA quarterfinal replayed in his mind.

"To be honest, it's been on my mind a lot," Queener says. "I didn't get over it for months. It's past me now but it won't be completely past me until we get that first win to the final four."

Following the loss, Queener stayed away from the cage until last September. He says the time away made him feel re-energized for this season. Queener's reaction epitomizes Albany's approach to the 2008 season.

The Danes were a goal away from the championship weekend for the first time in their program's history. That's why Albany doesn't feel content with last year's finish, despite advancing to the quarterfinal for the first time in school history.

Marr thinks his team can go further than last year given the depth at midfield and defense. More importantly, he sees last year's unfinished business driving his players every day in practice.

"We have a burning desire," Marr says. "These guys have dreamed about getting back since opening day. Losing to Cornell hasn't made it difficult getting 30 plus guys to work and lift hard."

University of Albany's Men's Basketball Upends Stony Brook, 64-46, in front of a sell out crowd on Big Purple Growl

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Brian Connelly had 16 points and Brian Lillis added 12 in leading UAlbany to a 64-46 victory over Stony Brook in America East Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 2 before a capacity crowd of 4,538 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes were hosting the 11th annual Big Purple Growl, the University’s Winter Homecoming.

UAlbany (10-11, AE 5-4) went on a 19-2 run in the first half to take control. Jerel Hastings nailed a three-point field goal to begin that run, before Jon Iati added another long-range jumper following an offensive rebound. Freshman guard Josh Martin had eight of his 10 points in that stretch, including back-to-back 3-pointers that gave his team a 27-8 advantage with 6:22 left in the period.

Connelly, who grabbed six rebounds to add to his scoring total, drilled a jumper from left of the lane that provided his team with a 34-15 halftime margin. The Great Danes held Stony Brook (4-17, AE 1-8) to 27.3-percent shooting on 6-of-22 attempts before the break.

The Seawolves, who have lost seven in a row, never really threatened in the final stanza. Stony Brook closed within 46-31 midway through the half on a pair of free throws by senior guard Mitchell Beauford, who tallied eight points. UAlbany then pushed the lead up to 20 by using the charity stripe. Connelly and Iati each sank two foul shots.

“I thought we played very well in the first half, especially on the defensive end,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team won its fourth consecutive Big Purple Growl game. “We were okay in the second half, but made some free throws. It was nice to see such a big crowd, because every kid wants to play in this kind of environment.”

Lillis, a 6-foot-5 senior who collected 10 rebounds and handed out four assists, posted his fourth double-double in his last six starts. Iati finished with 11 points, the first time he has reached twin figures in back-to-back games since November.

“We didn’t rely solely on our outside shooting,” explained Iati, a senior guard who came off the bench to make 3-of-6 from the floor. “They play a pretty aggressive zone and we able to get mid-range shots and layups. We need to keep seeing a UAlbany team that is energetic and starts its offense with its defense.”

Ricky Lucas was the lone Stony Brook player in double digits with 11 points. The Seawolves shot 35.6 percent from the field overall. The Great Danes, who have won nine of 11 homecoming games in the event’s history, were coming off a four-point road loss to conference-leader UMBC three days ago.

University of Albany's Women's Basketball Defeats Stony Brook, 77-65, in Annual Big Purple Growl Game

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – TaNika Thrower scored a season-high 19 points to pace four players in double figures in leading UAlbany to a 77-65 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes were playing in the first half of the Big Purple Growl, the University’s Winter Homecoming.

UAlbany (6-14, AE 4-3) led 37-35 early in the second half, but then scored 15 of the game’s next 19 points. Kristin Higy, who had 15 points and six rebounds, scored three baskets in that span. Thrower added a pair of foul-line jumpers. Sherri Mikus, who had 12 points, gave her team a 52-39 cushion by finishing off a fastbreak.

Stony Brook (6-14, AE 1-6) closed within five points on three separate occasions, including 63-58 with 4:43 to play when Kirsten Jeter connected on a three-point play as she was fouled on a drive in transition. The Great Danes, who had dropped seven straight Big Purple Growl games, ended the threat with six straight points. Gia Sanders and Thrower each sank two foul shots, before freshman guard Janea Aiken hit a drive in the lane.

Stony Brook led 27-20 with 6:08 remaining the first half. The Seawolves used a 12-1 run to gain that margin. Kairsten Nunn, who netted a career-high 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting, put her team ahead with a three-point field goal. Crystal Rushin would later make a layup after a steal and Aly Young canned a jumper in the lane to complete the run. UAlbany responded with 11 unanswered. Higy began that outburst with a 3-pointer from the right wing off an inbounds play. Higy, a 6-foot-1 senior, would add two free throws and a jumper. Sanders made two foul shots for a 31-27 advantage with 1:47 left before the break.

“Defense is our key,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team held Stony Brook to 40.6-percent shooting on 26-of-64 attempts. “We had to win ugly because sometimes the defense isn’t going to cause a lot of turnovers. We had to play with high energy.”

Britney McGee added 12 points for the Great Danes, who snapped a three-game skid in their previous outing with a league win over Binghamton. Sanders, who was making her second appearance after suffering a hand injury, totaled eight points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Seawolves’ Jeter scored in twin figures for the eighth time this season with 15 points.

University of Albany's Juste, Schoen, de Jesus Elias and Wills Set Track and Field Program Records @ Giegengack Invitational and Syracuse Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New Haven, Conn. – UAlbany’s Wilfredo de Jesus Elias set the school record in the weight throw, Jean Juste broke the 60-meter hurdle record and Luke Schoen set the pole vault record to highlight the Great Danes performance at the Giegengack Invitational hosted by Yale at Coxe Cage.

de Jesus Elias, a freshman from Arroyo, Puerto Rico, had a throw of 59-feet, 8.50-inches to place second in the event and set the new school record. The record was previously 58-feet, 9.25-inches, set by Eric Opuana in 2005.

Schoen, who previously set the pole vault record of 16-feet, 4.75-inches at the Husky Winter Carnival on Dec. 2, cleared the bar at 16-feet, 8.75-inches.

Juste, the reigning America East Conference track performer of the week, won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.02 seconds to break the previous record of 8.05 seconds set by Jeffrey York in 1995. Jeffery Barnes and Brian Yurkewecz had fourth place finishes in the 200-meter dash and 5,000-meter run, respectively.

In the women’s competition, Jenn Gurrant qualified for the ECAC meet in the triple jump with a second-place jump of 39-feet, 0.5-inches. Gurrant also placed fourth in the long jump (17-11).

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Valentine Invitational in Boston, Mass.

UAlbany Men’s Results

60m Dash: 10. Dieuseul Joseph 7.16, 15. Kyle Nadler 7.26, 17. Raphael Jean Baptiste 7.26. 60m High Hurdles: 1. Jean Juste 8.02, 7. Daniel Avery 8.30, 10. Garrett Askew 8.40, 14. Anthony Assent 8.58, 15. Nick Assini 8.61. 200m Dash: 4. Jeffery Barnes 22.54, 10. Pat Weider 22.87, 12. Torshiro Jenkins 22.96, 22. Dieuseul Joseph 23.42, 23. Raphael Jean Baptiste 23.45. 400m Dash: 16. Alan Nimblette 51.36, 23. Drew Harrison 51.94. 800m Run: 11. Joe Belokopitsky 1:55.49, 37. LeVar Nero 2:09.14. 1,000m Run: 17. Tyler Fogarty 2:33.29, 24. Bryan Lasky 2:40.26. 1 Mile Run: 30. Chris Jimenez 4:47.19. 3,000m Run: 34. Jon Hilbert 9:10.53, 35. David Rothman 9:11.33. 5,000m Run: 4. Brian Yurkewecz 14:59.99. 4x400m Relay: 7. Drew Harrison, Alan Nimblette, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes 3:21.26 Distance Medley Relay: 9. Joe Belokopitsky, Alan Nimblette, Bryan Lasky, Brian Yurkewecz 10:51.92. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 16-8.75, 2. Michael Dempsey 15-9. Long Jump: 6. Kyle Nadler 22-3, 7. Michael McCadney 22-1.50, 16. Ray Gilman 20-9.25, 20. Dong Ning Hu 20-1.75. Shot Put: 11. Renauld Buck 46-10.75, 14. Will Anger 44-11, 18. Frank Fazzino 43-5, 19. Jordan Meikle 42-3.5. Weight Throw: 2. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 59-8.50 (School Record, IC4A), 9. Kevin Lee 49-9.75, 12. Will Anger 48-4.50.

UAlbany Women’s Results

60m Dash: 14. Sarah Lapierre 8.15, 17. Sandy Antenor 8.27, 19. Arielle Roberts 8.41, 21. Traequanda Brock 8.48. 200m Dash: 33. Ashley Vives 27.26, 35. Laura Bolognino 27.28, 39. Sarah Lapierre 27.85, 43. Arielle Roberts 28.55. 400m Dash: 15. Rebecca Kelly 1:01.34. 500m Dash: 7. Zuliana Fontanez 1:17.06, 10. Octavia Clarkson 1:18.11, 16. Melissa Lee 1:19.70, 19. Corrine Porter-Stepney 1:21.64. 800m Run: 23. Danielle Trimpop 2:24.26. 1,000m Run: 16. Ally Panos 3:19.15. 3,000m Run: 19. Laine Sefick 10:44.42, 25. Kristin Grab 11:21.72. 1 Mile Run: 14. Kristine Mun 5:16.45. 4x400m Relay: 6. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Corrine Porter-Stepney, Melissa Lee 3:55.35, 12. Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Ashley Vives, Rebecca Kelly 4:04.79. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Danielle Trimpop, Melissa Lee, Zuliana Fontanez, Kristine Mun 12:41.50. Long Jump: 4. Jenn Gurrant 17-11, 10. Tiffany Sprenkels 17-0, 22. Sandy Antenor 14-6. Triple Jump: 2. Jenn Gurrant 39-0.5 (ECAC), 11. Traequanda Brock 33-3. Weight Throw: 4. Kadine Johnson 50-9.25, 8. Ritshell Verdier 46-4.75, 10. Sineaid Corley 45-10.75. Shot Put: 7. Kadine Johnson 41-11.5, 14. Ashley Lewis 36-5.75, Ritshell Verdier FOUL. Pole Vault: 9. Krystal Myers 9-10.


Syracuse, N.Y. – UAlbany’s Freddie Wills and David Parker finished first and second in the heptathlon to highlight the Great Danes’ performance at the Syracuse Invitational at Manley Field House.

Wills, a junior from Londonderry, N.H., finished with 5,029 points in setting the new school record. Wills finished first in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.93 seconds and second in the pole vault by clearing 11-feet, 9.75-inches. Parker finished the competition with 4,960 points, also surpassing his previous school record of 4,914 points set at last season’s America East Championships. Parker won the pole vault with a height of 15-feet, 1-inch and placed third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.11 seconds.

Freshman Kevin O’Riley placed sixth in the heptathlon with 4,174 points. O’Riley’s best performance on the second day came in the pole vault.

In women's competition, freshman Christen Griffin placed third in the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 8.54 seconds.



Men's Heptathlon Results
1. Freddie Wills 5,029; 2. David Parker 4,960; 6. Kevin O’Riley 4,174; 12. Nick Jones 2,123; 13. Chris Palicka 1,607.


Women's Results
55m Hurdles: 3. Christen Griffin 8.54.

University of Albany Tennis Sweeps Matches from Holy Cross and Fairfield

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Aimee Kern won both of her matches at No. 1 singles to help lead the UAlbany tennis team to 7-0 victories over Holy Cross and Fairfield on Saturday at the UAlbany Bubble.

Kern posted a 6-1, 6-4 win over Holy Cross’ Kristen Meahl for her first win of the day. She also teamed with Kim Weltman in doubles action, defeating Meahl and Meg Moran. Susan Ma posted a 6-1, 6-0 win over Moran at No. 2 singles. Weltman, along with teammates Charlotte Tatler, Laine Mackey and Amanda Hall, swept their singles wins over Holy Cross, all with scores of 6-0, 6-0.

Hall and Mackey posted an 8-0 win in doubles action over Ivette Konopka and Hailee Lange, while Caitlin Crowley teamed up with Tatler to defeat Chase Fitzsimmons and Meg Manahan, 8-3.

Kern defeated Dana Postupack, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 1 singles against Fairfield, and also teamed with Ma to win an 8-4 decision at No. 1 doubles against Postupack and Paulina Rys. Ma defeated Rys at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-3, while Kim Weltman defeated Michaela Cerrone, 6-1, 6-0, in her singles match. Mackey and Hall swept their singles matches against the Stags, 6-0, 6-0.

UAlbany will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Massachusetts at 12 p.m. in The Bubble.



UAlbany def. Holy Cross, 7-0

Singles

Aimee Kern (UA) def. Kristen Meahl (HC), 6-1, 6-4

Susan Ma (UA) def. Meg Moran (HC), 6-1, 6-0

Kim Weltman (UA) def. Ivette Konopka (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Hailee Lange (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Laine Mackey (UA) def. Kathy Wilkie (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Amanda Hall (UA) def. Chase Fitzsimmons (HC), 8-0

Doubles

Kern/Weltman (UA) def. Moran/Meahl (HC), 8-2

Hall/Mackey (UA) def. Konopka/Lange (HC), 8-0

Caitlin Crowley/Tatler (UA) def. Fitzsimmons/Meg Manahan (HC), 8-3



UAlbany def. Fairfield, 7-0

Singles

Kern (UA) def. Dana Postupack (F), 6-0, 6-4

Ma (UA) def. Paulina Rys (F), 6-0, 6-3

Weltman (UA) def. Michaela Cerrone (F), 6-1, 6-0

Tatler (UA) def. Alyssa Ruiz (F), 6-3, 6-4

Mackey (UA) def. Gretchen Amberg (F), 6-0, 6-0

Hall (UA) def. Courtney Price (F), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Kern/Ma (UA) def. Postupack/Rys (F), 8-4

Hall/Mackey (UA) def. Cerrone/Amberg (F), 8-1

Tatler/Weltman (UA) def. Ruiz/Lauren Bonanno (F), 8-3

All Tickets Sold for Saturday's Big Purple Growl Basketball Doubleheader on UAlbany Campus

All tickets have been sold for the University at Albany’s Big Purple Growl and Ferocious Feast on Saturday, Feb. 2. at SEFCU Arena. seats a capacity crowd of 4,538. The University’s Winter Homecoming features a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader with America East Conference opponent Stony Brook University. The women’s game begins at 4:30 p.m., while the men follow at 7:00 p.m.

Big Purple Growl T-shirts, courtesy of Verizon Wireless, will be distribsuted to the first 750 fans at the doubleheader. Students will participate in the CDTA Shot for Tuition, with the winner receiving an award that is equivalent to one semester’s in-state tuition. Alumni will also shoot for prizes. Residential Life will sponsor a housing lottery for five lucky UAlbany students during halftime of the men’s game. In addition, one fan, chosen in a random drawing, will play for two other fans in the SEFCU Money Machine. UAlbany’s pep band, dance team and cheerleaders will perform. The Earth Tones, the school’s men’s a capella group, and women’s basketball team captain TaNika Thrower are scheduled to sing the National Anthem prior to each game.

UAlbany's Freddie Wills Leads Heptathlon After First Day of Syracuse Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Syracuse, N.Y. – UAlbany’s Freddie Wills leads the men’s heptathlon after the first day of competition at the Syracuse Invitational at Manley Field House.

Wills, who has 3,002 points after four events, won the high jump with a height of 6-feet, 6.75-inches and the long jump with a leap of 23-2. He also came in second in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.74 seconds and third in the shot put (37-1). Senior David Parker (Niskayuna) was first in the shot put with a toss of 38-feet, 6.25-inches and has 2,704 total points after day one. In addition, he tied for third in the high jump (6-4.25).

Freshman Kevin O’Riley is in fifth place through four events with 2,663 points. O’Riley had his best performance in the 55-meter dash with a third place showing. Nick Jones is in 12th place with 1,797 points. Jones’ best showing came in the shot put. . Chris Palicka tallied 1,607 points through four events. His best performance came in the 55-meter dash. The heptathlon finishes on Saturday with the 55-meter high hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000-meter run.

In the women’s pentathlon, senior Valerie Maignan placed fifth and freshman Christen Griffin came in seventh. Maignan posted four top-5 finishes to accumulate 3,015 points. Her best performance came in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.76 seconds. Griffin came in third in the 55-meter hurdles as she tallied 2,560 total points. Jillian Drouin of Syracuse won the pentathlon with 3,862 points.


Men’s Heptathlon
1. Freddie Wills (UAlbany) 3,002; 2. Jon Buice (Syracuse) 2,819; 3. Eric Cleckner (Syracuse) 2,738; 4. David Parker (UAlbany) 2,704; 5. Kevin O’Riley 2,663; 6. Mike Chitro (Syracuse) 2,622; 7. Terry Barresi (Syracuse) 2,554; 8. Evan Stivala (Syracuse) 2,410; 9. Shomari Felder (Oswego) 2,391; 10. Nick Damato (Syracuse) 2,334; 11. Chris McAllister (Oswego) 2,040; 12. Nick Jones (UAlbany) 1,797; 13. Chris Palicka (UAlbany) 1,607.

Women’s Pentathlon
1. Jillian Drouin (Syracuse) 3,862; 2. Uhunoma Osazuwa (Syracuse) 3,699; 3. Kaity Lambracht (Syracuse) 3,602; 4. Kayla Carter (Syracuse) 3,216; 5. Valerie Maignan (UAlbany) 3,015; 6. Marsha Fiesinger (Binghamton) 3,015; 7. Christen Griffin (UAlbany) 2,560; 8. Rosie DeFino (Binghamton) 2,499.

UAlbany Places 60 Student-Athletes on America East Academic Honor Roll

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany had 60 student-athletes named to the 2007 America East Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon. Students had to earn grade point averages of 3.0 or above for the fall semester to receive this recognition. Students earning a 3.5 GPA or better were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. America East honored 614 fall student-athletes from around the conference.

The UAlbany men’s soccer team featured the highest number of honorees for the Great Danes, with 17 student-athletes earning recognition. Mikael McNamara, Michael Dineen and Sander Anker also earned Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades.

The UAlbany field hockey team had nine members recognized, with all nine student-athletes earning the top academic honor with over a 3.5 GPA. All-conference honorees Ashley Ross and Anouk Vandenburg highlighted the award recipients.

Women’s soccer had 11 student-athletes recognized, with six being named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, while women’s cross country had eight selections, three earning commissioner’s distinction. The defending conference champion volleyball squad had seven players named to the honor roll, with four posting over a 3.5 GPA. Men’s cross country also had eight student-athletes on the list, including ECAC Champion Ricardo Estremera.

Vermont had the most honor roll members, with 91 student-athletes earning the award. New Hampshire and Stony Brook followed with 89 and 83 honorees, respectively. Maine had 77 honor roll award winners, including the most Commissioner’s Honor Roll members with 48. Binghamton (66), Hartford (51), Boston U. (48) and UMBC (33) rounded out the nine member schools.



-agate-

2007 America East Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll

Men’s Cross Country: Joseph Belokopitsky, David Rothman, Jonathan Hilbert, Jared Jupin, Christopher Jiminez, Mitchel Troise, Ricardo Estremera, Johnathan Moore.

Women’s Cross Country: Briana McNamee, Laine Sefick, Lea Lovell, Jessica Chichester, Kristin Grab, Kristine Mun*, Laura Cummings*, Alexandra Panos*.

Men’s Soccer: Erik DiLorenzo, Gabriel Seguin-Gauthier, Ian Peach, Anthony Desalvo, Joshua Kwilecki, Kenneth Ibe, Bozidar Jelovac, Andrew Fojanesi, Andrew Newnham, Joseph Hogan, Christian Valasquez, Don Johnson, Brian Gordon, Colin Veney, Mikael McNamara*, Michael Dineen*, Sander Anker*.

Women’s Soccer: Jaclyn Rosada, Caitlin Mulligan, Meghan Garrity, Teresa Boring, Sarah Morrell, Kelly McGuire*, Ashley Tirabassi*, Uju Ogbuawa*, Maria Ligouri*, Jaclyn Schaaf*, Kaylin Connolly*.

Field Hockey: Carrie Brown*, Susan Clephane*, Jess Lindsey*, Joanna Irey*, Ashley Ross*, Anouk Vandenburg*, Sarah Deane*, Samantha Daly*, Vanessa Walter*.

Volleyball: Casey Wright, Teresa Coppiellie, Natasha Marquis, Laura Livergood*, Tawny Dahmes*, Valerie Sourbeer*, Samantha Jacobson*.



* Denotes America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll

University of Albany's Men's Lacrosse

#12 UALBANY - HOME GAMES:
Feb 26 - Siena 2pm
Mar 15 - Drexel 1pm
Mar 21 - Princeton 1pm
Mar 29 - Binghamton 1pm
Apr 08 - Yale 7pm
Apr 20 - Vermont 1pm
Apr 26 - Stony Brook 7pm

University of Albany Women's Basketball Cruises to 80-60 Win Over Binghamton in America East Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sherri Mikus and TaNika Thrower each scored 15 points to place five players in double figures in leading UAlbany to an 80-60 win over Binghamton in America East Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at SEFCU Arena.

Binghamton (6-13, AE 4-2) scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer by Erica Carter, but it would be the only lead the Bearcats would hold. UAlbany tied the game with a trey by Thrower on the next possession, and took the lead at 17:51 on a jumper in the paint by Charity Iromuanya. The Great Danes built up an 8-point lead, 15-7, with 15:33 in the game on a shot from beyond the arc by Kristin Higy, who would finish with 12 points for UAlbany. Carter dropped another three of her own on the ensuing Binghamton possession to cut the lead to five, but the Great Danes would continue to add to their lead, taking a 12-point advantage at 10:37 on a Mikus bucket.

Binghamton cut the lead back to single digits on two free throws by Muffy Sadler at 7:17, but UAlbany would outscore the Bearcats 12-1 over the remainder of the first half to take a 42-21 advantage into the locker room.

The Great Danes took over again to start the second period, building up a 24-point lead, 47-23 on a 3-pointer by Iromuanya. Binghamton continued to push a comeback, pulling within 18 on Carter’s third trey of the game with 10:27 left to play. An Amira Ford layup at 6:24 gave UAlbany a 71-48 advantage. The Bearcats would get to within 17 on two free throws by Darryll Peterson with 4:33 on the clock, but they would get no closer.

Free throws by Kirsten Peterson and Ashley Lindsay down the stretch would build back the 20-point advantage, and a steal by Kim Clements with seven seconds remaining sealed the win for the Great Danes.

“This was a must-win for us,” said Mikus, who started her third straight game for UAlbany. “We lost a game against UMBC that we knew we should have won, and this win was step one of digging ourselves out of the hole we got ourselves into with that loss. We needed this momentum heading into the weekend with the Big Purple Growl coming up on Saturday.”

UAlbany (5-14, AE 3-3) received 10 points and five assists from Britney McGee. Iromuanya added 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Great Danes. She also went 2-for-2 from behind the arc, helping the Great Danes to 54.5-percent (6-of-11) from 3-point land. Senior Gia Sanders, who returned to the court for UAlbany after missing the last two games with injury, and contributed three steals and a block, along with three points and two boards in 20 minutes of action.

“We had a great team effort,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot a season-best 50.8-percent (32-of-63) from the floor. “I have said that I think we are the most athletic team in the conference. When we start flying around like we did tonight on offense and defense, the sky is the limit with what we can accomplish. This was a very good win for us.”

Carter paced Binghamton with 14 points, while center Laine Kurpniece added 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Juta Jahilo finished eight points for the Bearcats.

Men's Basketball Rally Falls Short in 69-65 America East Loss to Conference-Leader UMBC

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. -- Cavell Johnson had 18 points and Darryl Proctor added 15 as UMBC held off UAlbany, 69-65, in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Retriever Activities Center. The Retrievers remained in a virtual first-place tie in the conference standings.

UMBC (14-7, AE 6-2) led 38-30 early in the second half, but then tallied nine of the game's next 11 points. Proctor, who grabbed eight rebounds, hit a reverse layup, before Justin Fry canned a three-point field goal from the left corner. Johnson later made a jump hook for a 47-32 margin with 13:33 remaining.

UAlbany (9-11, AE 4-4) trailed by as much as 17 points in the period and were still behind, 58-44, with less than four minutes left. However, the Great Danes scored 10 unanswered to get back into the contest. Brian Lillis, who had 17 of his 19 points after halftime, drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to close the gap to 58-54.

The Great Danes, who had won six straight in this series, got within four on two other occasions in the stretch. Tim Ambrose was fouled while converting a drive in the lane that got his team within 64-60 with 38.6 seconds to play. But that was as close as UAlbany would get when Ambrose missed the subsequent free throw. UMBC's Johnson split a pair of foul shots and Proctor made two from the line to seal the outcome.

Ray Barbosa finished with 14 points for the Retrievers, who are having their best season since 2002 and have won eight of nine home games. UAlbany's Jon Iati and Brian Connelly scored 14 and 10, respectively. The Great Danes had their three-game road winning streak halted.

"I thought we played well for about 10 minutes,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team fell into a tie for fifth place in the America East standings. “It was a little too late against a very talented offensive team. I was proud of the way we came back, but we can't break down like we did on defense. The only way we can improve on that end of the floor is to communicate better."

Proctor helped the Retrievers get out to a 16-8 lead in the opening seven-plus minutes. Proctor made a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a fastbreak layup. He followed with a jumper from right of the lane in transition. UMBC extended its advantage to 29-17 when Barbosa tipped in his own miss. The Great Danes, who shot just 33 percent in the period, stayed within striking distance at halftime behind the play of Iati, who had 11 points off the bench.

"Our offense is not our problem,” explained Lillis, who has scored in double figures in 19 of 20 games this season. “Our defense drives our offense which is the way it should be. We got back into the game because we had more energy and played with a sense of urgency on defense."

University of Albany Prepares for 11th Annual Big Purple Growl on Saturday, Feb. 2

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The 11th annual Big Purple Growl and Ferocious Feast is set for Saturday, Feb. 2 on the University at Albany campus. The University’s Winter Homecoming features a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader with America East Conference opponent Stony Brook University at SEFCU Arena. The women’s game begins at 4:30 p.m., while the men follow at 7:00 p.m.

For ticket information, contact the UAlbany Athletic Ticket Office, at 518-442-4683. The Big Purple Growl is well on its way to becoming a sold-out event for the third consecutive year. There are currently 200 reserved seats available for general sale. The BPG event has averaged 3,555 fans in its 10-year history.

“The Big Purple Growl is an opportunity for students, alumni and fans to stay connected to the University at Albany and its athletic program,” UAlbany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy said. “It has been a pleasure to see the event grow and at the same time watch the excitement it brings to the campus environment.”

Big Purple Growl T-shirts, courtesy of Verizon Wireless, will be distributed to the first 750 fans at the doubleheader. Students will participate in the CDTA Shot for Tuition, with the winner receiving an award that is equivalent to one semester’s in-state tuition. Alumni will also shoot for prizes. Residential Life will sponsor a housing lottery for five lucky UAlbany students during halftime of the men’s game. In addition, one fan, chosen in a random drawing, will play for two other fans in the SEFCU Money Machine. UAlbany’s pep band, dance team and cheerleaders will perform. The Earth Tones, the school’s men’s a capella group, and women’s basketball team captain TaNika Thrower are scheduled to sing the National Anthem prior to each game.

The Ferocious Feast will be held in University Gymnasium, adjacent to SEFCU Arena, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The Feast is completely sold out. The expanded menu includes, soy whiskey chicken, barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and more. The Puppy Pound for younger children highlights a list of entertainment options.

Jean Juste Named America East Conference Track Performer of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jean Juste has been named the America East Conference men’s indoor track performer of the week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.

Juste, a junior from Hempstead, N.Y., won the 55-meter hurdles to lead the UAlbany men’s team to a first place finish at UAlbany’s Great Dane Classic on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. Juste, also a cornerback on the UAlbany football team, crossed the finish line in an IC4A-qualifying time of 7.45 seconds, the fastest in meet history and the America East Conference this season. He was just two-hundredths of a second shy of breaking the Armory collegiate record.

UAlbany returns to the track on Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2 at Yale’s Giegengack Invitational in New Haven, Conn.

University of Albany NanoTech and IMEC to Collaborate on EUV Lithography Research

Researchers from the UAlbany NanoTech and IMEC (Leuven, Belgium) consortia, together with lithographers from IBM Corp. and ASML Holding NV (Veldhoven, Netherlands), will collaborate on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography research.

The collaboration comes as the ASML alpha demonstration tools (ADTs) at both Albany NanoTech and IMEC are being upgraded with higher-power sources of the EUV radiation.

An initial upgrade will boost the source power at the intermediate focus to ~5-10 W, enough to process ~5 wph with full-field exposures. In the second quarter of 2008, plans call for the source power and debris mitigation modules to be upgraded again, giving IMEC and Albany NanoTech ~10 wph capabilities, according to Kurt Ronse, lithography program director at IMEC.

Ronse said, “Since EUV is still in a development phase, the alpha demo tools have to be upgraded occasionally. By opening our facilities for each others’ EUV experiments, we can guarantee acceleration of EUV research to our industrial partners.”

The majority of the EUV activities will focus on the advanced imaging capabilities of the ADTs, “with additional effort devoted to the understanding of new materials and various aspects of equipment technology,” the announcement said.

Alain Kaloyeros, chief administrative officer at the University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), said, “The UAlbany NanoCollege is pleased to partner with IMEC, the leading European R&D organization, and welcome our IMEC colleagues to CNSE’s Albany NanoTech Complex, where together with our partners from IBM and ASML, we have a unique opportunity to enable significant advances in EUVL technology that are vital to the manufacturing of future generations of nanoelectronics devices."

Courtesy: Staff - Semiconductor International

UAlbany Men Win Great Dane Classic For First Time, Women Finish Third

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New York, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Michael McCadney tied his own school record in winning the triple jump to lead his team to the men’s title at the sixth annual Great Dane Classic at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. The UAlbany men won the competition for the first time in the meet’s history, while the women’s team placed third.

McCadney, who originally set the triple jump record at the 2007 IC4A championship, registered a leap of 50-feet, 11-inches to garner first place and qualify for this season’s IC4A meet. Jean Juste, a cornerback on the UAlbany football team, won the 55-meter high hurdles in an IC4A-qualifying time of 7.45 seconds, while freshman Daniel Avery qualified for the IC4As by placing fourth in 7.69 seconds.

Sophomore Jeffery Barnes (Albany High) crossed the finish line second in the 200-meter dash in 22.04 seconds to qualify for the IC4A meet. Junior Joe Greene posted another IC4A mark in the 400-meter dash with a second-place time of 48.76. Barnes and Greene combined with Lynval Clarke and Torshiro Jenkins to place fourth in the 4x400-meter relay in an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:17.93.

In the high jump, senior David Parker (Niskayuna) cleared the bar at 6-feet, 7-inches to record a first-place finish. Valete Graham (23-9.5) and Freddie Wills (23-2.75) finished first and second, respectively, in the long jump as both qualified for the IC4A meet. Freshman Wilfredo de Jesus Elias established an IC4A-mark of 57-feet, 3.5-inches in the weight throw register a second-place finish.

In the women’s competition, Kamilah McShine won the 55-meter hurdles with an ECAC-qualifying time of 8.16 seconds. In the triple jump, Jenn Gurrant was second with a leap of 40-feet, 6.25-inches, while Arina Gerasimova (38-7) was fifth. Each athlete qualified for the ECAC championship. Brenna Militello placed second in the high jump by clearing a height of 5-feet, 5-inches.

The Great Danes return to the action at Yale University’s Giegengack Invitational on Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2.


UAlbany Men’s Results

55m Dash: 7. Dieuseul Joseph 6.55, 12. Raphael Jean Baptiste 6.60, 20. Kyle Nadler 6.69, 23. Michael McCadney 6.73. 55m High Hurdles: 1. Jean Juste 7.45 (IC4A), 4. Danny Avery 7.69 (IC4A), 6. Joe Greene 7.77, 7. Freddie Wills 7.81, 10. Anthony Assent 7.99, 11. Nick Assini 8.00, 16. David Parker 8.10, 19. Garrett Askew 8.15, 29. Alfred Pryor Jr 8.45. 200m Dash: 2. Jeffery Barnes 22.04 (IC4A), 18. Raphael Jean Baptiste 22.71, 26. Drew Harrison 23.02. 400m Dash: 2. Joe Greene 48.76 (IC4A), 21. Lynval Clarke 50.59. 500m Dash: 17. Alan Nimblette 1:08.23. 800m Run: 5. Tyler Fogarty 1:55.23, 23. Bryan Lasky 2:00.14. 1,000m Run: 7. Joe Belokopitsky 2:35.56. 1 Mile Run: 21. Jon Hilbert 4:39.75. 3,000m Run: 4. Brian Yurkewecz 8:38.51, 23. David Rothman 9:11.70, 25. Chris Jimenez 9:16.94. 4x400m Relay: 4. Lynval Clarke, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes, Joe Greene 3:17.93 (IC4A), 16. Drew Harrison, Alan Nimblette, Andrew Overbaugh, Tyler Fogarty 3:27.82. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Joe Belokopitsky, Alan Nimblette, Bryan Lasky, Brian Yurkewecz 10:28.77. High Jump: 1. David Parker 6-7, 5. Freddie Wills 6-5, 9. Anthony Collica 6-3.25. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 16-2.75 (IC4A), 3. Michael Dempsey 15-9 (IC4A), 6. David Parker 15-3, Nick Jones NH. Long Jump: 1. Valete Graham 23-9.5 (IC4A), 2. Freddie Wills 23-2.75 (IC4A), 4. Kyle Nadler 22-7.75, 8. Kevin O'Riley 21-6, 15. Dong Ning Hu 21-0.75, 16. David Parker 20-11.25, C.J. Ross 18-5.25. Triple Jump: 1. Michael McCadney 50-11 (IC4A), 2. Freddie Wills 46-10.75, 5. Dong Ning Hu 44-9, 6. Kevin O’Riley 44-6.75, 11. Valete Graham 42-9.5, 13. C.J. Ross 42-6.25, Ray Gilman FOUL. Shot Put: 6. Will Anger 49-0.25, 11. Renauld Buck 44-11.75, 13. Frank Fazzino 44-2, 19. Jordan Meikle 38-11.75. Weight Throw: 2. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 57-3.5 (IC4A), 5. Will Anger 53-7, 6. Kevin Lee 51-7.75.


UAlbany Women’s Results

55m Dash: 21. Sarah Lapierre 7.44, 27. Sandy Antenor 7.68, 31. Arielle Roberts 7.78, 34. Traequanda Brock 7.89. 55m High Hurdles: 1. Kamilah McShine 8.16 (ECAC), 20. Valerie Maignan 8.74. 200m Dash: 50. Sarah Lapierre 27.94, 53. Arielle Roberts 28.20.
400m Dash: 19. Corrine Porter-Stepney 59.64, 22. Melissa Lee 1:00.26, 26. Laura Bolognino 1:00.80, 42. Lesan Mattis 1:04.79. 500m Dash: 19. Rebecca Kelly 1:20.05, 22. Octavia Clarkson 1:21.29. 1,000m Run: 4. Laura Cummings 2:59.89, 12. Danielle Trimpop 3:09.32, 17. Tashia Alexander 3:20.71, 18. Briana McNamee 3:22.71. 3,000m Run: 4. Kristine Mun 10:27.99, 11. Laine Sefick 10:53.32, 21. Kristin Grab 11:23.24. 1 Mile Run: 26. Briana McNamee 5:45.78. 4x400m Relay: 7. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Corrine Porter-Stepney, Melissa Lee 3:57.49, 16. Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Ashley Vives, Rebecca Kelly 4:10.16. Distance Medley Relay: 4. Kristine Mun, Ashley Vives, Zuliana Fontanez, Laura Cummings 12:15.10. High Jump: 2. Brenna Militello 5-5, Denise Parker NH. Long Jump: 5. Jenn Gurrant 18-6, T9. Valerie Maignan 17-11, 12. Tiffany Sprenkels 17-8. Triple Jump: 2. Jenn Gurrant 40-6.25 (ECAC), 5. Arina Gerasimova 38-7 (ECAC), 7. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-1.5, 9. Sandy Antenor 37-5.25, 17. Traequanda Brock 35-9.5. Weight Throw: 5. Kadine Johnson 46-8.25, 6. Sineaid Corley 46-3.25, 7. Ritshell Verdier 45-7.25. Shot Put: 4. Kadine Johnson 43-6.5, 13. Ritshell Verdier 37-10.5, 14. Ashley Lewis 37-0.25. Pole Vault: 9. Corinna Hengen 9-4.25, 10. Krystal Myers 9-4.25.

Women’s Basketball Falls to America East Conference-Leader Hartford, 63-55

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

West Hartford, Conn. – Senior Danielle Hood scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead Hartford to a 63-55 win over UAlbany in America East Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Chase Arena.

Hartford (15-4, AE 5-1), the coaches’ preseason selection to win the conference, used back-to-back three-pointers from Hood and MaryLynne Schaefer to open the second half to pull away from the Great Danes. Hood, a 6-foot-1 center who made 6-of-10 from the field and all seven of her free throw attempts, connected on a layup with 8:22 remaining in the second half as Hartford built its largest lead at 51-37.

UAlbany (4-14, AE 2-3) scored the game’s next eight points to close with six at the 5:36 mark on Sherri Mikus’ jump shot in the paint. Mary Silvia followed with a basket and Diana Delva converted layups on consecutive possessions as Hartford pushed the lead back to 57-45 two minutes later.

Sophomore TaNika Thrower, a 5-foot-6 guard, tallied seven of her team’s final 10 points to deliver the final score. Thrower tallied 17 points, one off her season-high, and was the lone Great Dane in double figures. She added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

"Our goal was to play hard, with intensity, and don't play softly,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team dropped its third straight conference game after starting league play with a pair of wins. “We played well, especially in the second half. We knew they were post-dominant, and we had a hard time stopping (Danielle) Hood. Their offensive rebounds hurt us."

Schaefer and Erica Beverly each recorded 10 points to join Hood in twin figures for the Hawks, who remained tied atop the America East standings with Vermont. Delva registered a game-high 12 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass, to go along with nine points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Hartford jumped out to a 17-9 lead midway through the opening half on Delva’s layup. The Great Danes responded with 14 of the game’s next 23 points to close within three at 26-23 with 3:58 remaining in the stanza on a Kirsten Peterson layup. Thrower keyed the run by hitting a three-pointer and a jump shot. The Hawks closed out the half with a stretch of seven straight points to go into intermission with a 33-24 advantage. Hood tallied four of her 12 first half points in that span.

#12 UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Opens Practice, Prepares For Opener on ESPNU

The University at Albany men's lacrosse team held its second practice of the season on Thursday in snow flurries that made it hard to see the ball.
The two-hour workout had a strange conclusion. The players made snow angels on the Fallon Field turf.

"That was fun," said head coach Scott Marr, whose team opened practice on Wednesday, when classes resumed. "(Sophomore attackman) Kyle Brunk is from Arizona and had never made a snow angel before, so he had to make one. It was great. He's 6-5, so he made a pretty big one."

While encouraging his players to enjoy themselves, Marr is reminding the Great Danes they're out to prove their breakthrough 2007 season was no one-year wonder.

"You have to continue to win to earn respect," Marr said. "We have to go out and re-prove ourselves, almost, so it isn't considered a fluke. We're not rebuilding at all. We have a lot of guys back from last season."

National pundits have agreed by choosing UAlbany 12th in the preseason polls. The Great Danes open their season at defending national champion Johns Hopkins on Feb. 23, a rematch of UAlbany's stunning upset that began its run last season.

Except this time, UAlbany won't have attackmen Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson, the two leading scorers in program history, who graduated. They combined for 113 goals last season, 46 percent of the team's total, as UAlbany had a program-record 15 wins and advanced to the NCAA Division I quarterfinals for the first time.

The season ended with an overtime loss to top-ranked Cornell only one game from the Final Four in Baltimore. Junior attackman Corey Small, who scored 24 goals in part-time duty last season, said that memory lingers.

"We don't want to forget last year," Small said. "We want to look at last year to improve on what we did last year and see if we can make it to the Final Four and national championship game (in Foxborough, Mass.)."

Small moves into Thomson's spot as a left-handed attack and highly touted 6-4 freshman Brian Caufield of Bay Shore assumes Resetarits' role.

"Our biggest issue is the scoring issue," Marr said. "Typically, when you lose your leading scorer, it hurts you. We lost two kids with over 500 (career) points combined. ... We feel confident we have kids capable of (scoring), but they haven't been in those situations yet."

Although UAlbany will remain an up-tempo team, Marr said his team will compensate for its offensive losses by tightening its defense.

The Danes return a solid core with senior midfielder Jordan Levine, a preseason All-American, senior defenseman Craig McDonald and senior goalkeeper Brett Queener, who was granted an extra year of eligibility. Courtesy: M.SINGELAIS


UAlbany Opens Season @ National Champion Johns Hopkins on ESPNU

As part of its multiyear agreement with Johns Hopkins University lacrosse, ESPNU will continue to televise every home game of the men's team and because of that deal the University at Albany will help open the network's 2008 season.

The Great Danes will be at Johns Hopkins on Feb. 23 to kick off ESPNU's regular-season college lacrosse schedule. The game is scheduled to start at noon.

UAlbany was ranked 12th in the nation in Lacrosse magazine's preseason rankings. The Great Danes made their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years by winning the America East Conference championship in 2007. The Great Danes, who finished 15-3 overall, dropped a 12-11 overtime decision to top-ranked Cornell in the quarterfinal round. The NCAA matchup was rated last season's top game by Lacrosse magazine.

Johns Hopkins is ranked third in the preseason poll.

UAlbany's Luke Schoen Named America East Conference Field Performer of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen has been named the America East Conference men’s indoor field performer of the week, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., placed second in the pole vault at the Gotham Cup hosted by New York University on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. Schoen, the school record holder in the event, cleared the bar at an IC4A-qualifying height of 16-feet, 2.75-inches, the third-best performance in program history.

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Armory Track & Field Center as they host the sixth annual Great Dane Classic.

Maine Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Men's Basketball

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Mark Socoby had 18 of his 20 points in the second half as Maine rallied from a double-figure deficit to upend UAlbany, 81-70, in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (9-10, AE 4-3) trailed at halftime, but opened the final period with an 11-2 run. Brent Wilson put the Great Danes ahead with a jump hook. Jimmie Covington later scored off an offensive rebound, before Brian Connelly’s three-point play provided his team with a 41-37 advantage.

The Great Danes, who had won four of their last five entering the contest, pushed out to a 12-point margin with 10:58 remaining. Connelly, who had 15 points, converted a drive on the right baseline for a 51-39 lead. Maine (6-13, AE 2-4) responded with 15 of the game’s next 16 points and was propelled by a seven-point possession. UAlbany’s Brett Gifford, a 6-foot-11 center, was called for a technical foul after he fouled Kaimondre Owes. After the Black Bears made four free throws, Socoby drilled a three-point field goal from the right wing.

Socoby, who made 4-of-6 shots from long distance, eventually put his team in front when he nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner in transition. After the Great Danes tied the contest at 54 apiece on Jerel Hastings’ tip-in, Maine scored eight unanswered to pull away for good. Socoby ignited that stretch with a bank shot off the dribble. He and Owes each made two free throws, before Junior Bernal added a fastbreak layup for a 62-54 margin with 5:49 to play.

UAlbany was still within five of the lead two minutes later, but Socoby sealed the outcome with a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass. Bernal, who had 16 points and four rebounds, pushed the margin to double digits by sinking two foul shots. Owes, playing in his eighth game since transferring from St. Peter’s, finished with 17 points and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the line.

“Any win is important,” said Maine coach Ted Woodward, whose team knocked off conference-leader UMBC on the road 11 days ago. “After we had a good win at UMBC, we struggled some at home. But we were still pleased with certain things. This team is growing all the time.”

The first half featured 10 lead changes and three ties. UAlbany’s Tim Ambrose, who scored 16 off the bench, tallied off a fastbreak to draw his team even at 28 apiece. But Maine followed with seven of the stanza’s final eight points. Sean McNally keyed that spurt with a 3-pointer from right of the key, as his team took a 35-30 lead to the break.

Brian Lillis had 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Great Danes, who have lost back-to-back home games for the first time since January 2005. The Black Bears, who halted a three-game losing streak, shot 64.7 percent from the field and made 31-of-36 from the charity stripe.

“It’s real frustrating because we didn’t start off the game with a lot of energy,” said UAlbany center Jimmie Covington, who had four points and a season-best seven rebounds. “Basketball is a game of runs, but we didn’t get any stops. Everyone (on this team) has to look within themselves and hold themselves accountable.”

University of Albany's Van Orman Wins National Award

UAlbany doctoral student Kimberly Van Orman is one of 10 recipients nationwide of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award for 2008.

The award will give Van Orman an opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) Jan. 23-26 in Washington, D.C., where she will participate in a discussion panel about her work.

Orman is a Future Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Teaching, Learning & Academic Leadership (ITAL), working on the design and implementation of a Preparing Future Faculty program at Albany. She is currently completing her dissertation in the Department of Philosophy while spending 20 hours a week on the project.

The K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education, and whose work reflects a strong emphasis on teaching and learning.

The awards are sponsored by K. Patricia Cross, David Gardner Professor of Higher Education, Emerita, at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1996 through 2005, the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards were administered by the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE), where Cross had served as chair of AAHE's board of directors. The AACU became the partner association in 2006.

The award recipients were chosen in a highly competitive selection process out of approximately 150 nominees from universities across the country. The honorees "represent the finest in the new generation of faculty who will teach and lead higher education in the next decades," said AACU President Carol Geary Schneider.

Great Danes Fall Short in 56-55 Defeat Against UMBC in America East Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kristin Drabyn had 20 points and Carlee Cassidy added 19 as UMBC held off UAlbany, 56-55, in an America East Conference contest on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at SEFCU Arena.

UMBC (6-12, AE 2-3) snapped a 33-33 tie early in the second half with 11 unanswered. Drabyn, who made 8-of-11 from the field, buried one of her four 3-point field goals, before Cassidy followed with another long-range jumper from the left wing. After Michele Brokans converted a driving layup, Cassidy ended that outburst with a 3-pointer from the right corner.

UAlbany (4-13, AE 2-2) rallied with 12 of the game’s next 14 points to close the gap to 46-45. Sherri Mikus, who posted season-highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds, scored three baskets and made two free throws in that span. Kristin Higy converted in the lane off Charity Iromuanya’s feed to finish off that run with 9:50 remaining.

The Retrievers, who had dropped six of their previous seven entering the game, pushed out to a 53-47 lead when Meghan Colabella nailed a jumper from the just above the foul line. But UAlbany fought back again behind Higy, a 6-foot-1 senior who had eight of her 11 points in the stretch. Her three-pointer from the left side drew her team within 54-52.

After UMBC’s Jenny Lidgren connected in the lane from a driving Cassidy, Higy sliced the deficit to 56-55 when she stepped out on the right wing to drill a 3-pointer. Lidgren would turn the ball over with 16 seconds left on a travel call, but UAlbany failed to get off a clean attempt on its last possession when Higy’s long-range shot fell short.

“It shouldn’t have come down to a last-second shot,” explained Higy, whose squad was without the services of leading rebounder Gia Sanders due to a fractured finger on her right hand. “Unfortunately I couldn’t get a good shot off, but we put ourselves in that position.”

The Great Danes built a 22-15 lead with 7:50 left in the opening period by making nine of their opening 16 shots. Mikus hit a bank shot in the lane and freshman guard Janea Aiken, who had 10 of her 12 points in the period, canned a 16-foot jumper to give their team its biggest margin.

UMBC regrouped with a string of 11 consecutive points. Drabyn, a senior guard who netted 14 in the stanza, put her club ahead with a jumper in the circle. Cassidy, the conference’s top scorer, added a pair of free throws for a 26-22 advantage. The Retrievers, who reached the NCAAs for the first time last year after winning the conference tournament championship, would settle for a one-point halftime lead.

“This was a must-win for us if we were going to stay in the top four in the conference standings,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot 37.9 percent against UMBC’s zone defense. “We didn’t play with energy, we didn’t rebound like we normally do and we didn’t guard their key shooters. I am disappointed in the team’s effort.”