University of Maine
Albany (N.Y.)
Women's Basketball Falls to UAlbany in America East Championship
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (26-8) had a chance in the final seconds to capture its first America East title since 2004 but could not get its last second shots to fall, dropping the championship game to UAlbany (27-4) by a score of 59-58.
The Black Bears, who have earned a spot in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), will learn their postseason fate on Monday evening.
Sigi Koizar led Maine in scoring for the 24th time this season, tallying 15 points with 11 coming in the second half. Koizar finished 5-of-12 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers, giving her 83 makes from long range on the year. Mikaela Gustafsson added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists while Liz Wood notched 10 points and six boards.
Maine finished 20-for-51 (39.2 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-14 from 3-point range. The Black Bears were able to take care of the ball despite UAlbany's strong full-court pressure, turning the ball over just nine times. It marked the eighth time this season the Black Bears kept their turnover figure in single-digits.
Shereesha Richards led all scorers with 31 points and added nine rebounds.
Maine and UAlbany spent the first quarter feeling the flow of the game out in an opening 10-minutes which featured three ties and three lead changes.
The Black Bears gained momentum in the second quarter in which they outscored UAlbany, 16-9. Maine, trailing by seven, strung together a 14-2 run to close the first half. Chantel Charles jump started the surge with a 3-point before back-to-back jumpers from Bella Swan brought Maine within two. The Black Bears captured the lead on a bucket from Charles before Koizar's straight-away triple sent Maine into the break leading by five.
A 4-0 run from the Black Bears early in the third quarter put the visitors on top by seven, their largest lead of the game.
The Great Danes answered with a 9-2 sprint, tying the game for the fifth time with 2:21 left in the third.
Maine regained its composure, ending the third period on a 5-2 run to carry a three-point edge into the final quarter.
The Black Bears' lead climbed to five early in the fourth when Koizar found Wood at the top of the key where she would stick a 3-pointer, putting Maine on top five with 8:23 left.
UAlbany again had the answer, fighting back to tie the game for the sixth and seventh time before taking a three point lead on a layup by Imani Tate.
Four-straight free throws by Richards expanded UAlbany's lead to five with just under two-minutes left in regulation.
There was no quit in the Black Bears down the stretch. Maine chopped the lead to a pair on a three by Lauren Bodine. A layup by Richards was answered by another Maine three, this time by Koizar off the right wing, cutting the lead to one.
Bodine pulled down a defensive board on the ensuing possession for UAlbany. Out of a timeout, the Black Bears ran a designed play, getting the ball into Koizar's hands. However, Maine was unable to capitalize and was forced to foul. With three-seconds left, the Black Bears were whistled for an intentional foul.
However, it was not over. Cassandra Edwards missed both free throw attempts and soon after, UAlbany threw the ball away, giving Maine one more chance with just over two-seconds left. Maine inbounded the ball in front of its own bench but could not get a last-second shot to fall as UAlbany was able to hold on by a score of 59-58.
Maine will take part in the WNIT for the second consecutive year and will find out its next opponent on Monday evening.
-UMaine-
