ALBANY — With 11 America East games finished and just five more remaining, the University at Albany women’s basketball team is still trying to put together a full four-quarter game.
“It’s just about playing with pace for 40 minutes, and playing the way we’re capable of playing and feeling like we’re getting better,” coach Colleen Mullen said.
In a 53-49 loss at Vermont on Saturday, the Great Danes (15-10, 9-2 America East) fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter — their fifth-straight first-quarter deficit. UAlbany fought back, briefly taking a lead to start the second half and making it a one-possession game with 31 seconds left, but a Catamount free throw sealed the game.
“We know we still have so much more potential to fulfill, and now we still have five games left, and this is the time,” senior guard Grace Heeps said.
- When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, R.I.
- Stream: ESPN+
Junior guard Kayla Cooper tallied her third double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Helene Haegerstrand added 11 points.
UAlbany, which had 10 or fewer turnovers in its last three games, had 18 against Vermont off 16 steals. Five of those turnovers came in the first quarter.
“We can’t let turnovers or bad possessions pile into a whole bad quarter, or a bad start, or a bad four minutes. We can’t afford to not play well for 40 minutes, and we still haven’t played for 40 minutes, so I think that’s going to be a huge focus. Like, it’s February. It’s time to play basketball,” Heeps said.
The Great Danes next visit Bryant (7-17, 1-10) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Smithfield, R.I. The Bulldogs, currently tied for last place in the conference, have lost three games in a row. Junior center Mariona Planes…
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