TROY — Sunday afternoon’s University at Albany women’s basketball game, Yogi Berra might have said, felt like deja vu all over again.
For the second year in a row, the Great Danes (22-10, 15-2 league) punched their ticket to the America East championship game, beating Maine 72-64 in a semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College.
And for the second game in a row, UAlbany fifth-year guard Ellen Hahne drained a clutch 3-point shot that ended an opponent’s rally.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but to get this win against Maine and to go to the championship again is just amazing,” Hahne said.
The Black Bears (16-14, 11-6) were within one point with two and a half minutes remaining before Hahne came off a screen, caught a pass from junior guard Kayla Cooper and hit the open shot, putting UAlbany up 68-64.
“In those moments when I’m open, I’ll just shoot. I don’t think really about what type of shot it is or the pressure about it, just let it fly,” Hahne said. She finished with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
Maine missed all six of its shot attempts in the final two minutes, and the Great Danes went 4-for-6 from the foul line to clinch the victory.
“It takes everybody buying into their role, and it’s so great to see everybody contribute in what they do so well, and continue to just play unselfishly and for the team,” coach Colleen Mullen said.
Cooper led UAlbany with 23 points along with five rebounds and four assists, including one on Hahne’s shot. Senior forward Helene Haegerstrand had 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
UAlbany and Maine have played each other close over the past two years, and the semifinal was no different. The lead changed 12 times, and the two teams were tied as late as halfway through the fourth quarter, when Maine senior guard Anne Simon…
Read the full article here