WEST HARTFORD, Conn.-- Any upset bids were quieted after Friday night's 2008 America East Women's Basketball Championship Presented by Friendship Cottage Cheese quarterfinal games were played out, as No. 1 Hartford and No. 4 Albany advanced to the semifinals. Earlier in the day, No. 2 Vermont and No. 3 Boston University also defeated their opponents.
The Hawks extended their winning streak at the Chase Family Arena to 24 games with the 72-41 victory over the No 9 Seawolves. Stony Brook defeated Maine in Thursday night's first round game for the right to play Hartford.
Albany went a perfect 3-0 against Binghamton for the season after defeating the Bearcats, 64-57, in the fourth and final quarterfinal of the evening.
Stony Brook held its own against the Hawks early on, and owned a one-point lead at 16:06 on a jumper by senior Dana Ferraro. Hartford, however, went on a 10-1 run over the next five minutes to take the lead for good. Hartford held a 33-23 lead at the intermission. The 31 point advantage at the end of the game was the largest lead of the game for the Hawks.
Sophomore Diana Delva posted a 14-point, 10-rebound performance to lead the Hawks. Sophomore Erica Beverly and junior MaryLynne Schaefer each scored 12 points.
Senior Aly Young drained a Stony Brook team-high nine points to go along with six steals. Rookie Kirsten Jeter, who scored 21 points the previous evening, made just two field goals for the game.
Albany, down 36-27 at the half, accomplished a 16 point swing helped along by its defense which held Binghamton without a field goal until a Laura Sario three-pointer at 14:21. Albany freshman Janea Aiken scored a team-high 14 points, while sophomore Charity Iromuanya finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Binghamton turned the ball over 27 times, while the Great Danes capitalized with 33 points off turnovers.
Senior Bearcats Laine Kurpniece and Laura Sario each finished their careers at Binghamton with solid outings. Kurpniece posted 14 points, 15 rebounds and four steals. Sario netted a game-high 16 points, while adding seven boards and three assists.
Albany and Hartford will meet in the first semifinal on Saturday, March 15 at 5 p.m. The Great Danes are the last team to defeat the Hawks at Chase Family Arena during the America East Championship. The win over Hartford during the 2004 tournament also marks the last time Albany advanced to the semifinals.
Boston University and Vermont play in the second semifinal beginning at 7 p.m. The Terriers and Catamounts split the regular season, while Boston U. owns the all-time series in the America East Championship, 4-1.
Both semifinal games will air live on NESN. Eric Frede will have the play-by-play, and Leah Secondo will provide the color analysis.
2008 America East Women's Basketball Championship Presented by Friendship Cottage Cheese
First Round - Thursday, March 13, 2008
No. 9 Stony Brook 64, No. 8 Maine 58 (AE PackCast)
Game Story l Box Score l Photos
Quarterfinals - Friday, March 14, 2008
No. 2 Vermont 70, No. 7 New Hampshire 45, 12 p.m. (AE PackCast)
Game Story l Box Score l Photos l Post Game Quotes
No. 3 Boston U. 88, No. 6 UMBC 59, 2 p.m. (AE PackCast)
Game Story l Box Score l Photos
No. 1 Hartford 72, No. 9 Stony Brook 41 (AE PackCast)
Game Story l Box Score l Photos l Post Game Quotes
No. 4 Albany 64, No. 5 Binghamton 57(AE PackCast)
Game Story l Box Score l Photos
Semifinals - Saturday, March 15, 2008Hartford vs. Albany, 5 p.m. (NESN)
Vermont vs. Boston U., 7 p.m. (NESN)
Final - Sunday, March 16, 2008Winner of semifinal #1 vs. Winner of semifinal #2, 5 p.m. (CSN)