UAlbany Women's Basketball Stays Undefeated in League Play, Defeating Boston U., 57-50

BOSTON, MASS. - Lindsey Lowrie scored a team-high 16 points, while Ebone Henry added 15 points and eight steals to lead UAlbany to a 57-50 win over Boston U. in America East Conference women's basketball action at Case Gym on Wednesday evening. The Great Danes, who move to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in league play, take over the top of the league standings, after ending Boston U.'s 13-game win streak. The Terriers drop to 16-4 on the season and 6-1 in America East play.

Boston U. scored the first basket of the game, but UAlbany scored the next three straight, inducing turnovers from the Terriers and taking advantage to hold a 9-5 lead at the first media timeout at 15:43. The Great Danes continued to use their typical stifling defense, as well as a 5-0 scoring run, to build up a 14-8 lead at 11:10. After a Mo Moran basket for BU, Megan Craig scored the next four points for the Great Danes, giving UAlbany an eight-point advantage, 18-10, at the eight-minute media timeout.

Two more baskets by Craig pushed the UAlbany lead to 22-10 with 6:07 to play, prompting the Terriers to take a timeout. Boston U. ended the Great Dane run with a free throw by Chantell Alford at 4:42. The Terriers then forced turnovers on UAlbany possessions and Alford nailed a 3-pointer, cutting the Great Dane lead to 22-14 with 3:14 to play. UAlbany continued to roll, however, and Henry capped the first half off with a layup at the buzzer to give the Great Danes a 33-17 lead at the halftime break.

Henry scored the first two baskets of the second half, a jumper and a 3-pointer, to extend the UAlbany lead to 38-17 before Kristen Sims dropped in two free throws at 18:51 to end the rally. Henry extended her scoring streak to seven straight to give UAlbany a 40-19 lead at the first media timeout of the half, before Shereesha Richards dropped in one-of-two free throws at 15:57. Alford ended the UAlbany rally at 15:14 with a jumper in the paint to cut the Great Dane advantage to 20, but Lowrie drained a 3-pointer at 14:27 to keep the Terriers at bay.

Danielle Callahan dropped in a long-range shot of her own at 13:16, and UAlbany burned its first timeout of the second half after the basket cut the Great Dane lead to 44-26, the closest the score had been since the half. Boston U. continued to slice into UAlbany's advantage, using a free throw from Rashidat Agboola at 9:26 to cut the Terriers' deficit to 44-31. Alford nailed a 3-pointer from the far left corner at 8:53, and Callahan dropped in two free throws at 8:35, pulling BU back within nine, 45-36.

Richards ended the Terrier rally just before the eight-minute media timeout. However, BU was determined to make it a game, forcing several UAlbany turnovers and drawing foul after foul from the Great Danes. Moran pulled the Terriers to within six, 47-41, with a driving layup at xx, and another foul on the UAlbany defense put BU in the double bonus at 6:29 of the second half. Callahan drained a 3-pointer from the right corner at 4:21, pulling the Terriers to within three, 47-44, the closest the game had been since 10:29 of the first half.

UAlbany would not fold, however, and the Great Danes clung to a 55-47 lead with 38.5 seconds left, after Lowrie was fouled on the previous two defensive rebounds, hitting clutch free throws in the waning seconds.  Alford nailed a 3-pointer with 30 seconds on the clock to make it a two-possession game, 55-50, and BU used its final timeout of the game. UAlbany iced it from the free throw line, however, getting five points from the charity stripe from Lowrie, including the final points of the game with 17 seconds to go to set the final score.

Richards and Craig finished with nine points apiece, while Richards dominated the boards, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. The Great Danes shot 42.0 percent (21-50) from the floor, while holding Boston U. to 28.6 percent (14-49) shooting. UAlbany also outrebounded the Terriers, 42-32, in the game.

UAlbany will return to action on Saturday, hosting Vermont in America East action at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3, with Eric Frede and Leah Secondo on the call.

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