For the UAlbany Women’s
basketball team, 2012 was certainly a year to remember. And 2013 looks to be
just as bright -- if not brighter -- for the Great Danes.
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| Megan Craig |
UAlbany closes out 2012 with a 9-3 record, all in
non-conference play. The 2012-13 season got off to a bittersweet start in the
season opener at SEFCU Arena on Friday, November 9th, as the celebration of the
America East Conference title was spoiled by 19 turnovers and poor shooting
from the field -- despite a double-double from forward Julie Forster (16
points, 18 rebounds) -- in a 60-43 loss to Fordham. The Great Danes would
bounce back on the following Tuesday with a 67-50 win over Long Island.
The Great Danes then traveled to Michigan for their first
road trip of the season. They defeated Western Michigan, 68-54, in Kalamazoo.
The Danes were led by senior guard Lindsey Lowrie, who had 17 points (including
5-9 from behind the 3-point line). Three days later, they fell to Michigan
State in East Lansing, 67-35.
Albany returned home on November 24th and
defeated Dartmouth, 62-49, behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore center
Megan Craig. This victory began a 6-game winning streak for the Great Danes.
Four days later, the Danes dropped NJIT, 76-41, behind a strong game by senior
Ebone Henry, who scored 21 points (in addition to 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a
steal) off the bench.
Then it was on to the Albany Cup on December 1st
and the Great Danes went on to defeat their crosstown rival Siena Saints for
the third consecutive year. Lowrie and Craig each had 12 points in the 65-48
victory at the Times Union Center. This game started a long road trip, but the
traveling did not seem to slow down the Great Danes. They defeated La Salle in
Philadelphia, 75-36, knocked off Canisius in Buffalo, 65-43, and beat Delaware
State in Dover, 75-57.
Albany then went to California for the Long Beach Classic.
It was there that its winning streak was snapped in a 71-68 overtime loss to
Sam Houston State in the first round, despite a career-high 29 points from
Henry. In this game, Forster became the program’s all-time leading rebounder.
The Danes bounced back in a 67-47 win over Canisius in the third place game of
the Long Beach Classic. Henry and freshman forward Shareesha Richards combined
for 35 points to lead Albany in the victory.
Ebone Henry, the two-time reigning America East Defensive
Player of the Year, is certainly having a fine season, leading the team in
scoring with 14.0 points per game. Craig also contributes with 12.1 points per
game and 5.3 rebounds per game. Forster leads the team in rebounding, averaging 8.9 per game and Lowrie continues to thrive from behind the three-point line,
shooting 39.4 percent to lead the Great Danes, a team that is favored to repeat
as America East Conference Champions. (Editor's note: stats updated to be current as of 1/10/13)
The Great Danes start off conference play against UMBC on
January 2nd, then face Binghamton on the 5th. Then, Albany
returns home to take on Maine (1/12), New Hampshire (1/16) and Hartford (1/19).
They conclude January by traveling to Boston University (1/23), hosting Vermont
(1/26) and heading to Stony Brook (1/30). February begins with the 16th
Annual Big Purple Growl against Binghamton (2/02), then UMBC (2/06). They hit
the road for Maine (2/09) and Hartford (2/17). The Great Danes host Boston
University (2/21), then travel to Vermont (2/24) and New Hampshire (2/27).
UAlbany closes out the season on March 2nd against Stony Brook.
Box Scores, Recaps and Highlights
Men's Basketball
- Top Performer
- Mark Nwakamma (Hart): 23 points (10-17 FG; 2-3 3FG; 1-4 FT), 7 rebounds, 8 assists
- Big Stat
- In a close game, which this was the whole time, every single bucket makes a difference. For Hartford, the contributions they got off of the bench made a huge impact in the win. Wes Cole and John Peterson combined for 13 points off of the bench compared to the Maine bench which only produced two points.
- X-Factor
- This wasn't Justin Edwards best game of the year (3-11 FG), but the sophomore still found a way to net 17 points, mostly by getting to the free throw line. Edwards went 11-14 from the charity stripe, proving he can find a way to score when defenses shut him down from the field. Also give props to Jon Mesghna for his sharp shooting, which included a five of seven showing from downtown (17 total points).
- Local Media
- Top Performer
- Ryan Cook (UMBC): 21 points (7-11 FG; 1-4 3FG; 6-9 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists
- Big Stat
- UMBC shoots just about 40 percent from the field as a team for the year. But in this game the Retrievers were very efficient from the floor, shooting 51.1 percent for the game. UMBC also made a noticeable adjustment at the half, cutting down on the three-point attempts and getting better looks. As a result, the Retrievers closed out the game shooting 54.2 percent in the second half.
- X-Factor
- Brett Roseboro stuffed the stat sheet for UMBC, as the transfer big man continues to be a contributor. On six of 12 shooting from the field, Roseboro racked up 13 points to go with seven boards, three blocks and a steal.
- Local Media
- Top Performer
- Jameel Warney (SBU): 13 points (5-7 FG; 3-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists
- Big Stat
- While Warney was the top score with 13 points, Stony Brook had eight different players score, including double-digit efforts from Marcus Rouse (12 points) and Leonard Hayes (11 points). The Seawolves continue to bring a balanced attack as conference plays rolls along.
- X-Factor
- Tommy Brenton continues to control games without the number of shots that a star usually takes. Brenton only had four points, but he also led Stony Brook in assists (5) while only committing one turnover -- a typically efficient game for the senior. The Seawolves all-time leading rebound also pulled down eight boards and had a pair of steals.
- Local Media
Women's Basketball
- Top Performer
- Chantell Alford (BU): 11 points (4-11 FG; 3-6 3FG), 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist
- Big Stat
- The Boston U. defense was outstanding in this one, holding Vermont to just 24.4 percent shooting for the contest. Only Tierra Shumpert (12 points) was able to to get comfortable on offense for the Catamounts.
- X-Factor
- Rashidat Agboola followed up her great weekend with another solid game last night. The forward chipped in 13 points on five of 10 shooting to go along with seven boards, two assists, a steal and a block.
- Local Media
- Top Performer
- Chikilra Goodman (SBU): 16 points (7-9 FG; 2-2 3FG), 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
- Big Stat
- The Stony Brook defense limited Binghamton to just four assists on 12 field goals for the game, taking the Bearcats completely out of their offensive flow. While limiting those scoring opportunities, the Seawolves also forced 19 turnovers from Binghamton.
- X-Factor
- Jessica Previlon threw up a double-double (10 pts, 10 reb) on five of eight shooting from the field and the forward continues to be a force on the glass.
- Local Media
- Top Performer
- Morgan Frame (UNH): 20 points (8-11 FG; 4-6 FT), 12 rebounds, 2 assists
- Big Stat
- After shooting a respectable 40 percent in the first half, New Hampshire took it up a notch by shooting 60.9 percent in the second half as it outscored UMBC 37-32. Frame was essential to this run, as was guard Cari Reed (14 points, 5-7 FG).
- X-Factor
- UMBC's backcourt trio of Bria White (22 points), Brittany Crowell (17 points) and Raven Harris (13 points) all had excellent games. However each of them played the full 40 minutes, which is a possible explanation for the 38.7 percent shooting performance in the second half.
- Local Media
- Top Performer
- Nikkia Smith (Hart): 15 points (7-10 FG; 0-1 3FG; 1-1 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
- Big Stat
- Maine's Danielle Walczak got her buckets (15 points on 6-13 FG), but the rest of the team shot just 29.6 percent, as Hartford's defense was able to put the clamp down.
- X-Factor
- Hawks' guard Alyssa Englert played a solid game, combined eight points (3-6 FG) with five assists and no turnovers and she ran the offense seamlessly.
- Local Media
Linked Up
The Boston U. women are sixth in Graham Hays' ESPN.com Mid-Major Top-10.
The Boston Herald has a feature on the climbing Terriers women's basketball team.
Maine basketball is looking to play home games at the new Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Check out this picture of the first Stony Brook men's basketball team, taken 50 years ago.
Bob Lipman, the voice of New Hampshire football, has been named the New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year.
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