Bearcats face Hartford on Friday at noon in quarterfinal round

VESTAL, N.Y.—Freshman forward Morgan Murphy finished with a team-best 14 points while junior guard Jasbriell Swain pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds, leading Binghamton (6-23, 5-11 AE) to a 62-45 win over UMBC (10-19, 6-10 AE) in an America East women’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The game, which was carried by ESPN3, marked the Bearcats’ second triumph in their last three games.

“It’s great to win our final regular season game and to honor our three graduating seniors,” head coach Nicole Scholl said. “We ended the season playing well and we have everyone healthy heading into the (America East) tournament.

Binghamton will now carry the No. 7 seed into the America East Tournament, where they will face No. 2 Hartford on Friday at noon in the quarterfinal round. The game will mark a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal game, which the Bearcats won 48-45.

Again UMBC on Saturday, Murphy was joined in double figures by senior guard Mallory Lawes, who finished with 13 points. Each of them netted seven points in the opening 20 minutes as the Bearcats took a 27-23 lead at the break.

Up 40-34 with 10:57 left in regulation, Binghamton went on a 12-0 run in a span of 4:26 to go up 52-34 with 7:31 left in regulation. Junior guard Stephanie Jensen, who finished with nine points, swished a pair of three pointers during that span. Lawes, Swain and Murphy had the other three baskets.
The Retrievers got as close as 54-41 at the 3:47 mark of the second half on a layup by Kristin Coles. For the game, Coles finishes with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Binghamton, however, responded with scored six straight points to take a 60-41 lead with 2:50 left to go.

Swain, meanwhile, finished one rebound shy of her career-best 17 rebounds, which she also recorded against UMBC on Jan. 2, 2011. She now has 676 career rebounds and is in eighth place all time in program history. Karen McClelland (1996-00) ranks seventh with 679 career rebounds.
Ashley Lambert added 12 points for UMBC.

NOTES: Coles and Lawes were named the America East Players of the Game ... this year’s America East Tournament is being hosted by Albany ... prior to the game, the Bearcats honored graduating seniors Lawes, Kara Elofson and Simone Thomas during an on-court ceremony.

UAlbany Takes Two in Opening Day of Coastal Carolina Invitational

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University at Albany softball team kicked off their second tournament of the 2013 season with a sweep over Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina, 5-2 and 4-2, respectively. UAlbany (2-5) pitching combined for 15 strikeouts as both starters went for complete games. In five games at the FGCU invitational, the Great Danes recorded a total of 11 hits. Against the Catamounts and Chanticleers they strung together 14.

WESTERN CAROLINA: In game one, Junior and 2012 America East First-Team Pitcher, Brittany MacFawn (1-3), pitched her fourth complete game in as many starts. She scattered six hits, allowing just two earned runs and walking one. She struck out a season-high 11. Reigning America East Rookie of the Year Vicky McFarland slugged her first homer of the season, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

The scoring opened up the third inning when UAlbany found their second lead of the early season off an unearned run. Western Carolina recorded two throwing errors which allowed the Great Danes to score without a hit.

In the fifth inning, UAlbany opened the game up when McFarland homered to left center. Later in the inning, sophomore Marlin Solano drove in freshman Annie Johnson with an RBI-single, putting the Great Danes ahead, 3-0. The run was again registered unearned as the Catamounts committed another error – they had four in the game.

Freshman Taylor Sigmon attempted to rally Western Carolina back into the game with a two-run shot in the top of the sixth. However, UAlbany responded, putting the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. McFarland recorded an RBI-single and was later driven in by Johnson who ripped a double to center field.

MacFawn recorded the win for the Great Danes. For the Catamounts freshman Mallory Broome (1-1) took the loss. She went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out eight.

COASTAL CAROLINA: UAlbany bates continued to come alive in game two. They scored two in the first and never looked back. The middle of the Great Danes line-up combined for five hits – including two by junior Lauren Alcorn.

Junior Charlise Castro started the scoring with a two-out triple to drive in Johnson in the first inning. UAlbany added a second run off the bat of Alcorn who drove a single to right field to bring Castro home.

The game remained 2-0 until the third inning when the Chanticleers scored two off a single by redshirt senior Cacia Pierre. The Great Danes regained the lead, 3-2, off Solano’s second RBI of the day, a single to center field in the fifth inning, scoring freshman Kelly Costello.

The scoring would go quiet – as sophomore Emily Ostrom took over for UAlbany. In only her third career start, the righty dodged trouble. She allowed eight hits but kept Coastal Carolina off the board. In the sixth inning the Chanticleers left the game-tying run on third base. The Great Danes added an insurance run with another Solano RBI single.

Ostrom went the distance, fanning four and walking two. It her first career win. Ashley Bagwell was charged with the loss. She allowed three runs, two earned, striking out 10.

UAlbany has two more on tap tomorrow as they continue the invitational. They play Drexel at noon followed by a second match-up against Coastal Carolina at 4:30 p.m. 

UAlbany And Stony Brook Face Off In Regular-Season Finale On ESPN3

1. Potential Momentum BuilderThe University at Albany will travel to Long Island on Sunday, March 3 as they battle Stony Brook in the regular season conference finale. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Great Danes will look to salvage the home-and-home series after losing to the No. 1 seeded Seawolves, 65-49, at SEFCU Arena in January. 2. Black Shines on Senior NightSenior guard Mike Black led UAlbany with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed six rebounds in a 56-49 victory over the University of New Hampshire on Thursday, Feb. 28. In their final regular season home game, the Great Dane's four seniors (Black, Jacob Iati, Blake Metcalf and Jayson Guerrier) combined for 57 percent of the offensive output. Black currently sits sixth for career points in UAlbany program history at 4,476. 3. In-State Rivalry Building Between SUNY Basketball PowersUAlbany and Stony Brook, both part of the State University of New York system, have become two of the fiercest rivals in the America East. This is the 60th meeting between the two programs with the Great Danes holding a 34-25 advantage in the all-time series. The Seawolves lead 18-12 in Division I meetings. In last year's America East Tournament, Stony Brook defeated UAlbany with a last-second tip-in by Dallis Joyner to advance to the conference championship, winning 57-55. 4. Fight for Tournament SeedingUAlbany currently holds the No. 3 seed for the upcoming 2013 America East Tournament. Much is still to be decided. The Great Danes and the University of Hartford each hold a 9-6 record in conference - with UAlbany holding the tiebreaker. To clinch the three spot, the Great Danes either need a victory or a Hawks loss. UAlbany will be placed in the No. 3 v. No. 6 or No. 4 v. No. 5 quarterfinal game. 5. SEFCU Hosts 2013 America East Championship The 2013 Men's and Women's America East Tournament will be returning to Albany this year for the first time since 2009. It will take place next weekend, March 8-10. UAlbany hopes to use home-court advantage to their favor. Last time they hosted, the No. 7 seeded Great Danes upset No. 2 seeded Vermont in the quarterfinal round, 56-52. Prior to the victory, the No.7 seed was 0-23 against the No. 2 seed. Check here for ticketing information. Who will get the #chancetodance?

Burek Blasts Bryant With Nine Points In 15-4 Win

ALBANY, N.Y. - Senior attack Rachel Burek's nine-point performance, six goals and three assists, helps UAlbany defeat Bryant, 15-4, on Saturday, Mar. 2 at John Fallon Field. Burek's nine-points on Saturday was second-most points in a game in program history.

Behind Burek's game-high nine points, the Great Danes' Jess Antelmi (6) and Maureen Keggins (2), and Allie Phelan (3) each tallied multi-point performances on the day. Junior defender Kathleen Lennon dominated the draw control circle, having recorded seven draw controls.

UAlbany (2-1) came out strong to begin the contest, scoring the game's first six of seven goals to grab an early 6-1 lead with 7:12 remaining in the first. Burek rattled off her first three of her game-high six goals in the first 22 minutes of play.
Bryant (1-2) responded with one goal before the half to cut the deficit to four, 6-2, with 6:24 remaining. The Bulldog's Morgan Labarbera recorded her first goal of the game.
The Great Danes began the second half just as they did in the first, scoring four goals to extend their lead to seven, 10-3, with 15:40 remaining in the contest. Phelan scored two of her own goals during the stretch to tally the game's second hat-trick, Burek being the first.

The Bulldogs' Kimberley Sniffen stopped the bleeding, scoring her second goal of the contest to cut the deficit to six, 10-4, with 14:52 left in the game.


UAlbany put its foot on the gas offensively and scored the game's final five goals in the final 14 minutes of the contest, two by Burek, one by Antelmi, one by Nichole Eamer and the final by Keggins.

The Great Danes held advantages in shots, 32-12, and in groundballs, 20-11.
UAlbany's Anna Berman recorded her second win of the season, tallying just three saves on seven opportunities. Bryant's Brianna Watt fell to 1-2 on the season, recording 10 saves on 25 chances.
The Great Danes takes their head of steam into Amherst, Mass to take on the Minutewomen of UMass on Friday, March 8 at McGuirk Stadium. Game is slated for 4 p.m.

UAlbany Caps Off Unbeaten Conference Record on Senior Night

ALBANY, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the University at Albany women’s basketball team completed a perfect America East record. UAlbany closed out regular season conference play by defeating Stony Brook at SEFCU Arena on Saturday, March 2, 60-49. The win, on senior night, extended the Great Danes to 16-0 in America East play.

Senior guard Ebone Henry led UAlbany with 15 points and six assists. Behind her, senior forward Julie Forster added eight points and led the team with eight boards. As a unit, the Great Dane seniors (Henry, Forster, Keyana Williams and Lindsey Lowrie) combined for 27 of the team’s 60 points. UAlbany (25-3, 16-0 AE) became the seventh team in America East women’s basketball history to not lose a game in conference.

“We are where we are because of the four seniors. Period,” said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “If I didn’t have four seniors that wanted to win this as much as I do, then we wouldn’t be here.”

The Great Danes never trailed after the 16:22 mark of the first half. Following an early 6-4 Stony Brook lead, UAlbany went on a 20-3 run that the Seawolves could never recover from. Sophomore Megan Craig accounted for eight of those points. The 6’8 center utilized her height mismatch under the hoop with three layups over the span.

UAlbany seniors accounted for the final 12 points of the half, as they extended their lead to 35-23 after 20 minutes. Henry and Forster each scored eight first half points.

Stony Brook came out in the second half with fire – looking to pull the upset on the undefeated Great Danes. They scored the first eight points to bring the deficit back to four, 35-31, with 17:41 remaining. The Seawolves were led by guard Chikilra Goodman's 19 points.

In fitting fashion, Henry, UAlbany women’s basketball all-time leading scorer, put a stop to that momentum. She completed a three-point play to energize the Great Danes and put them back ahead comfortably, 40-31. She drew another foul and tacked on two more, scoring four straight points for UAlbany. They took the lead back to 11 with just under 13 minutes remaining.

The Great Danes went on to hold Stony Brook scoreless for nearly three minutes as the final buzzer was in sights. They took a commanding 56-35 lead, a 15-2 run, with 6:54 remaining. Henry knocked down UAlbany’s final two regular season points as they rolled to the victory.

UAlbany will now prepare for the 2013 America East Conference Tournament, hosted at SEFCU Arena. They will be the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The Great Danes are scheduled to play No. 8 seeded Maine on Friday, March 8 in a quarterfinal match-up. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN 3. 

Baseball Shut Out By Spartans In Game Two, 9-0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – So goes the game of baseball, the University at Albany suffered its lowest run output of the season a day after producing its largest, falling 9-0 to the University of North Carolina Greensboro Saturday afternoon. UAlbany will take a 1-6 record into Sunday’s rubber match against the Spartans (5-3). UNCG registered 14 hits off the Great Dane pitching staff, while UAlbany’s bats were held to five. Sophomore Gordon Madej led the Danes with his 2-for-4 effort, while senior Nolan Gaige, junior D.J. Hoagboon, and senior Jeff Welsh each had one hit. The Spartans took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, recording two runs with two outs off UAlbany starter Derek Zielinski (0-3). After sitting down the first two batters with a strikeout and groundout, a walk and bunt single set up Lloyd Enzor’s RBI single to centerfield. One run scored on the hit and another unearned run crossed the plate on a wild throw amidst the relay. UNCG added another run in the fourth, again on a two-out rally. The Spartans strung together three consecutive singles, capped by Zach Leach’s run-scoring liner to center. Leading 3-0, the hosts doubled their run output in the fifth, crossing the plate three times, as Cambric Moye and Shawn Hendon led off the frame with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved the pair into scoring position, and TJ Spina belted a triple to centerfield, scoring both. UAlbany’s Brendan Ryan received a call in the bullpen, but after the switch a passed ball brought home another run. Ryan held off the Spartans the remainder of his outing. In the eighth, Joey Moore took the mound and UNCG immediately turned up its bats. The Spartans led off with back-to-back singles, followed by Cole Harrison’s double to right field, scoring one. Another pitching change put freshman Sam DeCelle on the mound for the remainder of the frame. UNCG used a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to score the final two runs in the game. The Spartan pitching staff silenced UAlbany’s offense with six perfect innings, and allowed just one runner past second base. Lee Gilliam (1-0) earned the win, throwing seven innings, giving up three hits, while striking out two. Sunday’s rubber match is slated for 1:00 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium. Right-handed hurlers Max Povse and Cameron Sorgie are expected to face off on the hill.

UAlbany Softball Splits Saturday's Coastal Carolina Invitational Games

CONWAY, SC – The University at Albany softball team split their games on Saturday, March 2, at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. The Great Danes are now 3-1 at the tournament and will conclude play tomorrow against Wichita State. Game time is 9 a.m. UAlbany scored their highest run total of the season in a 9-0 win over Drexel. In game two, they were defeated 8-0 by Coastal Carolina. The Great Danes defeated the tournament host Chanticleers, 5-2, yesterday.