HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany women's basketball team shot 60-percent in the second half and made a season-high 11 3-pointers to beat Hartford, 69-55, to clinch the No. 1 seed in the 2013 America East Championship to take place at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., March 8-10.
Both teams struggled from the field at the beginning of the game as Hartford held an early 10-8 advantage thanks to 3-point shooting from Amber Bepko. The sophomore finished with a team-high 16 points while hitting 4 3-pointers.
Albany used an 8-2 run to end the half, including a desperation 3 from Sarah Royals that beat the buzzer. That started a stretch of nine-straight made field goals for Albany to extend the lead to as many as 21 points in the second half.
Royals finished with a team-high 16 points on four-of-six shooting from 3-point range. Julie Forster had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
It is the first time the Great Danes will be the No. 1 seed in the America East Championship after finishing second in the regular-season a year ago and winning the Championship as the No. 2 seed.