University of Maine
Albany (N.Y.)
Women's Basketball Hands UAlbany its First Conference Loss, 52-44
2/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (16-6, 8-1 America East) used a stellar defensive effort and solid rebounding effort down the stretch to snap a 10-game losing streak to UAlbany as it defeating the Great Danes 52-44 on Sunday afternoon. The win moves Maine into a first place tie with UAlbany in the league standings.
Sigi Koizar (Vienna, Austria) led all scorers, totaling 17 points with six rebounds and four assists. Chantel Charles (London, U.K.) poured in a new career-high 16 points while Anna Heise (Halle, Germany) added 10 points and six boards.
Maine's defensive effort held UAlbany to a slim 25.0 percent mark from the floor as the Great Danes went 14-for-56 from the floor, including an 0-for-10 showing from 3-point range.
What figured to be a defensive battle proved true in the early going as the game was dead-locked at 6-6, 7:39 into the first half.
Maine was able to take its first lead of the game when Charles knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing to jump start a 7-2 Black Bear run to give the visitors a 13-8 lead. Following a layup by the Great Danes, Koizar answered with a three to give Maine its largest lead of the half, 16-10.
Albany closed the half on a 6-0 run to knot the score, 16-16, at the break.
With the Great Danes leading 19-18 early in the second half, Maine put together a 6-0 run to once again regain the lead. Charles' second 3-pointer of the day broke a 19-19 tie before offensive rebounds from Bella Swan (Farmington, Ut.) and Charles eventually led to a bucket from Charles, extending Maine's lead to 24-19.
The Black Bears kept charging, running their lead out to nine on back-to-back buckets in the paint from Anna Heise (Halle, Germany).
UAlbany had an answer as it was able to break out a 12-4 run, cutting the Maine lead all the way down to three with just under eight minutes to play in the second half.
Maine was able to get its advantage back to six by UAlbany once again answered, this time with a 5-0 run to bring it all the way back within a point late in the second half.
Charles continued to have the hot hand for the Black Bears as her foul line jumper stopped the UAlbany sprint and gave Maine a three point advantage.
Maine's rebounding efforts late were a large part in its success as the Black Bears were able to keep UAlbany to a pair of one and done possessions. The Great Danes were forced to foul late, putting Koizar to the line with 51.8 seconds left. The sophomore guard hit the pair, giving Maine a 48-44 lead
Following a review of a turnover, it was determined to be Maine's balll with 41.4 on the clock. The Great Danes were forced to foul and Maine answered as it hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch and were all over the defensive glass late, securing a 52-44 victory. The win is the eighth in a row for the Black Bears, matching their longest streak since 2005.
Maine is off for a week and returns to action at home when it hosts Hartford on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
-U-M-
