University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Begins 2008 Schedule Against No. 4 North Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 23

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany women’s lacrosse team begins its 2008 schedule against perennial power North Carolina at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Game time is 1:00 p.m. The Tar Heels, who have already opened with home wins against Loyola, Md. and Denver, are ranked No. 3 nationally by Inside Lacrosse and No. 4 in the IWLCA coaches’ poll.

2008 Season Preview

UAlbany took the first step in challenging for the America East Conference title on an annual basis when the Great Danes reached the conference tournament championship game in 2007. Now third-year head coach Lindsey Hart wants her program to take that momentum to the next level.

“Physically we have the things you need,” said Hart, who has guided the Great Danes to a pair of eight-win campaigns in her first two seasons at the helm. “The question will be whether mentally we can stay confident and have the desire to not settle for what we did in the past.”

The Great Danes have 12 returning players, including six starters, who will face an upgraded schedule that features nationally-recognized North Carolina, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.

“We want to play an aggressive, high-tempo style,” Hart explains. “It’s a pace that can take advantage of our strengths and gets us up and down the field. We have the kind of depth where we can sub the middies without losing our level of play.”

The Great Danes’ midfield begins with all-conference standout Kayla Best and senior Brittany Scott. Best, a second-team All-America East selection and conference rookie team member, totaled 32 goals and 10 assists in her first collegiate season. Scott, who had 16 goals and five assists, added 24 ground balls and 28 draw controls. Her game has benefitted from earning a roster spot following tryouts on the Canadian National Team.

“We will depend on Kayla who is amazingly quick and a great dodger,” Hart states. “Brittany is incredibly fast and has gained confidence from her experience with the Canadian team.”

Rory Redmond, a two-year starter, is also experienced in the midfield. She is one of four players back who scored 20-plus points (17 goals, 3 assists) last season.

The Great Danes will rely on an accomplished freshman class. Tee Ladouceur, Jodi Battaglia and Mel Rorie were each named to the U.S. Lacrosse high school All-America first team. Ladouceur, who scored 215 career goals, was her area’s offensive player of the year. Nikki Branchini, another scholastic All-American and Capital Region’s defensive player of the year, can also work on defense.

UAlbany’s all-time scorer has graduated, but the squad still has some capable point-producers on attack. Sophomore Christine Grueniger had an impact in her first season. She accounted for 28 goals and three assists en route to earning America East all-rookie honors.

“She was overlooked in the recruiting process, but has great hands,” Harts says. “When she was surrounded by talent last year, her game took off.”

Stacey Brown, who has played in 45 career games, and Jane Bush are also veteran attackers. Bush, who had 11 points as a sophomore, and freshman Andrea Hoda are expected to work from behind the cage.

The Great Danes will also welcome the return of Julie Bush, a 2006 America East All-Rookie Team member who missed most of last season with a knee injury. Bush tallied 41 points as a freshman, on 25 goals and 16 assists.

“Julie is the quarterback of our attack” Hart offers. “She is a very intelligent player with game sense and is like having a coach on the field. She can control the pace.”

Teresa Strano, one of four team captains, leads a group of defenders who can cover the opposition and take the ball back. She will be joined on the unit by Mackenzie Riegel and Sara Wolf, a pair of starters last year, and Renee Levitin. Connecticut transfer Tricia Primomo will make her presence felt immediately.

“They are very good team defenders,” Hart says, who will also use freshmen Kimberly Sumcizk and Stephanie Kempf. “As a group they have the knowledge and athleticism.”

Katie Neer, a junior, is ready to become the team’s starting goalkeeper following the graduation of the program’s career saves leader. Neer, who has appeared in 10 games over the last two seasons, can stop the ball and acts as an eighth defender on the field.

Kristin Higy Leads UAlbany to A-East Women's Basketball Win Over UMBC, 62-54

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. – Kristin Higy tied a season-high with 20 points while Gia Sanders added 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds to lead the UAlbany women’s basketball team to a 62-54 win over UMBC in America East Conference action on Wednesday evening at the RAC Arena.

UAlbany (10-15, AE 8-4) got out to a 17-0 lead to start the game, as UMBC missed its first seven shots. The Retrievers finally got on the board at the 12:00 mark on a 3-pointer by Kristin Drabyn. UMBC then went on an 11-4 run to cut the lead to seven, 21-14, with 7:08 left to play. Sanders was fouled on a layup and made the ensuing free throw to give the Great Danes back their double-digit lead, but the Retrievers scored the next seven points to cut within three, 24-21, on two free throws by Carlee Cassidy.

Sophomore guard Britney McGee knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:10 on the clock to give UAlbany a seven-point lead, 29-22, with just over three minutes left in the half. The teams would exchange baskets, ending with a Higy layup at 21 seconds to send the Great Danes to the locker room up, 33-26.

UMBC (8-17, AE 4-8) made back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half, and took a two-point lead, 35-33, on a layup and foul shot by Cassidy three minutes into the stanza. Higy scored six straight points for UAlbany to reclaim the lead for the Great Danes with 13:34 left to play

Sanders hit a 3-pointer and then assisted on Higy’s next basket to give UAlbany a nine-point lead, 52-43 with 6:55 left on the clock. A trey by Cassidy would cut the lead to four, 52-48, with just over four minutes remaining, but the Great Danes would use strong shooting down the stretch from Sanders and Higy to hold on to the lead and claim the win.

“This showed our ability to win the tough games on the road,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team had won five straight contests before falling to Vermont in the last outing. “Our energy in the beginning of the game helped us get back into it at the end. The senior leadership willed the team to win. The chemistry is very good on the floor for us.”

Higy was named the America East Conference Player of the Game for her efforts, which included shooting 9-of-13 from the floor, grabbing five rebounds and handing out four assists. Sanders, who returned to the starting lineup for the Great Danes, filled the boxscore, going 2-of-3 from 3-point range and recording five helpers, four steals and a block. Senior forward Sherri Mikus added six points, eight boards and two steals.

Cassidy led the UMBC with 17 points, including a 6-of-7 performance from the free throw line. Megan Colabella finished with 16 points, a team-high six rebounds and four assists, while Drabyn added 10 points for the Retrievers, who won the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season.



UAlbany 62, UMBC 54 (2/20/08 at RAC Arena (Baltimore, Md.))
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Official Basketball Box Score
ALBANY vs UMBC
2/20/08 7:00 at RAC Arena (Baltimore, Md.)
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VISITORS: ALBANY 10-15, 8-4 AEC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
24 Sanders, Gia........ f 7-14 2-3 2-3 2 6 8 1 18 5 6 1 4 37
31 Higy, Kristin....... f 9-13 2-4 0-0 3 2 5 1 20 4 1 0 0 34
02 McGee, Britney...... g 2-8 1-5 1-1 1 3 4 1 6 5 2 0 0 31
05 Thrower, Tanika..... g 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 14
23 Iromuanya, Charity.. g 2-5 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 2 4 0 3 1 0 23
01 Ford, Amira......... 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 12
10 Aiken, Janea........ 2-6 1-3 1-2 0 1 1 3 6 1 1 0 0 14
14 Clements, Kim....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
15 Mikus, Sherri....... 2-3 0-0 2-4 1 7 8 3 6 0 1 0 2 26
55 Peterson, Kirsten... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 7
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 25-53 6-19 6-10 9 26 35 18 62 17 18 2 7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-29 48.3% 2nd Half: 11-24 45.8% Game: 47.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-13 23.1% 2nd Half: 3-6 50.0% Game: 31.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 4-8 50.0% Game: 60.0% 2,1

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HOME TEAM: UMBC 8-17, 4-8 AEC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
10 Colabella, Meghan... f 6-10 1-2 3-3 1 5 6 4 16 4 2 0 1 34
05 Cassidy, Carlee..... g 5-16 1-9 6-7 2 3 5 0 17 2 3 0 1 36
13 Frazier, Chantay.... g 1-5 0-1 2-2 1 4 5 0 4 1 3 0 3 35
14 Drabyn, Kristin..... g 4-12 2-8 0-1 0 1 1 0 10 2 0 0 1 36
21 Brokans, Michele.... g 1-2 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 3 1 2 0 0 26
03 Barker, Chelsea..... 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 5
22 Robinson, Amanda.... 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 11
30 Hatten, Morgan...... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 2 2 0 0 2 17
TEAM................ 1 3 4
Totals.............. 19-51 5-21 11-13 6 20 26 7 54 12 14 1 9 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-23 39.1% 2nd Half: 10-28 35.7% Game: 37.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-7 28.6% 2nd Half: 3-14 21.4% Game: 23.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 5-6 83.3% Game: 84.6% 1,1

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Officials: Sue Blauch, Diana DePaul, Duane Mack
Technical fouls: ALBANY-None. UMBC-TEAM.
Attendance: 312
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
ALBANY........................ 33 29 - 62
UMBC.......................... 26 28 - 54

UMBC Edges Men´s Basketball in 81-77 Overtime Decision at SEFCU Arena in America East Conference Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Ray Barbosa had 27 points and Darryl Proctor added 22 points and 10 rebounds as UMBC held on for an 81-77 overtime win against UAlbany in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 20 before 3,380 fans at SEFCU Arena. The Retrievers, who have won seven in a row, clinched a share of the conference’s regular-season crown.

UAlbany (13-13, AE 8-6) came from 12 down in the final half to force the extra period. UMBC’s Barbosa, who had 20 second-half points, made pair of free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining for 68-65 lead. The Great Danes’ Brent Wilson then rifled a three-quarter court pass to Brian Lillis, who drilled a three-point field goal from the top of the arc with three-tenths of a second to play to draw his team even.

In overtime, UMBC (19-7, AE 11-2) took a quick lead that it never relinquished. Proctor, who made 11-of-18 from the field, canned a 10-footer on the right baseline, before Barbosa converted a driving layup following Cavell Johnson’s blocked shot on the defensive end. The Great Danes closed within one twice in the period. After Jay Greene sank a 3-pointer and Frank McKnight split a pair of foul shots for a 76-71 advantage, UAlbany’s Jon Iati came up with a four-point play. Iati, who tallied seven of his nine points in overtime, was fouled while making a three-pointer from the left wing following an offensive rebound.

The Retrievers, who have a three-game lead in the loss column over second-place Hartford in the league standings, scored on their next two possessions to put the game away. Proctor put back an offensive rebound basket after Barbosa missed a three-point attempt. Justin Fry then made two free throws for an 80-75 lead with 15.8 seconds left.

“We did a great job on that possession in overtime, but we gave up the offensive rebound,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team fell to UMBC, 69-65, in the first meeting of the season on Jan. 30. “Every time we got close they had an answer, so give them credit. They score so easily, but they also hit some tough shots in the second half.”

UMBC led by as much as 11 in the first half before settling for a 32-24 halftime margin. The Retrievers, who shot 48.4 percent from the floor, used an 8-2 run early in the final stanza to build a 43-31 cushion. Barbosa, who made 6-of-15 from beyond the arc, nailed two 3-pointers in that stretch.

The Great Danes, who had won four of their last five entering the contest, would then run off 13 unanswered to get back into the fray. Wilson, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, and freshman Josh Martin netted back-to-back three-pointers in that span. Lillis, who scored 18 after the break, connected on a drive and spun to hit a short bank shot that put his team ahead 44-43. The game remained tight over the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Johnson, a 6-foot-8 senior, was the third UMBC player in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds. UAlbany’s Jerel Hastings and Tim Amborse had 10 points apiece.

“The ball just got over the defender’s hands on the inbounds (at the end of regulation),” said Lillis, who added eight rebounds and five assists. “I knew there was 3.3 seconds and I had time to react. We were flat in the first half, and (point guard) Jay Greene did a good job of creating for them. We picked things up on defense and made some shots in the second half and that’s why we were able to get back into it.”



UMBC 81, UAlbany 77, OT (2/20/08 at SEFCU Arena)


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Official Basketball Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Basketball Box Score
UMBC vs Albany
2/20/08 7:07 p.m. at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)
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VISITORS: UMBC 19-7, AE 11-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
21 Spadafora, Matt..... f 3-9 1-4 0-1 2 5 7 5 7 3 1 0 2 36
30 Fry, Justin......... f 2-3 0-0 3-4 0 4 4 3 7 1 0 0 0 29
32 Proctor, Darryl..... f 11-18 0-0 0-1 2 8 10 3 22 4 4 0 2 41
02 Greene, Jay......... g 3-8 1-4 0-0 1 0 1 0 7 4 3 0 1 45
34 Barbosa, Ray........ g 8-17 6-15 5-6 0 3 3 1 27 0 0 0 1 42
20 McKnight, Frank..... 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
22 Johnson, Cavell..... 4-9 0-1 2-4 1 6 7 1 10 4 1 2 0 29
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 31-64 8-24 11-18 8 26 34 14 81 16 9 2 6 225


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-28 50.0% 2nd Half: 13-28 46.4% OT: 4-8 50.0% Game: 48.4% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd Half: 4-13 30.8% OT: 1-3 33.3% Game: 33.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0% 2nd Half: 6-7 85.7% OT: 4-7 57.1% Game: 61.1% 1


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HOME TEAM: Albany 13-13, AE 8-6
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
33 Connelly, Brian..... f 1-7 0-0 2-2 2 3 5 0 4 0 3 0 1 21
34 Wilson, Brent....... f 4-10 2-7 0-0 3 6 9 1 10 4 0 1 1 39
55 Turley, Al.......... c 3-7 0-0 1-1 2 3 5 2 7 0 2 1 0 20
05 Hastings, Jerel..... g 5-9 0-1 0-0 2 4 6 4 10 0 0 0 0 30
21 Lillis, Brian....... g 8-16 1-2 3-5 2 6 8 5 20 5 7 0 1 38
03 Martin, Josh........ 2-5 1-3 0-0 0 2 2 1 5 2 0 0 0 14
14 Iati, Jon........... 2-5 2-5 3-3 2 2 4 0 9 1 0 0 0 28
23 Ambrose, Tim........ 3-10 1-2 3-4 6 3 9 2 10 2 1 1 0 23
42 Covington, Jimmie... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 6
54 Gifford, Brett...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 6
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 29-71 7-20 12-15 19 31 50 17 77 14 14 3 3 225


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-28 32.1% 2nd Half: 17-33 51.5% OT: 3-10 30.0% Game: 40.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-7 14.3% 2nd Half: 4-8 50.0% OT: 2-5 40.0% Game: 35.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-5 100 % 2nd Half: 6-9 66.7% OT: 1-1 100 % Game: 80.0% 0


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Officials: Michael Stephens, Lee Marelli, Mike McCloskey
Technical fouls: UMBC-None. Albany-None.
Attendance: 3380
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total
UMBC.......................... 32 36 13 - 81
Albany........................ 24 44 9 - 77
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University of Albany´s Melissa Lee Named America East Indoor Track Performer of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

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

Lee, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., won the 400-meter dash in 59.42 seconds to lead the UAlbany women’s team to a second place finish in a tri-meet with Binghamton and Syracuse on Friday, February 15 at the Binghamton University Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. Lee also placed second as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team which finished in a time of 4:00.51.

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 in Boston, Mass. for the America East Conference Championship.

Women's Basketball Falls in Battle for Second Place in America East Conference Standings

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Amy Rosenkrantz and Courtnay Pilypaitis each had 17 points in leading Vermont to a 68-48 America East Conference victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Feb. 16 at SEFCU Arena. The Catamounts, who have won seven of their last nine games, moved into sole possession of second place in the conference standings.

The Great Danes, who trailed by as much as 15 in the opening half, closed within 34-30 early in the final period on an offensive rebound basket by Gia Sanders, a senior forward who had five points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Vermont (17-7, AE 8-3) responded with nine unanswered. Rosenkrantz, who made 7-of-10 from field, scored six in that run. She canned jumpers from the baseline and left elbow and later sank two foul shots for a 43-30 advantage with 15:51 remaining.

The Catamounts, who held the home team to 28.8-percent shooting on 19-of-66 attempts, were still ahead 49-38, but then pulled away with eight straight points. Pilypaitis, who recorded a triple-double in her last outing, hit a driving layup before May Kotsopoulos drilled a three-point field goal from the left corner. Pilypaitis, who added a career-high 14 rebounds to her scoring total, then connected on a three-point play when she was fouled on a scoop shot in the lane that provided her team with a commanding 19-point margin.

“That was a great team effort,” said Vermont coach Sharon Dawley, whose squad beat conference-leader Hartford three days ago. “We played unselfish basketball. Albany creates matchup problems with their lineup, but we did a nice job on the boards and defensively.”

Vermont rolled to a 9-0 lead at the start as UAlbany (9-15, AE 7-4) missed its opening eight field goal tries. The Catamounts were still in front 22-17, but then tallied 12 of the game’s next 14 points. Kelli Poles, a 6-foot-1 junior who had 10 of her 14 points in the period, hit a turnaround in the lane and Sy Janousek nailed a 3-pointer to ignite that outburst. Poles, who made 7-of-12 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds, would later put back a missed three-pointer before Pilypaitis made two free throws for a 34-19 cushion.

The Great Danes, who had their five-game win streak halted, the longest since December 1998, got back into the contest by the intermission. Freshman guard Janea Aiken, who had all 12 of her points before the break, delivered a 3-pointer from the left corner. Britney McGee knifed through the lane for layup and Sherri Mikus split two free throws to slice the deficit to six at halftime.

“We didn’t take the shots that we wanted, we took the shots that they gave us,” said Sanders, whose club was held to a season-low point total. “We needed more intensity and a determination to win. You can’t get in a hole like we did.”

Added UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, “They are a good team that just beat Hartford. We are trying to get there. We had the effort, but they countered everything with offense and rebounding. We were not able to get a lot inside touches and were not as patient.”



Paw Prints: UAlbany saluted the WBCA's "Think Pink" Breast Cancer Awarenes Program at Saturday's game with Vermont ... five surviving Breast Cancer patients were introduced along with the UAlbany starters prior to the game ... UAlbany student-athletes also supported the event, including members of the men's basketball, women's lacrosse and baseball programs ... the UAlbany women's basketball players wore "Think Pink" t-shirts during the pregame warm-up period ...



Vermont 68, UAlbany 48 (2/16/08 at SEFCU Arena)

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Official Basketball Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Basketball Box Score
Vermont vs ALBANY
2/16/08 2:00 p.m. at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Vermont 17-7, AE 8-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
55 Poles, Kelli........ f 7-12 0-0 0-0 4 5 9 3 14 0 1 2 2 30
04 Kotsopoulos, May.... g 3-12 1-5 2-5 1 5 6 2 9 4 4 1 3 36
15 Rosenkrantz, Amy.... g 7-10 1-2 2-2 1 4 5 2 17 2 1 0 1 34
24 Fenton, Sara........ g 0-0 0-0 0-1 2 4 6 4 0 3 2 0 2 21
33 Pilypaitis, Courtnay g 5-17 2-6 5-5 1 13 14 2 17 4 7 2 0 40
13 Young, Tonya........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
25 Janousek, Sy........ 4-7 1-3 0-0 0 5 5 2 9 2 1 0 0 18
32 Cihal, Andrea....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 8
45 Iwobi, Sofia........ 1-3 0-0 0-0 3 1 4 0 2 0 2 2 0 10
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 27-61 5-16 9-13 13 39 52 17 68 15 19 7 8 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-36 38.9% 2nd Half: 13-25 52.0% Game: 44.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-11 27.3% 2nd Half: 2-5 40.0% Game: 31.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0% 2nd Half: 6-9 66.7% Game: 69.2% 1

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HOME TEAM: ALBANY 9-15, AE 7-4
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 Mikus, Sherri....... f 0-2 0-0 1-2 1 3 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 16
31 Higy, Kristin....... f 2-8 0-4 0-0 2 1 3 2 4 0 3 0 0 19
02 McGee, Britney...... g 3-9 1-6 0-0 0 4 4 2 7 3 3 0 1 29
05 Thrower, Tanika..... g 4-13 0-2 0-2 1 2 3 1 8 1 2 0 2 21
23 Iromuanya, Charity.. g 1-5 0-1 2-2 1 0 1 3 4 0 1 0 2 18
01 Ford, Amira......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 17
03 Lindsay, Ashley..... 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 5
10 Aiken, Janea........ 5-11 2-4 0-2 1 0 1 0 12 3 3 0 2 24
14 Clements, Kim....... 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 6
24 Sanders, Gia........ 1-8 0-2 3-4 3 8 11 4 5 0 2 1 0 33
44 Sterling, Joy....... 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
55 Peterson, Kirsten... 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 10
TEAM................ 1 2 3 1
Totals.............. 19-66 3-19 7-14 14 24 38 17 48 9 17 1 7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-33 36.4% 2nd Half: 7-33 21.2% Game: 28.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-9 22.2% 2nd Half: 1-10 10.0% Game: 15.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 50.0% 1

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Officials: Margaret Lynch-Gadaleta, Jerome Skrine, Keith Miller
Technical fouls: Vermont-None. ALBANY-None.
Attendance: 413
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Vermont....................... 34 34 - 68
ALBANY........................ 28 20 - 48
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UAlbany Tennis Sweeps Providence, 7-0, to Remain Undefeated

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The UAlbany tennis team swept Providence, 7-0, in non-conference action to remain undefeated on Saturday afternoon at The Bubble. Aimee Kern and Susan Ma led the Great Danes, pairing up for a doubles win and posting two singles victories.

Kern and Ma defeated the Friars’ Avery Gibson and Dara Hawkins-Hodgson, 8-5 to start the match. Kern later defeated Gibson, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 singles action while Ma posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Hawkins-Hodgson at the No. 2 position. Laine Mackey teamed up with Amanda Hall and defeated Jenn Cusack and Meghan Gilroy, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles, while Kim Weltman and Charlotte Tatler finished the doubles sweep with an 8-6 win over Ayushi Sinha and Kim Betzner.

Weltman recorded a 6-2, 6-0 win over Cusack at No. 3 singles while Tatler posted a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Sinha. Mackey and Hall also had wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Mackey finished with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kate Lyons while Hall recorded a 6-2, 6-3 win over Gilroy.

The Great Danes, who improve to 8-0 on the season, returns to action on Friday, Feb. 22 at Niagara.
-agate-

Singles

Aimee Kern (UA) def. Avery Gibson (PC), 6-0, 6-1

Susan Ma (UA) def. Dara Hawkins-Hodgson (PC), 6-1, 6-1

Kim Weltman (UA) def. Jenn Cusack (PC), 6-2, 6-0

Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Ayushi Sinha (PC), 6-2, 6-0

Laine Mackey (UA) def. Kate Lyons (PC), 6-1, 6-0

Amanda Hall (UA) def. Meghan Gilroy (PC), 6-2, 6-3

Caitlin Crowley (UA) def. Kim Betzner (PC), 6-3, 6-2



Doubles

Kern/Ma (UA) def. Gibson/Hawkins-Hodgson (PC), 8-5

Mackey/Hall (UA) def. Cusack/Gilroy (PC), 8-1

Weltman/Tatler (UA) def. Sinha/Betzner (PC), 8-6

Six Great Danes Qualify for ECAC and IC4A Competition at Binghamton and Arkansas Meets

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – UAlbany’s Freddie Wills won the long jump in setting the school record to lead the Great Danes to a second-place finish in a three-way meet with Syracuse and Binghamton at the Events Center. Binghamton swept both team competitions with the men scoring 137 points, while the Bearcat women tallied 119. The UAlbany men registered 132 points and the women recorded 116 for second place.

Wills, who registered a leap of 24-feet, 3.5-inches, broke the previous record of 23-11.75 set by Valete Graham on Friday at Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational. The Great Danes registered first-place finishes in six events. On the track, Garrett Askew won the 55-meter hurdles in 7.81 seconds, Andrew Overbaugh took first in the 400-meter dash (51.19) and Jon Hilbert was victorious in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:18.32. In the field, UAlbany swept the jumping events. Freshman Anthony Collica won the high jump (6-6.25) and Dong Ning Hu registered a first-place leap in the triple jump (46-5.25) to go with Wills’ long jump win.

In the women’s competition, freshman Kadine Johnson won both throwing events with tosses of 43-feet, 4.50-inches in the shot put and 50-feet, 8.25-inches in the weight throw. Junior Melissa Lee sprinted to a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash (59.42), while Danielle Trimpop won the 1,000-meter run in 3:05.93. Freshman Tiffany Sprenkels had an ECAC-qualifying leap of 39-feet, 8-inches in the triple jump.

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, February 22 in Boston, Mass. for the America East Conference Championship.


Men’s Team Scores: 1. Binghamton 137, 2. UAlbany 132, Syracuse 60.

UAlbany Men’s Results
55 Meter Dash: 3. Raphael Jean-Baptiste 6.63, 5. Torshiro Jenkins 6.77, 6. Garrett Askew Jr 6.88. 55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Garrett Askew Jr 7.81, 2. Freddie Wills 7.83, 3. Daniel Avery 7.85, 4. Nick Assini 7.96, 6. David Parker 8.00, 7. Alfred Pryor Jr 8.20, 12. Kevin O’Riley 8.78, 16. Nick Jones 10.56. 200 Meter Dash: 2. Torshiro Jenkins 22.69, 4. Drew Harrison 23.04, 5. Raphael Jean-Baptiste 23.07, 7. Daniel Avery 23.56, 11. Alfred Pryor Jr 25.17. 400 Meter Dash: 1. Andrew Overbaugh 51.19. 500 Meter Dash: 2. Alan Nimblette 1:07.81. 800 Meter Run: 3. Jared Jupin 2:03.53, 5. Mitchel Troise 2:06.54, 6. LeVar Nero 2:13.33. 1000 Meter Run: 2. Joe Belokopitsky 2:36.59, 3. Tyler Fogarty 2:37.53, 4. Bryan Lasky 2:39.65. One Mile Run: 5. Brian Yurkewecz 4:25.28, 10. Chris Jimenez 4:43.52. 3000 Meter Run: 1. Jon Hilbert 9:18.32. 5000 Meter Run: 3. David Rothman 16:44.08. 4x400 Meter Relay: 2. Torshiro Jenkins, Joe Belokopitsky, Tyler Fogarty, Andrew Overbaugh 3:25.18, 3. Drew Harrison, Alan Nimblette, Nick Assini 3:26.98, 6. Daniel Avery, Garett Askew Jr, LeVar Nero, Alfred Pryor Jr. 3:39.95. High Jump: 1. Anthony Collica 6-6.25, 2. David Parker 6-6.25, 3. Freddie Wills 6-4.25, 5. Kevin O’Riley 5-8.50. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 16-4.75 (IC4A), 3. Michael Dempsey 15-11 (IC4A), 4. David Parker 15-4, T6. Freddie Wills 12-11.50, 10. Kevin O’Riley 10-11.75, Nick Jones NH. Long Jump: 1. Freddie Wills 24-3.5 (School Record, IC4A), 2. Kyle Nadler 23-4.75 (IC4A), 4. Fred Casimo 23-0, 5. David Parker 22-9, 6. Dong Ning Hu 22-1, 12. Nick Jones 17-9.75. Triple Jump: 1. Dong Ning Hu 46-5.25, 2. Kyle Nadler 45-0.50, 3. Kevin O’Riley 44-4.75. Shot Put: 2. Renauld Buck 49-3.50, 4. Will Anger 46-7.50, 5. Frank Fazzino 45-10, 6. Jordan Meikle 43-9.25. Weight: 2. Kevin Lee 52-7.25, Will Anger FOUL.


Women’s Team Scores: 1. Binghamton 119, UAlbany 116, Syracuse 109.

UAlbany Women’s Results
55 Meter Dash: 4. Sarah Lapierre 7.50, 7. Christen Griffin 7.52, 8. Kamilah McShine 7.57, 11. Sandy Antenor 7.67, 12. Tiffany Sprenkels 7.68, 13. Arielle Roberts 7.71, 14. Valerie Maignan 7.77, 16. Jessica Hunter 7.83, 18. Jessica Antoniades 8.88. 200 Meter Dash: 5. Ashley Vives 26.67, 7. Christen Griffin 27.30, 9. Jessica Hunter 27.65, 10. Kamilah McShine 27.66, 11. Arielle Roberts 27.93, 13. Bryanna Hebenstreit 30.28. 400 Meter Dash: 1. Melissa Lee 59.42, 4. Laura Bolognino 1:00.43, 8. Corrine Porter-Stepney 1:01.36. 500 Meter Dash: 4. Octavia Clarkson 1:19.57, 6. Rebecca Kelly 1:21.60. One Mile Run: 2. Laura Cummings 5:09.14, 6. Kristine Mun 5:18.16, 10. Briana McNamee 5:50.32. 800 Meter Run: 2. Zuliana Fontanez 2:17.38, 7. Esperanza Blanco 2:33.71. 1000 Meter Run: 1. Danielle Trimpop 3:05.93, 4. Ally Panos 3:18.96. 3000 Meter Run: 3. Laine Sefick 11:06.09. 5000 Meter Run: 3. Kristin Grab 20:08.41. 55 Meter Hurdles: 2. Christen Griffin 8.56, 4. Valerie Maignan 8.70, 9. Bryanna Hebenstreit 12.95. 4x400 Meter Relay: 2. Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Zuliana Fontanez, Melissa Lee 4:00.51, 3. Rebecca Kelly, Corrine Porter-Stepney, Ashley Vives, Danielle Trimpop 4:09.29. High Jump: 8. Denise Parker 4-9.50. Pole Vault: 2. Krystal Myers 10-0. Long Jump: 2. Valerie Maignan 17-4, 3. Tiffany Sprenkels17-2.25. Triple Jump: 2. Tiffany Sprenkels 39-8 (ECAC), 3. Sandy Antenor 38-3.50. Shot Put: 1. Kadine Johnson 43-4.50, 3. Candice Mann 39-2.50, 6. Ritshell Verdier 38-4.25, 7. Ashley Lewis 38-3. Weight Throw: 1. Kadine Johnson 50-8.25, 3. Ritshell Verdier 47-10.50, 4. Sineaid Corley 45-7, 5. Candice Mann 44-0.


Fayetteville, Ark. – UAlbany’s Michael McCadney placed third in the triple jump to lead the Great Danes on the second day of Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational.

McCadney registered a leap of 50-feet, 4.50-inches to qualify for the IC4A meet. Freshman Wilfredo de Jesus Elias recorded a throw of 51-feet, 5-inches in the weight throw.

In women’s competition, Brenna Militello tied for fourth in the high jump by clearing the bar at 5-feet, 6-inches. In the triple jump, junior Jenn Gurrant placed ninth with an ECAC-qualifying distance of 39-feet, 10.75-inches.

The Great Danes return to the track on Friday, February 22 in Boston, Mass. for the America East Conference Championship.

-agate-

Men’s Results
Triple Jump: 3. Michael McCadney 50-4.50 (IC4A). Weight Throw: 24. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 51-5.

Women’s Results
High Jump: T4. Brenna Militello 5-6. Triple Jump: Jenn Gurrant 39-10.75 (ECAC).

University of Albany´s Valete Graham Sets School Record in the Long Jump at Tyson Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – UAlbany’s Valete Graham set the school record in the long jump to lead the Great Danes at Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational on Friday, Feb. 15 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Graham, a sophomore from Bronx, N.Y., registered a leap of 23-feet, 11.75-inches to place third in the long jump. Graham’s jump eclipsed the previous record of 23-feet, 11.5-inches set by Luis Soto in 2000.

In the 60-meter dash, junior Pat Weider crossed the finish line in 7.13 seconds, the fastest of the season by a Great Dane. Junior Jean Juste, the reigning America East Conference track performer of the week, finished the 60-meter hurdles in 8.20 seconds

Day two of the Tyson Invitational begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.


60 Meter Hurdles: 29. Jean Juste 8.20. 60 Meter Dash: 69. Pat Weider 7.13. Long Jump: 3. Valete Graham 23-11.75 (School Record, IC4A).

Jon Iati's Season-High 23 Points Leads UAlbany to America East Road Win Against Maine

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Orono, Maine – Jon Iati scored a season-high 23 points to pace four players in double figures in leading UAlbany to a 74-60 victory over Maine in America East Conference play on Thursday, Feb. 14 at Harold Alfond Sports Arena. The Great Danes, who have won four of their last five games, moved above the .500 mark for the first time since mid-December.


Maine (7-17, AE 3-8) leaped to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes when Philippe Tchekane Bofia canned a three-point field goal from the top of the arc. Tchekane Bofia, a 6-foot-6 junior who made his first seven field goal attempts, and had 17 first-half points, helped his team push out to a 23-13 advantage. Sean McNally scored in lane from a driving Sean Costigan to give the Black Bears their 10-point cushion.


The Great Danes, who got off to a tough start by missing their opening seven shots from the floor, still trailed 27-19 after Troy Barnies converted a drive from the right side. But UAlbany (13-12, AE 8-5) kicked it in high gear over the final six minutes of the period with 20 unanswered. Iati, a 5’9” senior, buried back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the contest at 27 apiece. Freshman guard Josh Martin then put his team ahead with a fastbreak layup following a steal. Iati sank another long-range jumper, while Al Turley hit two free throws and made a turnaround in the lane to help their club post a 39-27 halftime margin.


The Black Bears, who came from behind to record an 81-70 victory in the first meeting between these teams on Jan. 23 at SEFCU Arena, closed within 44-39 when Barnies connected on a three-point play when he was fouled while scoring off an inbounds pass. UAlbany still led 50-44 with 13:42 remaining, but then tallied 12 of the game’s next 15 points to pull away. Martin canned a three-pointer from the right wing to begin that run. Brian Lillis, who totaled 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds, keyed the end of that decisive stretch. He converted a jump hook in the lane and set up Brian Connelly and Turley on two other baskets for a commanding 62-47 lead.


"The first 10 minutes we were flat on offense and defense,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team held Maine to 41.2-percent shooting. “As we started to get stops, we started to make shots. We played very good basketball on both ends of the floor. Once we got confident, we did some very good things."


Iati, who made 6-of-9 from the three-point arc, and added five rebounds and four assists, later made a 6-foot jumper after gathering an offensive board and found Lillis open on the right blocks to give his team its largest lead at 68-49 with 4:48 to play. Connelly, who made 6-of-10 from the field, finished with 14 points, while Brent Wilson was the fourth player in twin figures with 13.


"My toe has been feeling better, so when I'm on the floor pain free, its easier out there,” explained Iati, who registered his highest point total since netting 25 against Utah Valley State on Dec. 30, 2006. “I am able to get a lot of open shots, because when we get an offensive rebound they are able to kick it out to me on the perimeter while my defender is going for the ball."


Bofia ended up with 19 points and five rebounds for the Black Bears, who played without injured starting guard Junior Bernal and sixth-man Brian Andre. Mark Socoby, the team’s leading scorer, scored 12 of his 14 points in the final stanza. McNally and Kaimondre Owes had 11 and 10 points, respectively.


"Our defense was to make sure we knew where (Mark) Socoby was,” said Connelly, a double-figure scorer for the 15th time this season. “We feel good about this game and our performance. Hopefully we can ride this train and keep the momentum going into next week’s game with UMBC (Feb. 20)."



UAlbany 74, Maine 60 (2/14/08 at Orono, Maine)

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Official Basketball Box Score
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Official Basketball Box Score
Albany vs Maine
2/14/08 7 p.m. at Alfond Arena, Orono, Maine
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VISITORS: Albany 13-12, 8-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
05 Hastings, Jerel..... f 1-5 0-1 0-0 2 3 5 3 2 1 0 0 1 22
33 Connelly, Brian..... f 6-10 0-0 2-2 1 4 5 2 14 0 3 1 2 33
34 Wilson, Brent....... f 5-11 3-6 0-0 0 4 4 4 13 2 1 0 0 25
55 Turley, Al.......... c 2-5 0-0 2-4 2 1 3 2 6 1 1 2 0 17
21 Lillis, Brian....... g 3-11 0-2 4-6 1 4 5 3 10 7 2 2 1 27
03 Martin, Josh........ 2-3 1-1 0-0 0 5 5 1 5 5 0 0 0 19
12 Moores, Rob......... 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
14 Iati, Jon........... 7-11 6-9 3-4 2 3 5 1 23 4 1 0 0 31
23 Ambrose, Tim........ 0-2 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 7
42 Covington, Jimmie... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
54 Gifford, Brett...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 6
TEAM................ 5 5
Totals.............. 26-59 10-19 12-19 15 26 41 16 74 20 9 5 4 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-29 44.8% 2nd Half: 13-30 43.3% Game: 44.1% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-10 50.0% 2nd Half: 5-9 55.6% Game: 52.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 8-12 66.7% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.1% Game: 63.2% 3

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HOME TEAM: Maine 7-17, 3-8
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 Barnies, Troy....... f 2-5 0-1 1-1 0 2 2 2 5 0 0 0 1 28
21 McNally, Sean....... f 5-9 0-0 1-2 2 8 10 2 11 0 2 1 0 36
44 Tchekane Bofia, Phil f 8-15 3-6 0-0 0 5 5 1 19 0 1 3 3 31
15 Owes, Kaimondre..... g 4-9 1-2 1-2 1 1 2 5 10 6 4 0 0 34
22 Socoby, Mark........ g 2-9 2-7 8-11 0 3 3 3 14 3 3 0 1 35
05 Hanzlik, Robby...... 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 10
32 Costigan, Sean...... 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 14
42 Peay, Malachi....... 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 12
TEAM................ 2 1 3
Totals.............. 21-51 6-18 12-18 7 22 29 18 60 12 11 5 5 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-23 43.5% 2nd Half: 11-28 39.3% Game: 41.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 2-11 18.2% Game: 33.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0% 2nd Half: 9-13 69.2% Game: 66.7% 3

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Officials: Jeffry Bryant, Gary Agger, Jeff Nichols
Technical fouls: Albany-None. Maine-Owes, Kaimondre.
Attendance: 1150
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Albany........................ 39 35 - 74
Maine......................... 27 33 - 60
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University of Albany Women's Basketball Supports WBCA's "Think Pink" Breast Cancer Program on Saturday, Feb. 16

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany’s women’s basketball program will show their support of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) Breast Cancer Awareness Week on Saturday, Feb. 16 when the Great Danes meet America East Conference opponent Vermont. Tip-off at SEFCU Arena is 2:00 p.m.

More than 900 teams nationally are supporting the WBCA’s “Think Pink” initiative. The “Think Pink” program is a global, unified effort by the organization’s nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.

UAlbany is encouraging all fans to wear pink to Saturday’s game to show their support for the cause. Those that make a $2.00 donation to the Breast Cancer Fund will receive free admission. Members of the men’s basketball team will be among many UAlbany student-athletes and athletic staff who will be in attendance.

In addition, all fans will be eligible for a grand prize drawing during the game. A lucky fan will receive two basketball (chair back) and two football seasons tickets for the 2008-09 season. Giveaways include UAlbany gear and t-shirts, Mangia’s Restaurant gift certificates and free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery. For tickets or to make a donation, contact the UAlbany Athletic Ticket Office at 518-442-4683.

UAlbany Softball Picked Second in America East Preseason Poll

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The defending America East Conference champion University at Albany softball team has been chosen to finish second in the conference standings, according to the preseason poll of the league’s head coaches. Boston University, which has appeared in five of the last six championship title games, was chosen first with five first-place votes, as announced on Thursday, Feb. 14.

UAlbany won its third straight America East Conference championship last season and reached the NCAA Regional Finals for the first time in school history. The Great Danes, who posted a 35-17 record, defeated Harvard and Hofstra to advance to the 2007 regional final against nationally-ranked Baylor.

Two all-conference first-team standouts return this year, including sophomore second baseman Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) and senior outfielder Amber Maisonet. Connors finished second in the conference with 41 runs scored and belted nine home runs. Maisonet ended up leading the conference in batting average (.382) and hits (65) after going 7-for-19 in the postseason.
UAlbany is led in the circle by all-conference rookie team member Leah McIntosh, who went 11-6 on the mound as a freshman with a 3.02 ERA. McIntosh tossed four complete-game shutouts and fanned 158 opposing batters.

Head coach Chris Cannata, whose team opens the season on Feb. 29 against Maine at the Stetson Invitational in Florida, will be working with a very young team this spring. With just two seniors and one junior on the roster, the Great Danes feature eight sophomores and seven freshmen. Brittney Rose (Schenectady), a first-year hurler, posted a 1.03 ERA as a high school senior and was named to the all-area first team.

The 2008 America East Championship will be held on May 8-10 at the highest seed that has a field with lights.

2008 America East Conference Softball Poll
1. Boston U. (5), 47, 2. UAlbany (2), 42, 3. UMBC (1), 35, 4. Stony Brook, 34, 5. Hartford, 23, 6. Maine, 22, 7. Vermont, 12, 8. Binghamton, 9.

University of Albany Women's Basketball Posts Fifth Straight Win in 69-54 America East Triumph Against Maine

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Orono, Maine – Gia Sanders scored a career-high 19 points and Kristin Higy added 15 in leading UAlbany to its fifth consecutive victory with a 69-54 America East Conference triumph over Maine on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Harold Alfond Sports Arena. The Great Danes, who swept the season series for the first time since joining the conference seven years ago, own their longest winning streak since December 1998.

The Great Danes, who shot 51.7 percent from the field in the opening half, jumped out to an 11-2 lead when Sanders drilled a three-point field goal from right of the key. UAlbany (9-14, AE 7-3) was still ahead 24-19, but then rattled off 12 of the game’s next 16 points. Sanders, who made all five of her field goal attempts in the period, scored seven in that span, including a three-point basket. Higy, a 6’1” senior who had 12 first-half points, nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc for a 36-23 cushion. But the Black Bears tallied seven unanswered to end the half. Kris Younan had a pair of baskets, and Sandra Vaitkute converted a jump hook.

In the second half, Maine’s Tanna Ross connected on a three-point play when she was fouled on a turnaround in the lane that closed the gap to 39-33. The Great Danes responded with a 16-2 run to pull away. TaNika Thrower made a spinning jumper before Charity Iromuanya hit a layup following a steal to ignite that outburst. Sanders, who made 8-of-10 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes, later buried a three-pointer and an 8-footer from right of the lane. Britney McGee, who handed out a career-high 10 assists and had four steals, made a long-range jumper for a 55-35 lead with 12:18 remaining.

"It takes a lot of toughness to win on the road,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team is tied for second place and one game behind league-leader Hartford in the conference standings. “Our defense was tremendous and that's what we strive on. We used our pressure and athleticism to create turnovers. Our pressure defense helps when teams are much bigger than us (like Maine)."

Maine (6-17, AE 3-7) got as close as 63-51 with 4:54 to play when Colleen Kilmurray sank a 3-pointer from the right wing. Sanders, a 6-foot-1 senior, followed with a layup on the baseline. Iromuanya made two free throws and Sherri Mikus canned a short jumper to help end the threat. The Great Danes won for the first time in six trips to Alfond Arena.

"We knew Maine was going to come out hot, looking for revenge from the last game, so we knew we had to dominate,” explained Sanders, whose team posted a 78-46 victory in the first meeting on Jan. 13 at SEFCU Arena. “When we are dominating teams, we are not thinking about it. We play off our energy and instinct."

Sophomore guard Amanda Tewksbury totaled 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Black Bears, who were held to 35.8-percent shooting on 19-of-53 attempts. Kilmurray and Ross added 10 points apiece. Maine was coming off back-to-back home wins, but turned the ball over 24 times.

"We are conditioned really well,” offered Higy, who scored in double figures for the 15th time this season. “We have a great bench that keeps up the intensity. Sometimes they maintain it, and sometimes it gives us a bigger spark. Our defense sparks our offense, and we are able to create opportunities."



UAlbany 69, Maine 54 (2/13/08 at Orono, Maine)

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Official Basketball Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Basketball Box Score
ALBANY vs Maine
2/13/08 7:30 p.m. at Orono, Maine (Alfond Arena)
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VISITORS: ALBANY 9-14, 7-3 AE
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 Mikus, Sherri....... f 2-3 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 3 4 1 3 0 2 13
23 Iromuanya, Charity.. f 2-3 0-0 4-4 1 0 1 3 8 1 2 1 1 28
31 Higy, Kristin....... c 5-11 3-5 2-2 2 3 5 1 15 0 5 0 0 32
02 McGee, Britney...... g 1-8 1-7 0-0 1 2 3 1 3 10 2 0 4 31
05 Thrower, Tanika..... g 3-14 0-3 0-0 3 3 6 1 6 0 0 0 0 25
01 Ford, Amira......... 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 11
03 Lindsay, Ashley..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
10 Aiken, Janea........ 3-5 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 8 1 0 0 0 19
14 Clements, Kim....... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
24 Sanders, Gia........ 8-10 3-4 0-0 0 6 6 3 19 0 2 1 1 22
44 Sterling, Joy....... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 8
55 Peterson, Kirsten... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 6
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 27-59 9-21 6-6 11 17 28 17 69 14 16 2 8 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-29 51.7% 2nd Half: 12-30 40.0% Game: 45.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-9 44.4% 2nd Half: 5-12 41.7% Game: 42.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 4-4 100 % Game: 100 % 0

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HOME TEAM: Maine 6-17, 3-7 AE
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
13 Boser, Brittany..... f 1-9 0-0 2-2 4 1 5 0 4 0 1 0 0 18
25 Tewksbury, Amanda... f 4-7 0-0 3-4 5 5 10 2 11 3 5 0 3 37
32 Kilmurray, Colleen.. c 3-6 1-1 3-3 1 4 5 4 10 0 2 0 3 25
02 Younan, Kris........ g 3-8 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 3 6 0 3 0 1 28
04 Baker, Kristin...... g 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 2 4 0 0 21
05 Ross, Tanna......... 4-8 1-3 1-1 0 1 1 0 10 1 2 0 1 18
21 Johnson, Magdala.... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
23 Rousseau, Emily..... 2-5 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 4 2 2 0 1 12
30 Bowen, Brittany..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
33 Mosher, Christina... 1-5 0-0 4-4 5 3 8 3 6 1 3 1 0 29
52 Vaitkute, Sandra.... 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 6
55 Bratishko, Katia.... 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
TEAM................ 4 3 7 2
Totals.............. 19-53 2-7 14-16 19 20 39 13 54 10 24 1 9 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-31 35.5% 2nd Half: 8-22 36.4% Game: 35.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-5 20.0% 2nd Half: 1-2 50.0% Game: 28.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 7-8 87.5% 2nd Half: 7-8 87.5% Game: 87.5% 1

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Officials: John Riordan, Reta Brown, Colleen O'Connor
Technical fouls: ALBANY-None. Maine-None.
Attendance: 1656
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
ALBANY........................ 36 33 - 69
Maine......................... 30 24 - 54
ID-614574
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University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Picked to Capture 2008 America East Conference Championship

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – After reaching the NCAA quarterfinal round last year, the University at Albany is the unanimous choice to capture the 2008 America East Conference championship, as voted by the league’s head coaches in a preseason poll on Tuesday, Feb. 12. UAlbany is coming off a season in which the program won its fourth America East title in the last five years.

The Great Danes, who begin their schedule on Saturday, Feb. 23 against top-ranked Johns Hopkins on ESPNU, return 24 letterwinners off last year’s school-record 15-3 team. Tewaaraton Trophy candidate Jordan Levine is the top returning scorer with 23 goals and 16 assists. Levine, who set the school’s Division I record with 91 ground balls, earned second-team USILA All-America recognition in 2007. Brett Queener, an honorable mention All-America goalkeeper, had a 9.68 goals against average with a .520 save percentage.

Head coach Scott Marr, the 2007 USILA Division I National Coach of the Year, will continue to play an up-tempo style despite losing two of the program’s all-time scorers. Corey Small, a left-handed attacker, had 24 goals and seven assists, while feeder Derek Dale totaled 20 goals and 18 assists. Brian Caufield, one of the nation’s top incoming freshmen, figures to move right into the first attack line.

Craig McDonald, a first-team all-conference selection, is a member of a veteran defensive group. Mike and Steve Ammann, twin brothers who were second-team all-league midfielders, elevated their play last season.

The 2008 America East Championship will be held on May 1 and 3 at the No. 1 seed’s home facility.

***********

2008 America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Poll

1. Albany (5), 25, 2. UMBC (1), 19, 3. Binghamton 17, 4. Stony Brook 14, 5. Vermont 8, 6. Hartford 7.

University of Albany Football Signs 12 Student-Athletes to National Letters of Intent for 2008-09 Academic Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Tuesday, Feb. 12 that 12 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2008-09 academic year. UAlbany won the Northeast Conference championship and earned a Gridiron Classic berth with an 8-4 record last season.

The 2008 signing class features four players from the state of New York, plus three from Georgia and one each from Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. The breakdown by position includes one quarterback, one offensive lineman, one wide receiver, one running back, one defensive linemen, five linebackers and two defensive backs.

"We were able to get our top choices at inside linebacker and two solid outside linebackers," said Ford, who is first among active Division I FCS coaches with 225 career victories. "We also did well in the state of Georgia where we recruited two excellent cover corners and a sturdy defensive tackle. On offense, Andrew Smith is one of the better football players in the state of New York with his all-around talent and agility. His teammate Paul Booker is an H-Back type with height and strength."

The Great Danes picked up five linebackers to complement their nationally-ranked defense. Dave Plungas was named to the Associated Press Division III All-Ohio first team after recording 117 tackles and three sacks. He earned a spot on the Ohio roster in the Big 33 Classic and was named to the All-Northeast Ohio and All-Lake County squads. Plungas (6-2, 220) led Mentor Lake Catholic H.S. to the state semifinals. Jake Ciccarello (5-11, 215) was chosen honorable mention Class 6A all-state in Florida after making 107 tackles, including 19 hits for a loss and three sacks. He competed in the 2007 Central Florida All-Star Game. Chris Wilk (6-2, 225) was named second-team all-city by the Philadelphia Daily News. He led his team to the Public League championship. Marc Holloway (6-2, 180) and Jonathan Morgan (6-2, 210) are expected to be positioned at outside linebacker. Holloway was tabbed honorable mention All-Greater Rochester by the Democrat & Chronicle. Morgan was an All-Division linebacker and receiver and a Suffolk County "Golden 11" Scholar-Athlete.

UAlbany signed a pair of Capital Region players who led Guilderland High to the Section II championship game. Andrew Smith, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback, was named to the Class AA all-state second team by the New York State Sportswriters Association. A consensus All-Area selection, Smith rushed for 994 yards and passed for 552 while accounting for 17 touchdowns. Smith was chosen Daily Gazette Area Offensive Player of the Year. Running back Paul Booker (6-4, 210) rushed for 844 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a member of the Troy Record All-Area first team and was a second-team pick by the Albany Times Union.

Three high school standouts from the state of Georgia will be playing defense for the Great Danes in the future. Michael Longo (6-2, 260) earned second-team All-Gwinnett County honors as a defensive end and played in the Gwinnett all-star contest. Nick Crockett (5-10, 165) received the Gwinnett Touchdown Club's Cecil Morris Award that is annually given to all-county caliber players who were injured. Crockett, a defensive back, led Grayson High to a 10-3 record and a Class AAAAA Elite Eight appearance, but missed part of the season with a broken leg. Rashad Head (5-10, 180) was chosen Gwinnett County defensive back and special teams player of the week.

Jordan Migliore, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound lineman from Closter, N.J., was an honorable mention All-Bergen County offensive tackle and member of the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League first team. Wide receiver Nick Hutcherson was named to the Baltimore Sun All-City team and received All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Conference accolades. He totaled 237 receiving yards and two touchdowns and ran for 239 yards and three scores as a senior.

2008 University at Albany Football Signings

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)

Paul Booker RB 6-4 210 Schenectady, N.Y. (Guilderland)

Jake Ciccarello ILB 5-11 215 Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Winter Springs)

Nick Crockett DB 5-10 165 Loganville, Ga. (Grayson)

Rashad Head DB 5-10 180 Lawrenceville, Ga. (Collins Hill)

Nick Hutcherson WR 5-9 160 Baltimore, Md. (Mount St. Joseph)

Marc Holloway OLB 6-2 180 Rochester, N.Y. (East)

Michael Longo DL 6-2 260 Lawrenceville, Ga. (Central Gwinnett)

Jordan Migliore OL 6-6 270 Closter, N.J. (Demarest Northern Valley Regional)

Jonathan Morgan OLB 6-2 210 Copiague, N.Y. (Copiague)

Dave Plungas ILB 6-2 220 Concord Township, Ohio (Mentor Lake Catholic)

Andrew Smith QB 6-2 210 Schenectady, N.Y. (Guilderland)

Chris Wilk ILB 6-2 225 Philadelphia, Pa. (Archbishop Ryan)

University of Albany Men's Basketball Sweeps Season Series in 64-61 America East Win Against Vermont

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Burlington, Vt. - Tim Ambrose had 19 points and Brian Lillis and Jon Iati each had 13in leading UAlbany to a 64-61 America East Conference victory over Vermont on Monday, Feb. 11 before 2,626 fans at Patrick Gymnasium. The Great Danes swept the season series for the first time since joining the conference in 2001.

UAlbany (12-12, AE 7-5) trailed 55-52 with 3:25 remaining, but went back ahead on consecutive three-point field goals by Iati and Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 forward who drilled his shot from the left corner. The Great Danes were still ahead 62-58 when Lillis sank two foul shots. However, Lillis fouled Kyle Cieplicki on the next possession while attempting a 3-point basket. After Cieplicki made all three from the line, Iati was fouled in the backcourt with 5.6 seconds left. The senior guard connected on both shots for a 64-61 lead and Cieplicki was forced to heave a 3-pointer that fell short at the buzzer.

The Great Danes, who held UVM to 32.8-percent shooting overall, led 46-41 with 6:50 to play on a pair of free throws by Iati, who did all of his scoring in the final period. But Vermont (12-11, AE 7-4) wiped out that deficit with eight unanswered. Mike Trimboli, who had 15 points, nailed a three-pointer in that run. Marqus Blakely came up with a steal and slam dunk for a 49-46 advantage.

UAlbany would catch the Catamounts at 50-all on a reverse slam dunk on the right baseline by Lillis, who added eight rebounds and six assists. UVM's Timothy McCrory made two free throws to put his team back ahead and set up the dramatic ending. Blakely, a 6'5" sophomore, finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds, his tenth double-double of the season. The Catamounts slid back into a tie for second place in the league standings with Hartford.

"We are definitely the Jekyll and Hyde of the America East,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team won at Vermont in regular-season play for the first time. “When we play with energy we are capable of beating anyone. I am proud of our defensive effort. We mixed up the defenses and that seemed to bother Vermont. Marqus Blakely is the best athlete we play against. We crowded and doubled to keep him off balance."

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively in the opening half. UAlbany led 16-12when Ambrose converted a fastbreak layup. The Catamounts, who shot 31 percent from the field before the break, drew even at 18 apiece on Chad Powlovich's basket. UAlbany's Ambrose made back-to-back shots for a 22-18 advantage. But Blakely tipped in Trimboli's missed jumper to tie the contest 22-all at the intermission.

"Defense has been our Achilles heel,” said Lillis, who extended his double-figure, scoring streak to 22 straight. “We have a small margin of error. The coaches did a great job of preparing us for what they run. Tim Ambrose stepped up his game and (Jon) Iati and Brent (Wilson) made some big shots."

UAlbany's Gia Sanders and Janea Aiken Earn America East Weekly Honors

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Senior forward Gia Sanders and freshman guard Janea Aiken earned America East Conference Player and Rookie of the Week honors, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. It is the first honor of the season for both.

Sanders led the Great Danes to their third and fourth consecutive wins last week, as she averaged 13.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two games. In a 76-50 win over Boston U., Sanders scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, going 6-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. In a 67-50 win over New Hampshire, Sanders recorded her fifth double-double of the season with an 11-point, 10-rebound performance. She also recorded five steals against the Wildcats. Sanders, who did not commit a turnover in the two games, is averaging 7.7 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds on the season, and continues to lead the team with 41 steals and 32 blocks.

Aiken also helped lead the Great Danes to an undefeated week in conference play, averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, shooting a team-high 76.9-percent from the floor. Aiken scored 12 points to go along with six assists and two rebounds against Boston U., shooting 6-of-8 from the floor. In a win over New Hampshire on Sunday, Aiken scored 11 points, going 4-of-5 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. She added two assists and one steal in 21 minutes of action against the Wildcats. Aiken is scoring at a 7.5 clip for the Great Danes on the season.

UAlbany (8-14, AE 6-3) is currently tied with Vermont for second place in the conference standings. The Great Danes travel to Maine on Wednesday to close out the season series with the Black Bears.

UAlbany Women's Basketball Defeats New Hampshire, 67-50, for Fourth Straight Win

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kristin Higy and Gia Sanders both recorded double-doubles while Britney McGee scored a team-high 13 points to lead the UAlbany women’s basketball team to a 67-50 win over New Hampshire in America East Conference play on Sunday afternoon. The Great Danes have now won four straight games, the first time since the 1999-2000 season that the team has won four consecutive contests.

New Hampshire (6-15, AE 3-6) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after Amy Simpson hit a 3-pointer at 19:57 to start the game. The Wildcats were able to build up a nine-point lead, 15-6 with 12:14 on the clock on a 3-pointer by Ashley Cerniglia. UAlbany cut the lead to 17-14 at 8:50, but Simpson and Candace Williams scored on back-to-back possessions to hold an eight-point advantage with 7:28 on the clock.

Freshman guard Janea Aiken hit a 3-pointer with 3:40 left to play to give the Great Danes their first lead of the game, 26-24, with 3:40 to play in the half. Kim Clements hit a jumper in the paint with under a minute left to play, but Simpson hit her third trey of the first half to end the period and hold UAlbany to a four-point advantage, 33-29, at the half.

New Hampshire cut the lead to one early in the second half, but UAlbany built up an 11-point lead, 48-37, with 9:21 to play on a layup by Aiken off a Higy steal. Simpson pulled the Wildcats to within six with 7:14 on the clock, but UAlbany embarked on a 12-2 run to get ahead by 18, 65-47, with three minutes to play. McGee drove a layup in the paint with under a minute to go to set the final 17-point advantage.

Higy finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals, one block and an assist, while Sanders recorded 11 points, 10 boards and five steals. Aiken added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range.

“I’m proud of our team effort,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team swept a single-season series from a conference opponent for the first time since the 2003-04 season. “We played a little sloppy at first, but I had total confidence in our players. Our bench players were crucial in this win. We are playing extremely well.”

Simpson, who was named the America East player of the game along with Higy, scored a game-high 19 points for New Hampshire. Williams added10 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who were forced into 27 turnovers by the Great Danes.


UAlbany 67, New Hampshire 50 (2/10/08 at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena))

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Official Basketball Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Basketball Box Score
New Hampshire vs ALBANY
2/10/08 2:00 p.m. at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)
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VISITORS: New Hampshire 6-15, AE 3-6
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
10 Beliveau, Denise.... f 1-3 0-0 1-2 0 7 7 1 3 4 1 0 1 36
14 Flowers, Danielle... f 0-2 0-0 2-2 1 1 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 17
20 Williams, Candace... f 4-12 1-1 1-2 4 5 9 2 10 1 8 1 0 37
12 Cerniglia, Ashley... g 3-9 3-9 0-0 0 4 4 1 9 0 1 1 2 30
21 Simpson, Amy........ g 7-16 3-8 2-2 0 3 3 4 19 1 6 1 1 34
03 Williams, Jacinda... 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 2 7 0 0 14
13 DeVits, Jenelle..... 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
22 Kirsteier, Alexis... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
24 Hall, Chrissy....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
25 Gaines, Althena..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
32 Fowler, Racheal..... 2-2 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 1 5 1 1 0 0 22
33 McDonald, Jill...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
55 Early, Kathryn...... 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
TEAM................ 4 4 8
Totals.............. 18-49 7-20 7-10 11 27 38 15 50 9 27 3 4 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-25 44.0% 2nd Half: 7-24 29.2% Game: 36.7% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd Half: 2-8 25.0% Game: 35.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% Game: 70.0% 2

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HOME TEAM: ALBANY 8-14, AE 6-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 Mikus, Sherri....... f 2-5 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 3 4 1 3 0 1 25
31 Higy, Kristin....... f 4-10 0-2 3-4 3 9 12 2 11 1 4 1 3 27
02 McGee, Britney...... g 5-11 2-3 1-1 0 1 1 0 13 2 3 0 2 30
05 Thrower, Tanika..... g 2-6 0-3 4-5 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 2 20
23 Iromuanya, Charity.. g 2-8 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 3 4 3 1 0 5 27
01 Ford, Amira......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
10 Aiken, Janea........ 4-5 2-2 1-1 0 0 0 0 11 2 2 0 1 21
14 Clements, Kim....... 2-4 1-1 0-0 2 2 4 0 5 1 1 0 0 16
24 Sanders, Gia........ 5-15 0-0 1-2 4 6 10 2 11 1 0 0 5 28
55 Peterson, Kirsten... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
TEAM................ 2 1 3
Totals.............. 26-64 5-13 10-13 13 21 34 11 67 11 14 1 19 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-32 37.5% 2nd Half: 14-32 43.8% Game: 40.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 2-4 50.0% Game: 38.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 4-6 66.7% Game: 76.9% 1

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Officials: John Palermo, Patti Fernandes, Duane Mack
Technical fouls: New Hampshire-None. ALBANY-None.
Attendance: 247
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
New Hampshire................. 29 21 - 50
ALBANY........................ 33 34 - 67

Eleven Great Danes Qualify for IC4A Meet at Boston University's Valentine Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. – UAlbany’s Luke Schoen tied his own school record as 11 Great Danes qualified for the IC4A meet at the Boston U. Valentine Invitational at the Boston U. Track and Tennis Center.

Schoen tied his own pole vault school record by clearing the bar at an IC4A-qualifying height of 16-feet, 8.75-inches. He set the record at last week’s Giegengack Invitational at Yale. Freshman Michael Dempsey also turned in an IC4A-qualifying performance in the pole vault of 15-feet, 9-inches. Three Great Danes registered IC4A qualifying times in the 55-meter hurdles. Junior Jean Juste placed second with a time of 7.52 seconds, junior Joe Greene finished third in 7.55 seconds and freshman Daniel Avery came in seventh in 7.68 seconds.

In the 55-meter dash, senior Dieuseul Joseph qualified for the IC4A meet with a fifth-place time of 6.46 seconds. A pair of UAlbany sprinters qualified for the IC4A meet in the 200-meter dash. Freshman Torshiro Jenkins placed 12th in 22.18, while junior Pat Weider crossed the line in 22.19 seconds. In the 800-meter run, freshman Tyler Fogarty qualified for the IC4A meet with a time of 1:54.46. The UAlbany 4x400-meter relay team of Andrew Overbaugh, Jenkins, Joe Belokopitsky and Fogarty finished with an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:18.33.

The Great Danes return to the track for a pair of meets on Friday, Feb. 15 at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas and a three-way meet at Binghamton University.


UAlbany Men’s Results
55 Meter Dash: 5. Dieuseul Joseph 6.46 (IC4A), 15. Pat Weider 6.59, 33. Kyle Nadler 6.73, 34. Raphael Jean Baptiste 6.73, 51. Drew Harrison 6.81, 56. Valete Graham 6.84. 55 Meter Hurdles: 2. Jean Juste 7.52 (IC4A), 3. Joe Greene 7.55 (IC4A), 7. Daniel Avery 7.68 (IC4A), 23. Nick Assini 8.04, 47. Mohamed Kanu 8.38, 49. Alfred Pryor Jr. 8.40, 56. Garrett Askew Jr. 8.52. 200 Meter Dash: 12. Torshiro Jenkins 22.18 (IC4A), 13. Pat Weider 22.19 (IC4A), 32. Dieuseul Joseph 22.47, 75. Jeffery Barnes 22.86, 76. Raphael Jean Baptiste 22.87, 111. Drew Harrison 23.26. 400 Meter Dash: 42. Andrew Overbaugh 49.87. 500 Meter Dash: 25. Alan Nimblette 1:06.52. 800 Meter Run: 24. Tyler Fogarty 1:54.46 (IC4A), 34. Joe Belokopitsky 1:55.26, 62. Bryan Lasky 1:57.32. 3,000 Meter Run: 129. David Rothman 9:17.07, 140. Jon Hilbert 9:24.30. 5,000 Meter Run: 66. Brian Yurkewecz 15:10.97. 4x400 Relay: 12. Andrew Overbaugh, Torshiro Jenkins, Joe Belokopitsky, Tyler Fogarty 3:18.33 (IC4A), 33. Alan Nimblette, Bryan Lasky, Drew Harrison, Raphael Jean Baptiste 3:24.46. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 16-8.75 (IC4A, School Record), 5. Michael Dempsey 15-9 (IC4A). High Jump: 15. Anthony Collica 6-2. Long Jump: 18. Kevin O’Riley 21-2. Triple Jump: 14. Kyle Nadler 44-3.50, 16. Dong Ning Hu 44-0.75, 19. Ray Gilman 42-11.75. Shot Put: 22. Renauld Buck 47-10.50, 32. Will Anger 44-11.50, 35. Frank Fazzino 43-7, 46. Jordan Meikle 41-1.50. Weight Throw: 10. Will Anger 53-7, 11. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 53-6.25, 25. Kevin Lee 49-2.25.

Men's Basketball Loses to Hartford in Battle for Third in America East Conference Standings

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Joe Zeglinski scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half as Hartford defeated UAlbany, 68-63, in America East Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 9 at SEFCU Arena. The Hawks moved into third place in the conference standings.

Zeglinski, who made 5-of-7 from three-point range, drilled a long-range jumper from right of the key to snap a 56-56 deadlock with 5:07 remaining. Hartford (13-13, AE 7-4) still led 63-61 in the final minutes, when UAlbany’s Jerel Hastings missed a layup on the left baseline. The Hawks answered on the other end when Anthony Minor converted in the lane off a pass from a driving Jaret Von Rosenberg.

UAlbany (11-12, AE 6-5) stayed within one possession when Brian Lillis made a baseline jumper to close the gap to 66-63. Lillis, who connected on 8-of-9 from the field, finished with 17 points. But Morgan Sabia made a pair of free throws with 12.2 seconds to play to seal the outcome. The victory avenged a 73-63 loss in the first meeting of the season on Jan. 19 and ended the Hawks’ eight-game losing streak in the series.

“We feel very fortunate to win,” said Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz, whose team shot 50 percent from the field while employing a small lineup. “We dug ourselves a big hole in the first game and part of that was our own doing. Joe (Zeglinski) is pretty special; he’s just a winner.”

The Great Danes led by as much as 11 points in the opening half. Lillis hit a 16-foot jumper and freshman guard Josh Martin made a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a drive from the right side in providing their team with a 31-20 lead. Brian Connelly had eight of his 10 points in the period as his team settled for a 33-28 halftime advantage.

Hartford trailed by six early in the final stanza, but wiped that out when Zeglinski nailed a 3-pointer and Minor delivered a slam dunk. Sabia, a 6-foot-8 freshman who had 10 points, put his team ahead 42-41 with a turnaround on the left baseline. Zeglinski made another three-pointer from the right wing for a 56-51 lead, but the Great Danes would drew even. Brent Wilson, who scored 10 off the bench, sank a three-point shot from the top of the arc, before Lillis made a bank shot to finish off a fastbreak.

“Their pressure bothered us and we were not aggressive against it,” explained UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team has not been able to climb over the .500 mark since mid-December. “We dribbled into traps and made some bad decisions, but the biggest difference was that they shot 50 percent. They are difficult to defend, especially when they go to a smaller lineup.”

Michael Turner was the third Hartford player in double figures with 13 points. The 6-foot-5 junior totaled five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Von Rosenberg added nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Hawks recorded their first victory at SEFCU Arena since Feb. 22, 2003.



Hartford 68, UAlbany 63 (2/9/08 at SEFCU Arena)

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Official Basketball Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Basketball Box Score
Hartford vs Albany
2/9/08 2:05 p.m. at Albany, N.Y. (SEFCU Arena)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Hartford 13-13, AE 7-4
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
23 Sabia, Morgan....... f 3-8 1-5 3-4 0 1 1 4 10 0 5 0 1 28
25 Minor, Anthony...... f 4-7 0-0 1-1 1 3 4 3 9 0 2 0 2 25
01 Von Rosenberg, Jaret g 3-7 1-3 2-2 1 6 7 1 9 6 5 0 3 37
03 Turner, Michael..... g 3-3 0-0 7-10 0 5 5 1 13 4 0 0 4 40
24 Zeglinski, Joe...... g 7-13 5-7 0-1 1 5 6 3 19 0 1 0 0 31
10 Torres, Andres...... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 11
11 Glowiak, Brian...... 1-2 1-2 3-3 0 0 0 0 6 2 0 1 0 21
31 Estes, Kevin........ 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 7
TEAM................
Totals.............. 22-44 8-18 16-21 3 20 23 15 68 12 15 1 10 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-21 42.9% 2nd Half: 13-23 56.5% Game: 50.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 5-9 55.6% Game: 44.4% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 7-8 87.5% 2nd Half: 9-13 69.2% Game: 76.2% 2

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HOME TEAM: Albany 11-12, AE 6-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
05 Hastings, Jerel..... f 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 3 4 1 0 0 0 24
33 Connelly, Brian..... f 5-9 0-0 0-0 1 5 6 3 10 1 1 0 0 35
55 Turley, Al.......... c 3-4 0-0 1-3 1 0 1 1 7 0 0 0 0 5
21 Lillis, Brian....... g 8-9 0-0 1-2 2 3 5 3 17 4 3 0 2 39
23 Ambrose, Tim........ g 1-6 0-2 1-2 3 2 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 12
03 Martin, Josh........ 3-7 0-3 3-3 0 2 2 3 9 1 4 0 1 20
14 Iati, Jon........... 1-6 1-5 0-0 2 3 5 0 3 1 3 0 1 27
34 Wilson, Brent....... 3-10 2-9 2-2 0 3 3 2 10 3 2 0 2 29
42 Covington, Jimmie... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 9
TEAM................ 1 1 1
Totals.............. 26-55 3-19 8-12 11 22 33 18 63 12 15 0 6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-26 50.0% 2nd Half: 13-29 44.8% Game: 47.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-10 20.0% 2nd Half: 1-9 11.1% Game: 15.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-5 100 % 2nd Half: 3-7 42.9% Game: 66.7% 2

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Officials: Robert Adams, Jeffrey Anderson, Gray Pucino
Technical fouls: Hartford-None. Albany-None.
Attendance: 3069
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Hartford...................... 28 40 - 68
Albany........................ 33 30 - 63
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UAlbany Tennis Sweeps Youngstown State and St. Bonaventure

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Susan Ma won both her singles matches and combined for two doubles victories to lead the UAlbany tennis team to a sweep of Youngstown State and St. Bonaventure on Saturday at the St. Bonaventure Indoor Fitness Center.

Ma defeated Tanisha Welch 6-3, 6-1 at second singles for her first victory of the day. She later teamed with Aimee Kern for an 8-5 win over Anna Volkova and Kelly Culbertson. Kim Weltman topped Irena Lanc 2-6, 6-1, 10-4 at third singles, while Charlotte Tatler defeated Culbertson 6-2, 6-3 at fourth singles.

Against St. Bonaventure, Ma won her No. 2 singles match against Anna Perevenzetseva in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 and teamed with Kern for an 8-2 victory over Ana Delgado and Yolande Callaghan. Kern defeated Callaghan 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) at No. 1 singles. Weltman and Tatler earned their second singles wins of the day with sweeps of Maria Barousse at No. 3 singles and Delgado at No. 4 singles, respectively. Freshman Laine Mackey picked up a 6-0, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles, while Amanda Hall won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles.

In doubles action, Mackey and Hall topped Perevenzetseva and Vanessa Rumple 8-3 at second doubles and Tatler and Weltman won 8-1 at third doubles.

The Great Danes, who remain unbeaten at 7-0 on the season, return to action on Saturday, Feb. 16 against Providence at 1 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany def. Youngstown State 6-1
Singles
1) Anna Volkova (YSU) def. Aimee Kern (UA) 7-5, 6-2
2) Susan Ma (UA) def. Tanisha Welch (YSU) 6-3, 6-1
3) Kim Weltman (UA) def. Irena Lanc (YSU) 2-6, 6-1, 10-4
4) Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Kelly Culbertson (YSU) 6-2, 6-3
5) UAlbany by default
6) UAlbany by default


Doubles
1) Ma/Kern (UA) def. Volkova/Culbertson (YSU) 8-5
2) Welch/Lanc (YSU) def. Amanda Hall/Laine Mackey (UA) 8-5
3) UAlbany by default


UAlbany def. St. Bonaventure 7-0
Singles
1) Aimee Kern (UA) def. Yolande Callaghan (SBU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
2) Susan Ma (UA) def. Anna Perevenzetseva (SBU) 6-4, 6-3
3) Kim Weltman (UA) def. Maria Barousse (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
4) Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Ana Delgado (SBU) 6-1, 6-0
5) Laine Mackey (UA) def. Anna Martorell (SBU) 6-0, 6-4
6) Amanda Hall (UA) def. Vanessa Rumple (SBU) 6-2, 6-2


Doubles
1) Kern/Ma (UA) def. Callaghan/Delgado (SBU) 8-2
2) Mackey/Hall (UA) def. Perevenzetseva/Rumple (SBU) 8-3
3) Tatler/Weltman (UA) def. Barousse/Martorell (SBU) 8-1

UAlbany Women's Track Competes at Boston University's Valentine Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. – Freshman Christen Griffin placed 10th in the 55-meter hurdles to lead UAlbany at the Boston U. Valentine Invitational at the Boston U. Track and Tennis Center.

Griffin crossed the finish line in 8.56 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles to place tenth. Juniors Laura Cummings and Melissa Lee turned in the top performances of the season by a Great Dane in each of their events. Cummings crossed the line in the 3,000-meter run in 10:03.06, while Lee had a time of 58.53 seconds in the 400-meter dash. In the 55-meter dash, Sarah Lapierre (7.61) and Jenn Gurrant (7.62) each turned in their top performances of the year. Gurrant and Ashley Vives each finished the 200-meter dash in 26.42 seconds for the top times in the event this year by a Great Dane.

Senior Brenna Militello cleared the bar at 5-feet, 4.25-inches in the high jump for a 12th place finish. In the shot put and long jump, the Great Danes received a pair of top-20 finishes. Kadine Johnson (40-11.50) came in 13th and Candice Mann (39-9.25) placed 17th in the shot put, while Tiffany Sprenkels (16-10) placed 14th and Arina Gerasimova (16-9.75) finished 17th in the long jump.

The Great Danes return to the track for a pair of meets on Friday, Feb. 15 at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas and a three-way meet at Binghamton University.


UAlbany Women’s Results
55 Meter Dash: 39. Sarah Lapierre 7.61, 40. Jenn Gurrant 7.62. 55 Meter Hurdles: 10. Christen Griffin 8.56. 200 Meter Dash: 50. Ashley Vives 26.42, 51. Jenn Gurrant 26.42, 80. Christen Griffin 26.85, 84. Sandy Antenor 26.96, 88. Laura Bolognino 27.00, 129. Sarah Lapierre 28.02. 400 Meter Dash: 22. Melissa Lee 58.53, 59. Octavia Clarkson 1:00.86. 500 Meter Dash: 27. Rebecca Kelly 1:19.52. 800 Meter Run: 42. Zuliana Fontanez 2:20.53, 110. Esperanza Blanco 2:32.69, 117. Ally Panos 2:34.60. One Mile Run: 56. Danielle Trimpop 5:16.08. 3,000 Meter Run: 16. Laura Cummings 10:03.06, 26. Kristine Mun 10:14.43, 47. Laine Sefick 10:46.37, 79. Kristin Grab 11:30.04. 4x400 Meter Relay: 14. Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Rebecca Kelly, Ashley Vives 3:58.73, 36. Laura Cummings, Danielle Trimpop, Esperanza Blanco, Ally Panos 4:19.09. Pole Vault: 35. Krystal Myers 9-0.25. High Jump: 12. Brenna Militello 5-4.25. Long Jump: 14. Tiffany Sprenkels 16-10, 17. Arina Gerasimova 16-9.75. Shot Put: 13. Kadine Johnson 40-11.50, 17. Candice Mann 39-9.25, 23. Ashley Lewis 37-10.75.