ualbany wbb Game 26 / Conference 12 Feb 8 (Wed) 7:00 PM Smithfield, RI Chace Athletic Center

[cwdickens]

Feb 8 (Wed) 7:00 PM

AE

at 

Bryant

Smithfield, R.I. Chace Athletic Center

 

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[cwdickens]

UALBANY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

 

Hoping to bounce back

 

By Abigail Rubel

Jim Franco / Times Union

UAlbany senior guard Grace Heeps said, “Like, it’s February. It’s time to play basketball.”

ALBANY — With 11 America East games finished and just five more remaining, the University at Albany women’s basketball team is still trying to put together a full four-quarter game.

“It’s just about playing with pace for 40 minutes, and playing the way we’re capable of playing and feeling like we’re getting better,” coach Colleen Mullen said.

In a 53-49 loss at Vermont on Saturday, the Great Danes (15-10, 9-2 America East) fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter — their fifth-straight first-quarter deficit. UAlbany fought back, briefly taking a lead to start the second half and making it a one-possession game with 31 seconds left, but a Catamounts free throw sealed the game.

“We know we still have so much more potential to fulfill, and now we still have five games left, and this is the time,” senior guard Grace Heeps said.

Junior guard Kayla Cooper tallied her third double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Helene Haegerstrand added 11 points.

UAlbany, which had 10 or fewer turnovers in its last three games, had 18 against Vermont off 16 steals. Five of those turnovers came in the first quarter.

“We can’t let turnovers or bad possessions pile into a whole bad quarter, or a bad start, or a bad four minutes. We can’t afford to not play well for 40 minutes, and we still haven’t played for 40 minutes, so I think that’s going to be a huge focus. Like, it’s February. It’s time to play basketball,” Heeps said.

The Great Danes next visit Bryant (7-17, 1-10) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Smithfield, R.I. The Bulldogs, currently tied for last place in the conference, have lost three games in a row. Junior center Mariona Planes Fortuny averages 15.7 points per game, second in the league, and has a conference-high 41 blocks on the season.

When the Bulldogs visited the Great Danes earlier in the season, they led by four points at halftime before UAlbany held them to nine points in each of the last two quarters. It was UAlbany’s fifth win in a row.

Since starting the conference schedule 8-0, UAlbany has gone 1-2, with both losses coming against the second- and third-place teams in Maine and Vermont.

“They came out really strong and aggressive against us, and it took us a little while to get comfortable with the pace that they were playing with,” Mullen said.

Vermont was seeing UAlbany for the second time this season; UAlbany won the first meeting at Hudson Valley Community College. This time around, the Catamounts did a better job of stymieing the Great Danes’ offense, sitting in their gaps so UAlbany couldn’t penetrate the way it’s used to.

“I think now we really have to focus on our other threats. We have a lot of talent, and really focusing on the ways we can get touches to our main players still, but in the ways that they can be successful, rather than forcing and making bad plays,” Heeps said.

UAlbany has played one more game than Maine and Vermont, which are tied for second at 8-2. If the Great Danes win out, they’re guaranteed at least a share of the regular-season title.

UAlbany at Bryant

■› When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

■› Where: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, R.I.

■› Stream: ESPN+

▶› Abigail.Rubel@- timesunion.com A @abigail_rubel

[jimbo]

Ladies are pulling away in the 4th. 

[cwdickens]

UAlbany 56 Bryant 36 if I recalled correctly as I checked as I left HVCC  

[tnehurley]

Kayla Cooper another double-double at 21 and 12. And my favorite-player-who-rarely-plays, Marie Sepp, gets some unexpected minutes and scores a career high 5. Nice to see. Sounds like Lilly Phillips might be out for the year? Would like to hear from anyone who might have an update on her situation. Thanking you in advance.

[bob87]

Vermont defeats Maine to keep Albany and Vermont with 2 losses and drop Maine to 3rd

[alum73]

24 minutes ago, tnehurley said:

Kayla Cooper another double-double at 21 and 12. And my favorite-player-who-rarely-plays, Marie Sepp, gets some unexpected minutes and scores a career high 5. Nice to see. Sounds like Lilly Phillips might be out for the year? Would like to hear from anyone who might have an update on her situation. Thanking you in advance.

I heard stress fracture.  That can be a few weeks if minor.

[tnehurley]

Between UA and Vermont, we have the harder remaining schedule, starting Sat. vs. Binghamton. Also games vs. Maine and a tough road game at UMBC. Vt.’s most difficult remaining game looks to be at Bing. Can’t see them losing to UML, NH, NJIT, or Bryant. We need to win out! If we do, we might have to look at the tie-breaker scenario for 1st place, and #1 tourney seed. 

[tnehurley]

4 minutes ago, alum73 said:

I heard stress fracture.  That can be a few weeks if minor.

Thanks! I guess the key words there are “if minor.” We’ll see. We sure can use her for the stretch run.

[tnehurley]

Maine women win today——noon time game at N.H. Move into 3rd place tie with UMBC at 9-4.