University of Albany Football Announces 2015 Schedule; Season Tickets Now On Sale - UAlbany Sports 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. -- In conjunction with National Signing Day, the University at Albany has announced the 2015 football schedule. The 12 game slate features five home contests, six road clashes, and the program’s first competition against a true Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team. The Great Danes kickoff the season in Western New York on Labor Day weekend, taking on the University at Buffalo -- UAlbany’s inaugural FBS opponent. The Bulls recorded a 5-6 mark in 2014 and 3-4 record in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). During the programs’ Division III eras, the squads met 11 times with UAlbany owning a 7-4 advantage in the series. The Great Danes won the last two meetings against the Bulls, taking a 22-21 victory at Buffalo in 1987 and a 28-20 home triumph in 1988. “We’re excited. It’s just another step in the growth of the program to be able to play our first FBS team,” said Gattuso on the UB match-up. “Playing an in-state team like that is great. I think that game is a big part of the direction we are trying to go.” In week two, UAlbany opens conference play at Bob Ford Field against the University of Rhode Island on Sept. 12. Entering the program’s third season in the CAA, the Great Danes captured its first conference victory over the Rams in 2014, winning 37-20 in Kingston. The series is currently tied, 1-1. Next, UAlbany travels to conference-foe James Madison on Sept. 19 and will look to snap a two-year drought against the Dukes. JMU edged UAlbany, 31-28, at Bob Ford Field last season. With a 9-4 overall record, James Madison finished 2014 ranked No. 18 in The Sports Network Poll and No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Great Danes will then step out of conference for back-to-back weeks, facing former Northeast Conference rival Duquesne at home on Sept. 26 and then Holy Cross of the Patriot League in Worcester, Mass. on Oct. 3. Gattuso, a former Duquesne head coach (1993-2004), will look to improve UAlbany’s current 5-2 series advantage over the Dukes. “It’s a big game for us to win, but also for me personally it’s a really big football game,“ stated Gattuso. Meanwhile, UAlbany overcame Holy Cross, 14-13, in dramatic fashion in the 2014 season-opener and first meeting between the schools and will look to repeat the feat. “Holy Cross is a great opponent,” added Gattuso. “Saying we were very fortunate to win last year would be putting it very mildly. I’m sure they’re going to be really excited about getting us at their field and having an opportunity to get some revenge.” Facing Maine and Villanova at home on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17, the Great Danes take on CAA opponents for the rest of the slate. The meeting with Maine will mark the ninth between the squads with UAlbany owning a 5-3 lead, including last season’s 20-7 triumph in Orono. Boasting an 11-3 overall record, while making an appearance in the 2014 FCS Championship quarterfinals, Villanova ranked No. 7 in the final FCS polls of the season. The Wildcats will make their first appearance in Albany after overcoming the Danes in Villanova, 48-31, last fall. After a bye week, UAlbany will spend Halloween in Richmond and the following weekend at Delaware (Nov. 7). The Great Danes will look to capture the program’s first win over the Spiders in the third meeting between the teams. Also, trailing the all-time series 3-1, UAlbany will look to avenge back-to-back three-point losses to the Blue Hens. In the final two weeks of the season, the Great Danes host the FCS Championship semifinalist New Hampshire Wildcats on Nov. 14 and close the 2015 regular season schedule at Stony Brook on Nov. 21. UNH, the reigning CAA champions, recorded a 12-2 overall mark and perfect 8-0 record in conference play last season, while finishing the year ranked No. 3 in the national polls. Overcoming Stony Brook, 27-17, in last fall’s season finale, the Great Danes seek to a repeat their success, as they own an 11-6 overall lead in the series. “I think we’ve made great strides in fitting into the league,” said Gattuso. “With how difficult the league is the progress we made last year was very good but certainly not good enough. We’re excited about the challenge. “Every game it critical for us next year,” added Gattuso. “For us to have a winning season and to reach our goals we’re going to have to win some tough games.” Season tickets for 2015 are now on sale at UAlbanySports.com or by calling 442-DANE. 2015 Football Schedule Sept 3 or 5 at Buffalo Sept 12 Rhode Island Sept 19 at James Madison Sept 26 Duquesne Oct 3 at Holy Cross Oct 10 Maine Oct 17 Villanova Oct 24 - Bye - Oct 31 at Richmond Nov 7 at Delaware Nov 14 New Hampshire Nov 21 at Stony Brook

University of Albany Men’s Basketball Enters Mid-Major Poll at No. 25 - UAlbany Sports 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. – Out to its best regular season conference start, University at Albany men’s basketball makes its first appearance in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll this week, totaling 78 points to take No. 25. The Danes are in the midst of a Division I program-best nine-game winning streak. Will Brown’s squad has a two-game buffer for first place in the America East with an undefeated 9-0 record. This is the first time since December of 2012 the Great Danes have earned a spot in the Mid-Major poll. UAlbany is the only America East team ranked in the top-25, and one of just four hailing from the Northeast region.

Brett Queener Returns to University of Albany as Men’s Lacrosse Volunteer Assistant - UAlbany Sports 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. – Former UAlbany standout goalkeeper Brett Queener has come back to his alma mater to serve as a volunteer assistant coach with the men’s lacrosse team for the 2015 season. “Playing for Scott Marr and the UAlbany Great Danes was some of the greatest times in my life,” said Queener. “Now, I am extremely excited to announce that I will be taking my talents back to the 518, but this time, as a coach.” After playing at Herkimer C.C., Queener came to UAlbany in 2006 and started in goal for the Great Danes the next three years, graduating in 2008. With a career 54.9% save percentage in the cage, he was a key part of the 2007 America East title team that was the first UAlbany men’s lacrosse team to win a Division I NCAA Tournament game, defeating Loyola in the first round. Since his college days, Queener remains one of the top goalkeepers in Major League Lacrosse, earning All-Star honors as part of the Florida Launch in 2014, his fifth time being named an All-Star in six seasons. He also played three years with the Boston Blazers in the National Lacrosse League. “Adding someone with Brett’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the game to our staff will prove to be invaluable,” said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. “He is reunited with former teammates Liam Gleason and Eric Wolf to reach our ultimate goal!” Queener comes onto Marr’s coaching staff for the 2015 season, joining Gleason, Wolf and Donald Shea.

University of Albany: Singletary’s Three Silences Patrick Gym in 47-44 Victory at Vermont - UAlbany Sports 2015

BURLINGTON, VT.- Junior guard Evan Singletary hit a three with two seconds left and the game tied to send University at Albany men’s basketball (13-7, 8-0 AE) past Vermont (11-10, 6-2 AE) 47-44. Senior Sam Rowley also tallied his 1,000th career point in the win. “To be honest, I got the ball and I saw the time but I was looking for Sam [Rowley],” said Singletary. “Once I saw the clock running down, I knew I had to get the ball up. I struggled the whole game, but it’s not always about scoring. It’s the shot you dream of, and when it went in I couldn’t believe it.” Neither side looked poised to make the contest high-scoring early, as the teams combined to go 1-for-11 from the field in the first four minutes. The Great Danes got out to an early 3-0 lead as the Catamounts went scoreless for the first five minutes. But the Purple & Gold experience a scoring drought of its own, going without a field goal for eight minutes and committing five turnovers in the process. By the 9:09 mark in the first half, Sam Rowley was the only Dane with a field goal to his credit. The senior had six of UAlbany’s seven early points. Despite the scoring troubles, the Purple & Gold was only down 11-7, as Vermont also struggled shooting and failed to get to the charity stripe. Both teams were under 30% from the field at the under-eight media timeout. Will Brown’s squad had fouls working in its favor mid-way through the first half, a 6-1 advantage. Sam Rowley went to the line with the Purple & Gold in the bonus to make both shots of a one-and-one, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark. The senior also gave UAlbany the lead back for the first time in 10 minutes, 13-11. The teams went back-and-forth, but five-straight points from Ray Sanders put the Great Danes up 20-15 with five minutes to play in the first. Singletary hit from three-point range with two minutes on the clock to ensure a halftime lead, 25-17. With fouls stacking up against the Catamounts, John Becker’s squad continued to struggle to score. Vermont was without a field goal for 10 minutes after making two shots to open the half. UAlbany extended its lead to as many as seven points four times entering the last three minutes of the game. A 6-2 Catamount run saw that edge disappear with 42 seconds on the clock. The Purple & Gold led 44-42 thanks to one free throw from Singletary, but Vermont’s Dre Wills came down for a clear-out dunk on the next possession. Without a timeout, John Becker did not have an opportunity to set his defense. Sixteen seconds proved enough time for Singletary to get down the floor and drain the three to seal a 47-44 victory. “I’m proud of my group,” said head coach Will Brown. “I knew it was going to take a big effort to come up here and beat a very good and well-coached Vermont team. We wanted to make this as ugly of a game as possible. We’ve struggled up here in the regular season, so I’m just proud that we beat such a good team in a tough environment.” UAlbany only had four scorers, including Sam Rowley (18) Singletary (13), Sanders (10) and Mike Rowley (6). The Purple & Gold notched a 43-28 rebounding advantage for the game and 12-3 on the offensive glass. Despite a rough first half, Singletary finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Fellow junior Ray Sanders recorded his first double-double as a Great Dane with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Sam Rowley became the ninth Great Dane to tally 1,000 points or more in the Division I era. His game-high 18 against the Catamounts gave him 1,008. “We’re happy with where we are,” said Rowley. “We know what it’s like to lose, and it’s good to see that’s turned into a winning mentality. In spite of the circumstances, we’re more motivated. Every game someone has stepped up. It’s good for a program when a player reaches 1,000 points, and I’m honored to be in that company; but I’m just looking forward to getting more wins.” UAlbany men’s basketball continues its all-time best America East start at 8-0. The Danes now have a two-game separation for first place in the league standings and head-to-head advantage over Vermont and Stony Brook. Wednesday’s win marks the first time the Purple & Gold has emerged victorious from Patrick Gym in the regular season since 2009. Brown’s Danes are also on an eight-game winning streak, matching their longest Division I winning streak. The Great Danes look to keep the streak alive at Maine (2-19, 1-7 AE) on Saturday. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m., at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

University of Albany Football's Gattuso Announces Coaching Staff Additions And Adjustments - UAlbany Sports 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. -- University at Albany Head Football Coach Greg Gattuso has announced a number of adjustments to the UAlbany coaching staff for the 2015 season, including the addition of Jay Foster, Nate Byham, and Dave Plungas. Foster will serve as the team’s defensive backs coach, Byham will lead the tight ends, and Plungas will assist the defensive assistant coaches. In addition, Gabe Luvara has moved from tight ends coach to assistant offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, while offensive coordinator Joe Bernard has added assistant head coach to his title. “Gabe was instrumental in the development of our passing game last year and he’s going to step up in his role,” said Gattuso. “He’s just done a great job for us and we have a lot of faith in him.” Bernard Clark also received a promotion, now serving as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. "One of his greatest assets is getting kids to play for him hard," said Gattuso of Clark. "They respond to him and rally to him. I just love his energy on the field and he’s going to do a great job running our defense this year." Former director of operations, Jeff Dittman, has been promoted to the role of special teams coordinator and defensive assistant. "Jeff’s work ethic and loyalty this past year was phenomenal in the director role," said Gattuso. "Special teams needs a guy that works like that and Jeff is a great fit. He’s a young enthusiastic coach and he’s very dedicated." Consequently, Harry Traylor fills Dittman’s void in operations after spending last season assisting the defense. "Harry was my intern at Maryland a few years ago," added Gattuso. "I think he’s an extremely intelligent person. He’s young but I think he has the skills to balance what we need in that role. Our director of football is a guy who really helps me run the program. He has big shoes to fill but I think he’s going to do a great job." Lastly, Aaron Smith has added pass game coordinator to his responsibilities, in addition to his former roles of recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach. 2015 UAlbany Football Coaching Staff Greg Gattuso Head Coach Bernard Clark Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Joe Bernard Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Gabe Luvara Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Aaron Smith Pass Game Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers Jim Sweeney Offensive Line Nate Byham Tight Ends Delbert Cowsette Defensive Line Jay Foster Defensive Backs Jeff Dittman Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Assistant Harry Traylor Director of Operations Kellen ONeill Offensive Assistant Dave Plungas Defensive Assistant

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse: Lyle Thompson Selected First Overall in 2015 MLL Collegiate Draft by Florida Launch - UAlbany Sports 2015

BALTIMORE – UAlbany senior attack Lyle Thompson has been picked first overall by the Florida Launch in the 2015 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft. The pick was announced at the 2015 US National Lacrosse Convention at the Hilton Baltimore in Maryland. Thompson is the highest-selected player from UAlbany in MLL Collegiate Draft history. Previously, UAlbany alum Jordan Levine was the lone Great Dane selected in the first round, taken 10th overall in 2008 by the New Jersey Pride. "I can't say enough about what Lyle has done for our program and the game of lacrosse," said UAlbany coach Scott Marr. "He truly exemplifies all the qualities you would want in a person." Lyle Thompson becomes the 11th Great Dane selected in the MLL Collegiate Draft. So far, 14 Great Danes have played in the MLL, with Lyle potentially being the 15th. As a program, at least one Great Dane has been selected in eight of the past nine drafts dating back to 2007. The Co-Tewaaraton Trophy winner set an NCAA single season record with 128 points in 2014. He tied the NCAA record with 77 assists, adding 51 goals, 48 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers. He earned numerous yearly awards in 2014, including the USILA Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award for DI Outstanding Player of the Year, the Lt. Col. J.L. (Jack) Turnbull Award for DI Most Outstanding Attackman, USILA First Team All-American, America East Player of the Year and Lacrosse Magazine Person of the Year. Lyle Thompson joins the league along with the rest of the Thompson Trio. Brother Miles Thompson, drafted 20th overall in 2013, and cousin Ty Thompson, drafted 28th overall last year, each are on the Rochester Rattlers roster. The Launch started as an expansion team in 2014. Leading the team is MLL All-Star and UAlbany alum Brett Queener in goal.

University of Albany Men’s Basketball Out to All-Time Best America East Start at 6-0 With 62-53 Victory at Hartford - UAlbany Sports 2015

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.- University at Albany men’s basketball (11-7, 6-0 AE) claimed the top spot in the America East on Thursday night, downing Hartford (11-8, 4-2 AE) 62-53. The Great Danes are out to their best America East start ever at 6-0. Sam Rowley scored a career-high 22 points in the victory. “I thought this was another good effort by our guys,” said head coach Will Brown. “We’ve been focusing on getting better defensively and getting more aggressive attacking the paint on offense. We’re making progress on both ends of the ball.” Both teams began the game stone cold from the field, a combined 2-for-11 in the opening minutes. Sam Rowley provided the early spark, scoring six of UAlbany’s eight points for an 8-5 lead at the under-12 media timeout. The senior forward found gaps in Hartford’s 1-3-1 zone to keep the Great Danes ahead. With the Purple & Gold looking to push the pace, the Hawks crept into early foul trouble, as three-point shooting specialist Taylor Dyson picked up his second personal just eight minutes into the game. Hartford’s leading scorer Mark Nwakamma committed his second foul at the 6:50 mark. After a slow start for both teams, UAlbany began to pull away thanks to a balanced scoring attack. Sam Rowley and Ray Sanders were the only Danes on the board in the early-going, but by the four-minute mark in the first half six players had at least two points. Despite a 3-for-9 start from the field in the first half, the Great Danes went 6-for-12 over the next 10 minutes and 3-for-3 entering the under-four media timeout. Will Brown’s squad only committed one turnover in 12 minutes entering the break. On the other hand, Hartford failed to score for the final 3:13 of the half, after Wheeler Baker took a charge and the Hawks threw the ball away on consecutive possessions. Dyson also picked up his third foul. At the half, UAlbany held a 27-20 advantage behind 10 points from Sam Rowley. The foul trouble continued for Hartford in the second half. Three starters in Corban Wroe, Dyson and Nwakamma had three fouls. Despite the setbacks the Hawks went on a 5-0 run to narrow the lead to just two points, 27-25. Dallas Ennema brought the lead back to double-digits, 41-31 with a baseline jumper at the 11:17 mark. Nwakamma committed his fourth foul shortly after. The Purple & Gold extended its lead to as many as 16 points with nine minutes to play. UAlbany remained perfect from the free throw line to maintain its double-digit lead with six minutes left. With Hartford picking up a full-court press, the Hawks still went scoreless for a three-minute period late in the game. Four-straight points from Evan Singletary set up a 14-point lead, 57-43 with four minutes to go. Two threes down the stretch weren’t enough for Hartford, and the Great Danes emerged with a 62-53 victory. Sam Rowley scored a career-high 22 points on 9-for-13 from the field in the victory. The senior forward is 22 points shy of 1,000 for his career. Singletary brought down a career-best seven boards, and the Great Danes went 19-for-21 (.905) from the charity stripe. Thursday’s win marks the fifth straight game UAlbany has gone better than 80% from the free throw line with 20 or more attempts. UAlbany held Hartford’s leading scorer Mark Nwakamma to single-digits in scoring (seven points) for the first time in 12 games. Will Brown has his best America East start all-time at 6-0, including a 4-0 clip on the road. With a Vermont loss at UNH on Thursday night, UAlbany takes sole possession of first place in the league. The Danes have won six straight and nine of their last 10. This is UAlbany’s longest winning streak since the 2006-07 season, when the Purple & Gold strung together eight consecutive victories. UAlbany men’s basketball returns to SEFCU Arena on Sunday to face UMBC (3-16, 1-5 AE). Tip is slated for 4:37 p.m., on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel as part of a UAlbany basketball doubleheader.

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Ranked #12 in Preseason USILA DI Coaches Poll - UAlbany Sports 2015

PERRY, N.Y. – The UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse Team is ranked #12 is the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Preseason Coaches Poll, announced on Monday.


It is the second year in a row that UAlbany has started the year in the top-12, earning a preseason #10 ranking last year.  UAlbany received 112 points in the poll.


Currently, UAlbany is the only America East team to receive any points in the poll.  The team is the third-highest among New York-based squads, only behind #4 Syracuse and #10 Cornell.


Including Syracuse and Cornell, UAlbany’s regular season opponents include six ranked squads: #11 Harvard, #15 Yale, #16 Drexel and #19 Bryant.  UMass, UAlbany’s home opener opponent, received points in the poll.  In addition, UAlbany will scrimmage against #13 Penn and Princeton, which received points in the poll.


The Great Danes are coming off an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance last year, going 12-6 with a second-consecutive America East title.  UAlbany was ranked #15 in the final USILA poll of the 2014 season, taken before the NCAA Tournament.


NCAA Semifinalist Denver is the preseason #1 with 274 points.  Notre Dame is #2 with 271 points while reigning NCAA champion Duke is at #3 with 268 points.


The Great Danes will begin the season against ranked Drexel on Saturday, February 21^st in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m

University of Albany Basketball Weekly Featuring Will Brown Set to Begin Rotation This Saturday - UAlbany Sports 2015

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany men’s basketball head coach Will Brown will headline UAlbany Basketball Weekly Presented by Mohawk Honda on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., with Rodger Wyland, Chris Onorato and Ashley Miller on NewsChannel 13 WNYT, MY4.

Wyland & co. will recap all the news and highlights of UAlbany’s most recent games with Coach Brown from Mohawk Honda’s show room in Glenville. The show will also spotlight player guests, beginning with leading scorer Peter Hooley this Saturday, Jan. 10. WNYT’s production will run weekly through the America East postseason.

Sarah Royals Ties University of Albany WBB All-Time Assists Record, Scores 17 in 76-65 Win vs. UNH - UAlbany Sports 2015

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – With six assists, the final one with 2:15 left in the game, Sarah Royals tied the program’s all-time assists record with 375, adding 17 points to lead the UAlbany women’s basketball team past New Hampshire 76-65 on Wednesday night at the SEFCU Arena.

“Everyone stepped up, our press was great and everyone gave their best effort,” said Royals, who is currently tied with Samantha Ginsberg in assists all-time at UAlbany. “My teammates knocking down shots made that [record happen].”

With the game tied 47-47 and 10:58 remaining, UAlbany (9-6, 2-0 AE) used a 13-2 spurt in the following four-and-a-half minutes to hold the lead for good against New Hampshire (9-5, 1-1 AE).  This was UAlbany’s second home game in its last nine contests.

“We came out and played really hard, every school in the country needs to protect their home, and they were fresh and excited to play,” said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “[Sarah] was my first recruit, and when I came to see her play, I saw grit and toughness. She has had some great post players, and she is going to break that record and hopefully hold it for a long time.”

Shereesha Richards earned her sixth double-double of the year, scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Tonight, she scored in her 75^th-consecutive game.

“We came out poised tonight, we did a great job sharing the ball and doing the little things right,” said Richards. “It was definitely great to be back home and get a home win.”

Two other Great Danes scored in double figures.  Zakiya Saunders scored 12 off the bench with three assists, while Imani Tate tallied 11 points, five boards four assists, and three steals.  As a team, UAlbany outrebounded UNH 38-24.

For UNH, Elizabeth Belanger led all players with 22 points, adding five boards and three assists.  Ariel Gaston scored 13 points with five assists while Carlie Pogue scored 11 off the bench.

Both offenses found success early, with a couple of UAlbany layups being countered by Kaylee Kilpatrick transition layups. Royals led the charge for UAlbany in response with a layup and wing three as UAlbany led 9-6 in the opening minutes.

Belanger keep getting open looks against UAlbany’s zone, netting 10 early points as UNH took the lead at 14-13. Tate hit a jumper to put UAlbany back ahead, then Erin Coughlin hit two long shots from the right wing, one inside the arc and the other outside, for a 7-0 run to put the Great Danes ahead 20-14 with 8:20 elapsed.

After a lull in scoring by both sides, UAlbany stood with a 24-19 lead.  In a span of a minute, Tate hit a long one-hand floater from the baseline.  The next possession, Royals set up Coughlin for a wing three, then the following possession, Tate forced a turnover, passed to Royals, who passed to a running Richards for the layup to push UAlbany up 31-19.  The Great Danes held UNH without a field goal for over seven minutes.

With three minutes left in the half, Gaston banked a three before the shot clock buzzer.  Richards responded with a layup to make it 35-24.  The final 2:02, Belanger scored UNH’s next seven points, with Saunders for UAlbany and Sarah-Marie Frankenberger for UNH each adding baskets as UNH ended the half with a 9-2 streak.  UAlbany went into halftime up 37-33.

The teams exchanged baskets in the opening minutes, when at 39-37, Tiana-Jo Carter hit both free throws after getting fouled on a layup attempt, then rebounded a UNH miss and helped start a transition play leading to a Richards layup to push UAlbany’s lead to 43-37 in the half’s first four minutes.

Both sides committed turnovers, with each finding baskets in transition.  UNH tied the game following a couple of Pogue layups to make it 47-47 with 10:58 left.

UAlbany called a timeout to regroup.  Richards hit a layup out of the break, followed by Carter hitting one, to rebuilding UAlbany’s lead to four.  Following an exchange, UAlbany led 53-52 with 8:21 remaining.

A Tate jumper sparked a UAlbany run as the Great Danes went to the paint.  A minute later, Tate went into the paint, no looked a pass to Richards under the basket for a layup, then after a missed Pogue layup, Royals hit a layup and one to cap a 7-0 run and make the score 60-52 UAlbany with 6:32 left.

The teams traded points, with UAlbany making shots in the paint and UNH netting free throws.  With under three minutes left, Royals hit a pair of free throws.  After Richards rebounded a missed Belanger three, UAlbany called timeout.  Off the inbounds, Royals heaved a pass to a running Richards, who scored the uncontested transition layup.  That score gave Royals her 375^th assist of her career and UAlbany a 68-57 lead with 2:18 remaining, the team’s largest lead in the second half.

Late free throws brought UNH within six with 41 seconds left.  Saunders and Tate hit free throws towards the end as UAlbany held the lead.  A Richards layup in the final seconds set the 76-65 final score in favor of UAlbany.

UAlbany will hit the road again in its next game, taking on UMass Lowell on Sunday, January 11^th at 2 p.m.

University of Albany Women's Basketball Richards Earns 34-Point Career Day in 71-56 Defeat at #9/8 North Carolina - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With Shereesha Richards leading the charge with 34 points, the fourth-highest single game total in program history, the UAlbany women’s basketball team battled #9/8 North Carolina most of the way, falling short in a 71-56 defeat.

“We are trying to get better as a team and play at a high level, that’s why we play these games to see where we are,” said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “It was a good game, I wanted them to fight and see what was inside of them.”

Richards earned a season-high 34 points, her second highest total in her collegiate career, with nine rebounds and three steals.  No other, including UNC players, scored more than 16 points in the contest.  Richards also moved into 5^th all-time in UAlbany history in scoring with 1,219 points.

“I would like to win every game, and today, it is not about how many points I scored,” said Richards. “We want to get to that level so we can win these games.”

“She is a great person first and a workhorse second, and she is relentless,” said Abrahamson-Henderson on Richards. “It is a blessing to have her on this team.”

UAlbany (7-6) led early in the contest, with UNC (12-1) getting 6-0 and 7-0 runs in the first half to build a double digit lead.  UAlbany was outscored in the second half by only three.

Tiana-Jo Carter scored seven points with a game-high 10 rebounds, while Imani Tate also had seven points with three boards.

For UNC, Jessica Washington scored 16 points off the bench, adding five rebounds.  Alisha Gray scored 15 points with three steals and seven rebounds, while Stephanie Mavunga nearly had a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.

At the game’s start, UAlbany looked to the paint while UNC fired away from three.  Carter hit the opening basket on a putback.  UNC got a mini 5-0 run, with Richards countering with a layup to pull UAlbany within one at 5-4 in the opening 3:01.

Down 8-5, UAlbany got a spurt: Richards hit the layup, then with the full court press, Sarah Royals forced the turnover in the backcourt, with the pass to Tate turning into a layup for a 9-8 Great Danes lead.  After a Gray three, Richards hit another basket to tie the game at 11.

Following a Latifah Coleman three for UNC, both sides traded baskets, with Richards continuing to hit shots and the Tar Heels finding scores in the paint.  At 18-17, the home team hit three jumpers in a row, the final pair from Mavunga, to build a 24-17 lead, inducing UAlbany to call a timeout.

Richards stopped the run with another jumper, then Royals forced a steal up top the arc, going coast-to-cast against two UNC players to score a layup to pull UAlbany within four at 26-22 with 8:19 remaining in the 1^st.

UNC kept UAlbany without points for over the next six minutes while the Great Danes held the Tar Heels out of the paint, allowing two three-pointers in the same time span.  A UNC free throw made it 33-22 with under two in the 1^st.

Carter hit a layup to stop the UNC streak, with Cassandra Edwards adding a free throw.  UNC hit two baskets in the final 1:16 of the half to lead 37-25 at the break.

Into the second half, Richards came back in after foul trouble and started getting baskets, trading baskets with UNC.  A Richards jumper and couple of free throws pulled UAlbany to be down 44-32 four minutes into the period.

UNC starting getting hot from the perimeter, hitting its next three attempts, with a Tar Heel free throw and Richards layup making the score 54-34 UNC under 14 minutes remaining.

UAlbany called timeout and regrouped.  Royals drove down the baseline and hit the layup, followed by Zakiya Saunders deflecting, stealing and scoring on her own.  Tate added free throws, then Saunders had an arc pass to Richards to make it an 8-0 run to make it 54-42 as the UAlbany defense held UNC without points for four minutes.

The teams kept exchanging baskets as UNC kept a double digit lead.  UAlbany kept finding Richards for shots underneath, while UNC took advantage of the free throw line.  UNC built the lead back up to 17 at 62-45 with 6:38 left to play.

The Great Danes kept fighting, using a Carter layup and a Tate basket to pull back within 13 with five minutes left.  UAlbany did not get closer, and despite late points from Richards and Margarita Rosario, the Great Danes fell 71-56.

UAlbany now gets set for America East play, traveling to Bangor for a noon game against Maine on Saturday, January 3^rd on ESPN3.

 

University of Albany WBB Defeats Cal State Fullerton 71-49 for Second-Straight Year - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

FULLERTON, Calif. – Mirroring the score of last year’s game between the two, the UAlbany women’s basketball team, led by 18 points off the bench from Zakiya Saunders, took down Cal State Fullerton 71-49 on the road to finish the California road trip at 2-0.

UAlbany (7-4) never looked back after taking the lead four minutes into the contest.  The Great Danes shot 56.6% in the game, including 62.5% in the first half, and held Cal State Fullerton (4-7) to 34.6% from the field.

“It was our goal to come home for Christmas with two wins under our belt,” said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “The gameplan was to control their point guard, we wanted to press her and wear her out.”

Saunders earned a career-high 18 points and three steals off the bench, hitting eight of her 10 field goal attempts.

“I felt good today, we executed everything that our coaches told us to do, and we got the victory,” said Saunders. “There were a lot more opportunities today to catch and shoot outside shots, not just for me but for everyone.”

Shereesha Richards scored in double digits for her 11^th-straight game, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds.  Sarah Royals also nearly earned a double-double with nine assists, her highest single game total in over a calendar year and moving into fourth all-time in UAlbany history with 354 assists, and eight points.  Imani Tate went 6-8 on shooting with 14 points and four rebounds.

For CSF, Chante Miles scored 13 points and notched seven assists.  Kathleen Iwuoha almost got a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

At the game’s start, UAlbany primarily looked to the paint while Fullerton sought shots from the perimeter.  The team exchanged early baskets, with at 5-4 home team, an Erin Coughlin kickout three and a Tate putback layup putting UAlbany in front 9-5 through the first four minutes.

UAlbany used the full court press against the Titans, showing dividends midway through the half.  Following Miles hitting a three, UAlbany hit four baskets in the paint in a row, the final one with a foul as Richards hit the free throw to complete a 9-0 run and give the Great Danes a 20-10 lead with 10:15 remaining in the 1^st.

The UAlbany guards started getting shot chances, with Royals driving baseline for the layup, while Saunders hit a trio of jumpers as the Great Danes kept a 30-17 advantage with 5:48 left in the half.

Each side continued to trade baskets, with Saunders leading UAlbany with long jumpers and Royals adding shots on running down the baseline.  CSF switched tactics and went for layups against UAlbany’s frontcourt.  At 38-25, Margarita Rosario hit a three on the elbow, followed by Royals hitting a layup.  Lakyn Gulley hit a three on the wing with 30 seconds left for CSF to put the halftime score at 43-28 UAlbany.

Tate hit a jumper just inside the arc to start the second period.  CSF forced a couple of turnovers and converted for a pair of baskets.  UAlbany countered with Saunders free throws, another Royals layup towards the baseline, Royals inbounding to Saunders for the layup then Rosario hitting the elbow three to cap the run at 9-0 and push the team up 54-32 with 14:14 left in the 2^nd.

CSF pulled to within 15 after another Gulley three to make it 56-41 with 10 minutes left.  Richards hit a jumper as the UAlbany defense did not allow a field goal for the next six minutes.  Tiana-Jo Carter and Tate added more points in the paint as the run went totaled 9-0 to make it 65-41 UAlbany with 4:50 left.

The Great Danes got their reserves in the latter stages of the game, with Bose Aiyalogbe and Jessica Fequiere each playing in the final minutes.  UAlbany took the 71-49 victory.

UAlbany will return home and break for the holidays, taking on Northeastern at the SEFCU Arena on Sunday, December 28^th at 2 p.m.

Late Singletary Three Seals 64-60 Win For University of Albany Men’s Basketball at Yale - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

NEW HAVEN, CONN. – Junior point guard Evan Singletary hit a three with a tie game and two minutes left in regulation to send University at Albany men’s basketball (4-6) to at 64-60 win at Yale (8-4) on Saturday afternoon.

“I thought our guys did a good job, especially the last six or seven minutes of the game,” said head coach Will Brown. “Our rebounding, defense and execution was really good the last few minutes against a really good basketball team. I’m proud of our guys, with nine new players I’m happy with the way they’ve bought in the last two games.”

Yale turned the ball over early in the game, with four giveaways to the Great Danes in the first few minutes. The Bulldogs took an initial 3-0 lead, but UAlbany responded with a 13-4 run. Five minutes into the game, all five starters for Will Brown had at least two points.

Javier Duren drained a three to put Yale within three, but a turnover on the other end kept the Bulldogs from gaining much ground.

With the Purple & Gold pushing the ball up the floor, Yale continued to struggle in the turnover column. A fast-paced game helped UAlbany take an early 10-2 lead in points in the paint.

The Great Danes hit a shooting drought mid-way through the first half, which ended thanks to good defense. Peter Hooley picked off a Yale pass at mid-court, and Richard Peters followed up with a tip-in to extend the UAlbany lead to 18-14 with 8:30 on the clock.

Will Brown’s squad was willing to concede outside jumpers to Yale’s forwards, but the Bulldogs began making them with five minutes to go in the half. Wheeler Baker hit a long three from Mike Rowley to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

Yale tied the game late in the first, but Singletary streaked down the lane for the lay-in to regain the lead. The Great Danes entered the locker room at the break with a one-point advantage, 29-28.

The Bulldogs came out shooting well in the second half, making their first three shots. Yale took the lead for the first time since the opening moments of the game, and Brown called timeout to regroup down 35-31.

James Jones’s squad led by as many as eight points with 13 minutes left. The Bulldogs committed just three turnovers in the opening 13 minutes of the second half.

Sam Rowley began to come alive on the offensive end, converting on a traditional three-point play with just under 10 minutes to go. Hooley poured on five-straight points of his own.

Ray Sanders drew his second charge on Armani Cotton at the 7:34 mark to get UAlbany back on track defensively, and the Purple & Gold began to mount a comeback.

After Hooley made two free throws with 5:10 on the clock, UAlbany climbed within three points, 56-53. A seven-point swing on a 9-0 run over less than two minutes put the Great Danes back on top. Hooley tied the game at 56 thanks to a traditional three-point play on a steal from Sam Rowley.

Sam Rowley gave UAlbany its first lead since the beginning of the second half, 58-56 with 3:32 to go on two made free throws. The Bulldogs came down the floor to make two free throws of their own to tie the game at 58. The two freebies from Justin Sears marked Yale’s first points in three minutes. Yale went without a field goal for the final 6:10 of play.

With the game tied at 58, Sam Rowley missed the go-ahead jumper; but Sanders flew in to grab the offensive board, the ninth and most important of the contest for UAlbany.

Rowley hit the rim to reset the shot clock, setting up another opportunity to take the lead. Singletary stepped back off of a ball screen, and Yale failed to hedge and put a hand up. The junior sank the three from the top of the key to put UAlbany ahead.

“To be honest, I knew I would take the shot once [Yale] switched on the screen,” said Singletary. “He didn’t put a hand up so I just rose up and shot it.”

After Sears made two free throws, Singletary went to the other end to make two of his own. The score remained a three-point lead in favor of the Purple & Gold with 28 seconds left.

The Great Danes fouled Javier Duren outside the three point line, forcing him to the charity stripe with both teams in the double bonus. Duren missed both free throws, and the Bulldogs were subsequently forced to foul Sanders. Sanders made one of two to make it a two-possession game, 64-60 and put the game away.

Three Danes concluded the game in double figures, including Singletary (19), Sam Rowley (15) and Hooley (13). Singletary went 6-for-8 from the field and 3-for-4 from three. Over his last two games, the junior is averaging 20 points on 11-for-14 (.786) from the field, 6-for-7 (.857) from three and 12-for-13 (.923) from the free throw line.

Hooley and Rowley each had 11 second-half points, while Rowley and Singletary combined to go a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes. Rowley led the team in rebounds (6) and steals (4).

“Two games ago we were on the wrong track,” said Rowley. “After the game today, it’s nice to accomplish what we’ve come to accomplish the last two games. We’ve done a good job of altering our mindset.”

UAlbany took a 36-14 advantage for the game in points in the paint, and handed the Bulldogs their first home loss of 2014-15.

The Great Danes return to SEFCU Arena on Monday, Dec. 22 to face Fairfield (4-6, 2-0 MAAC) at 7:00 p.m.

Coach Abe Gets Win #100 at UAlbany as 26-2 Great Danes Streak Leads to 62-36 Victory at Pepperdine - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

MALIBU, Calif. – The UAlbany women’s basketball team held Pepperdine without a basket for a span of 17:34, using a 26-2 run to beat back the Waves 62-36, earning Katie Abrahamson-Henderson’s 100 victory with the program.

“I am happy for Sarah [Royals] and Margarita [Rosario] and all the young women that have been part of this,” said Abrahamson-Henderson on her 100^th win. “It is humbling.”

UAlbany (6-4) held Pepperdine (5-6) without a field goal in the final 5:34 of the first period, extending that mark well into the second half.  UAlbany, from the first to second half, went on a 26-2 run, later extending to a 32-4 run, to build up a 29-point lead.  UAlbany never trailed in the contest.

“Defense was the key today,” said Abrahamson-Henderson. “Being focused on our gameplan was key; our gameplan was to put pressure on the ball, and we wanted to press and trap all game.”

The Great Danes shot 51.2% in the game, holding Pepperdine to just nine field goals and 25% on shooting.  UAlbany did not allow any Wave to score more than seven points and had its strongest defensive performance since February 19^th, 2014, when the Great Danes defeated Binghamton 86-35.

Shereesha Richards had her 10^th-consecutive double digit scoring game, earning 16 points, six steals and five rebounds.  Imani Tate shot 6-9 from the field for 15 points, four assists and seven rebounds, while Zakiya Saunders went 5-7 on field goals for 10 points.  With an assist to Richards 2:43 in, Sarah Royals extended her streak to 75-straight games with an assist.

“It is always great to come out and get a win, my teammates played hard and we got a great victory,” said Richards. “It was important to get a victory after coming all the way out to California.”

For Pepperdine, Kim Jacobs and Olivia Ogwumike each scored seven points.  Tessa Emerson scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds.

At the start, UAlbany focused on attacking the paint plus forced turnovers the other side.  With Tiana-Jo Carter and Richards each contributing four points, the Great Danes built an early 10-4 lead.

Pepperdine quick fired a couple shots and pulled to within one at 10-9.  Tate stopped the run with a free throw; on the next possession, UAlbany pushed in transition and found Tate for the pull-up at the line.  Each side added one basket in the following four minutes as UAlbany led 15-11 with under eight minutes in the first half.

At 16-12, Pepperdine hit a couple of baskets to tie the game, leading UAlbany to call a timeout and regroup.

Saunders buried a 15-footer on the elbow out of the timeout to start a run for UAlbany.  Again UAlbany went to the paint, with Richards following with a pair of layups and Royals adding a floater.  Before the half expired, Saunders hit another long jumper at the buzzer, capping the streak at 10-1 as UAlbany did not allow a Pepperdine field goal in the period’s final 5:43.  UAlbany took a 26-17 lead into the locker room.

Tate extended the run for UAlbany with a couple of free throws.  After a Pepperdine free throw, Saunders hit a jumper, followed by Richards with a swipe and score and one. 

The UAlbany zone defense continued to force long shots and misses for Pepperdine.  Tate and Richards added baskets, with Royals adding the corner three for a quick seven points.  After two Pepperdine free throws, the UAlbany zone continued to hold its opponent without a basket as the Great Danes tallied a 32-4 run to make it 48-22.

Later, UAlbany went up 51-22 off an elbow three from Margarita Rosario.  Kim Jacobs netted a jumper with 8:10 left in the 2^nd as UAlbany held Pepperdine without a field goal for a span of 17:35.

After Carter hit a layup, Pepperdine went on a 9-1 streak.  UAlbany held off Pepperdine the rest of way, holding the Waves without points for the final three minutes.  Jessica Fequiere had three points off a free throw and a transition layup as UAlbany finished with a 6-0 run to win the game 62-36.

UAlbany will stay in California and take on Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, December 21^st at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) to finish the six-game road trip.

University of Albany Alum Ryan Feuerstein Selected by Rochester Rattlers in MLL Supplemental Draft - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – Former UAlbany midfielder Ryan Feuerstein is the latest Great Dane to get a chance at the professional ranks, being drafted by the Rochester Rattlers in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Supplemental Draft on Wednesday.

Feuerstein was selected by the Rattlers in the 4^th round and 31^st overall in the draft.  The supplemental draft is held in December for teams to fill rosters after protecting their first 23 players.  Over 800 players entered the draft, including 100, like Feuerstein, that had not previously played in the league last season.

A two-time All-America East midfielder, including earning First Team honors in 2014, Feuerstein played at UAlbany from 2011-14, starting the last two seasons.  In his collegiate career, he scored 43 goals and 13 assists for 56 points, adding 111 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.  His senior year, he finished with 22 goals, seven points, 43 ground balls and nine caused turnovers.

In his time at UAlbany, he helped the Great Danes win a pair of America East titles, scoring a pair of goals in each America East Tournament win in 2014.  He scored a goal and scooped five ground balls in UAlbany’s NCAA Quarterfinal game vs. Notre Dame.

Last season, UAlbany lacrosse players Miles Thompson and Ty Thompson each were drafted and suited up for the Rattlers.  Miles Thompson played nine games for the Rattlers, scoring 12 goals and seven assists.  Rochester was the league regular season champion with a 10-4 record, falling to the Denver Outlaws in the title game.

The supplemental draft was held via teleconference by the league and its teams.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Squashes Siena Again for Third Straight Year - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany men’s basketball (3-6) didn’t let a four-game losing streak keep them from their third straight Albany Cup on Saturday night, earning a 77-68 victory over cross-town rival Siena. Evan Singletary and Peter Hooley combined for 41 points to lead the Great Danes. Will Brown’s squad went 29-for-32 (.906) from the charity stripe.

“It’s always a close and intense game,” said Brown. “Our mindset was to control tempo. If we had opportunities against their pressure, that’s the way were going to go. We wanted to make them defend and mix up our defenses. They’re very talented, and we needed to play this game at our tempo.”

With the pace of play slow in the early-going, the teams missed six shots between them in the opening moments of the contest. Richard Peters made one of two free throws in his second consecutive start to get UAlbany on the board.

The Great Danes held the Saints scoreless for the first three minutes, forcing Siena to foul. By the under-four media timeout, Siena had three team fouls on 1-for-8 (.125) shooting.

Jimmy Patsos kept the pressure up on the full-court zone press, forcing two Great Danes turnovers. Ray Sanders counteracted with solid defense of his own, tipping a Saints pass and going the distance for a dunk to get the Purple & Gold crowd on its feet.

By the time Siena’s Lavon Long committed his second team foul at the 14:09 mark, the Saints had four team fouls while UAlbany remained clean in the foul column.

The shooting woes continued for Siena, as an 0-for-3 clip from Rob Poole added to a 3-for-14 (.214) field goal percentage for the Saints after nine minutes of play. Will Brown’s squad was 5-for-11 (.455).

Outstanding defense continued to pave the way for the Purple & Gold in the first half, as a Sam Rowley rejection on Poole sent Sanders down the floor for a lay-in and a 14-8 lead.

Siena guided UAlbany into the bonus at the 8:54 mark, after Javion Ogunyemi got caught with two fouls in four seconds.

Poole did not stay down after missing early shots, the senior captain made a three to put Siena within five points, 18-13 with 8:45 on the clock.

Peter Hooley responded with a three of his own moments later with the shot clock winding down on the right baseline, extending UAlbany’s lead to eight points.

After Hooley’s three, the Great Danes went cold from the field over the next 4:30. Free throws from Hooley and Evan Singletary kept the lead with UAlbany.

Mike Rowley converted on a three-on-two fast break opportunity to snap the field goal drought with 3:15 remaining in the half.

Hooley made another three in front of the Siena bench just over one minute later, forcing Patsos to call timeout to regroup looking to claw back in the game. 

The Great Danes wrapped up the first half with a 34-27 lead on 10-for-20 (.500) shooting. UAlbany matched its season high in first-half field goal percentage against the Saints. Siena committed 10 team fouls, while UAlbany was charged just five. The Great Danes went 11-for-12 (.917) from the charity stripe.

Just 49 seconds into the second half, Singletary went to the hoop for the left-handed lay in and a nine-point lead. The 36-27 advantage was the largest for the Great Danes at that point.

Hooley kept up the pressure on the three-point line, hitting another outside the arc and draining two free throws for five early second-half points.

Lavon Long was charged with his fourth personal foul at the 14:31 mark, but the Saints were 3-for-4 from the field in the early going of the second 20 minutes.

UAlbany looked to slow the pace, but a Poole three brought the Saints within nine points. The Great Danes had extended the lead to as many as 12.

Dallas Ennema was not phased, getting down the floor for a three of his own. The sophomore forward completed the four-point play after getting fouled by a much smaller defender.

With the fouls stacking up again in the second half for Siena, UAlbany found itself in the bonus at the 9:49 mark.

A Sam Rowley lay-up put UAlbany in front 58-46 with nine minutes to play. Fellow Aussie Hooley gave the Great Danes their biggest lead, 61-47 on a three moments later.

Singletary proved to be solid at the free throw line, going 8-for-8 late to extend the lead to 15, 66-51 with four minutes remaining.

Hooley and Rowley connected again on an out-of-bounds play out of a UAlbany timeout. The co-captains put the lead back at 14 after a Poole three.

The charity stripe dictated the remaining three minutes of the game, as the Great Danes went 9-for-10 from the free throw line to take their third consecutive Albany Cup, 77-68. The Purple & Gold made 29 free throws, while Siena made just 15.

“I remember my first Albany Cup,” said Hooley. “We had a good lead, nearly 20 at the half and we ended up losing the game. That really hurt me even on the sideline. I realized how big of a deal this game really is, but this is just another game. I’m glad we saw it as another game and got a good result.”

Singletary (21), Hooley (20) and Ennema (10) all recorded single-game highs in point for the season. Singletary and Hooley become the first players to score 20 or more points in a 2014-15 game for the Great Danes.

Next up for UAlbany is Yale, on Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m., in New Haven.

27-2 Second Half Surge Leads University of Albany WBB to Fifth-Straight Albany Cup in 76-57 Win at Siena - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy:  UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – With Imani Tate and Tiana-Jo Carter holding the fort in the first half, Shereesha Richards led UAlbany to outscore Siena 49-27 in the second period, including a 27-2 streak, for the 76-57 Great Danes victory to secure the team’s fifth-consecutive Albany Cup.

“Shereesha [Richards] being in the game was big, our press was working and we were more aggressive,” said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who has led the team to Albany Cup victories in all five years of her tenure. “It started with our press; we knew they did not have many players, and a lot of [our] players got steals.”

UAlbany (5-3), down 30-27 at the break, shot 61.3% in the second half and had 37 points in the game off turnovers to Siena’s (3-4) 11.  Richards, sidelined in the first half due to foul trouble, scored 20 points off 9-12 shooting in the final 20 minutes.

“I was mad that I got myself two fouls, but my teammates had my back in that half, and we were fine in the end,” said Richards, who moved into 6^th all-time in UAlbany history with 1,120 points.

Tate also had 20 points in the game, with 10 in each half, adding five boards and three steals.  Carter shot 8-12 from the field for a career-high 16 points and three steals, scoring 10 points in the first half.

“In the second half, we had more fun with the press, and there was no panic after the first half,” said Tate.

For Siena, Margot Hetzke scored 16 points, adding five rebounds.  Tehresa Coles tallied 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Tate was the go to target on the first couple of possessions, scoring off the screen from Carter and later off the backboard driving down the baseline.  Despite some early foul trouble on Richards and Tate, UAlbany held an early 8-5 advantage five minutes in.

The next couple of minutes saw each team have trouble connecting on offense.  Erin Coughlin hit a one-handed layup on a drive to the basket, which was countered by Siena free throws.  Siena took the lead 11-10 at 9:30 elapsed.

Carter put UAlbany back in lead with a layup underneath while double teamed.  Siena hit threes the next couple of possessions, adding a Kollyns Scarbrough jumper for an 8-0 run and a 19-12 advantage.

Foul trouble continued to trouble UAlbany as Siena built its advantage to 10.  UAlbany attacked the paint to pull forward, with Carter, Tate and Carter hitting baskets in succession, with Coughlin hitting the open three on the elbow to pull the team with one at 26-25 with 3:06 left in the half.  Some late Siena free throws made it 30-27 Saints by the end of the half.

Each side exchanged shots to start the second half, with a couple of early Siena transition baskets giving the home team a larger lead.  Carter hit a couple of layups to pull UAlbany closer, with Siena adding a trio of baskets to go up 42-33 in the half’s opening four minutes.

Down 44-36, UAlbany looked to its junior captain down low.  Richards battled with Siena’s frontcourt players, hitting three layups en route to UAlbany tying the game.  Tate hit a layup and one, with Richards adding a layup, then Carter adding a couple. 

UAlbany kept forcing turnovers with the full court press as Tate, Richards and Carter contributed baskets, with Sarah Royals adding free throws.  The run went to 27-2 as UAlbany surged ahead 63-46 as the Great Danes held Siena without a field goal for 8:28.

The teams went back and forth in the following minutes, with UAlbany leading 71-50 with 3:08 remaining.  Coles and Hetzke hit free throws as Siena got to within 16 at 77-55 with two minutes left.  UAlbany did not allow a field goal in the final 5:11 and held off Siena the rest of the way, winning 76-57.

UAlbany will face its third MAAC team in the row on Monday, December 15^th, heading to Hamden, Connecticut to play Quinnipiac at 7 p.m.

University of Albany's Paula Heuser Wins Honda Sport Award For Field Hockey - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany sophomore midfielder Paula Heuser was named the 2014-15 Honda Sport Award Winner for Field Hockey, Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards announced on Thursday.

“First, I would like to thank the committee for this recognition of my dedication on and off the field,” said Heuser. “I could not have won this award without the effort of the coaching staff everyday and my hard-working teammates. It is a fantastic honor for me, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to be part of such an amazing team this season.”

The sophomore becomes the first all-time Great Dane to earn the Honda Sport Award, after being named the NFHCA National Player of the Year. Heuser is the first underclassman all-time to be named D-I Player of the Year. She is also a two-time NFHCA All-American and America East Midfielder of the Year.

"Everyone at UAlbany is incredibly proud of Paula, and all that she has accomplished this season," said University at Albany Director of Athletics Mark Benson. "She was an instrumental part of UAlbany's first trip to the NCAA Final Four, and individually ranked among the best in the nation all year. Her accomplishments both on and off the field speak highly of her character, and we are honored to have her as part of the Great Dane family."

In 2014, Heuser broke the all-time single-season UAlbany record in goals (29) and points (69). She led the nation in total goals and points, ranking top-two in the nation in goals per game and points per game for six consecutive weeks to end the season. Heuser tallied an all-time league tournament best nine points in two games en route to the America East title, earning Most Outstanding Performer honors.

Heuser was selected by over 1,000 NCAA member institutions for the prestigious award, beating out Lauren Gebhart (Penn State), Kelsey Harbin (Stanford) and Roisin Upton (UConn).

“For all of the awards Paula’s won, she is particularly deserving of the Honda,” added head coach Phil Sykes. “Not only is she an incredible player, but her humility on the field sets a great example for the rest of our team. Paula’s skill level, work ethic and determination put her on another level in our sport.”

The CWSA presents the Honda Sports Award annually to top women student-athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.  Honda Sports award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year and all Honda Sports award winners become a finalist for the prestigious 2015 Honda Cup award presented in June.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 38 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.8 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions. 

University of Albany's Lyle Thompson, Blaze Riorden Named 2015 Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Preseason All-Americans - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

BALTIMORE – UAlbany returners Lyle Thompson and Blaze Riorden have been named 2015 Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-Americans, the publication announced on Tuesday.

Thompson earned First Team All-America preseason honors, while Riorden picked up Honorable Mention All-America.  The All-America list was announced on the IL website and will be in the Face-Off Yearbook.

Thompson had arguably the top season ever in Division I lacrosse last season, earning co-Tewaaraton Trophy honors with 51 goals and 77 assists for 128 points, the highest single season total in DI lacrosse history.  He scored at least four points in all 18 games last season, including 11 contests with at least seven points.

Riorden, the All-America East First Team goalkeeper last season, finished third in Division I with 16.27 saves per game and 12^th in DI with a 54.9 save percentage.  He earned all 12 victories for UAlbany in goal and had at least nine saves in 16 of the team’s 18 contests, including 13 saves with just six goals in the win over Loyola.

Yesterday, the UAlbany men’s lacrosse team was ranked #13 in the publication’s preseason Face-Off Top 20.

University of Albany’s Heuser Named NFHCA National Player of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – On the heels of being named an NFHCA All-American for the second straight year, University at Albany field hockey midfielder Paula Heuser was selected as the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year on Tuesday morning. She is the first non-senior all-time to earn NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year honors.

Heuser has earned a number of postseason honors, and is the first Great Dane all-time to win NFHCA National Player of the Year honors. The midfielder is the NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year, and earned NCAA All-Tournament honors following UAlbany’s run to the NCAA Semifinals. She is a two-time NFHCA All-American, NFHCA All-Region first team pick, as well as the two-time America East Midfielder of the Year.

Heuser was the America East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer after recording an all-time tournament record nine points in two games. The sophomore led the league in points per game and goals per game throughout the regular season, and topped the nation in both categories entering the NCAA First and Second Rounds.

The midfielder broke the 15 year-old record in UAlbany all-time single-season points against Yale on Oct. 26. Heuser also ranks third all-time in career points with 114, in just her sophomore season. She concluded 2014 with 29 goals and 69 points to her credit.

Heuser is the first sophomore to garner the prestigious honor in the five-year history of the NFHCA National Player of the Year Award. All four previous awardees were in their final year of eligibility at their respective institutions. 

University of Albany Field Hockey's Heuser, Primus Garner NFHCA All-American Accolades - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany field hockey standouts Paula Heuser and Maxi Primus were named 2014 NFHCA All-Americans, the coaches association announced Monday. Primus earned a spot on the third team, while Heuser was the first Great Dane to be selected to the first team in the Division I era.

Heuser has garnered a number of postseason honors, and is a second-year All-American. The sophomore was named to the second team in 2013. The midfielder is the NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year, and earned NCAA All-Tournament honors following UAlbany’s run to the NCAA Semifinals. She is a two-time NFHCA All-Region first team pick, as well as the two-time America East Midfielder of the Year.

Heuser was the America East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer after recording an all-time tournament record nine points in two games. The sophomore led the league in points per game and goals per game throughout the regular season, and topped the nation in both categories entering the NCAA First and Second Rounds. The midfielder broke the 15 year-old record in UAlbany all-time single-season points against Yale on Oct. 26. Heuser also ranks third all-time in career points with 114, in just her sophomore season. She concluded 2014 with 29 goals and 69 points to her credit.

Primus was an NFHCA All-Region first team selection, after posting 20 wins in her sophomore season. She was the America East Goalkeeper of the Year after ranking top-10 in the nation throughout the season in goals against average and save percentage. She shutout two nationally ranked opponents in No. 8 Stanford (Sept. 14) and No. 20 Maine (Oct. 25). The sophomore was a four-time America East Defensive Player of the Week awardee and has garnered the weekly honor six times in her career. Primus was also an America East All-Tournament team selection.

With 20 wins and 10 shutouts to her credit this season, she is the all-time winningest single-season goalkeeper in UAlbany program history, and tops the UAlbany Division I ranks in single-season shutouts.

This is the second consecutive season Phil Sykes has had two players named NFHCA All-Americans. Heuser is the second Division I Great Dane to earn All-American honors in consecutive seasons.