DURHAM, N.C. - Rebecca Greenwell's 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left stole what would have been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history away from the Albany Great Danes. The No. 13 seed and 2015 America East champions dropped a, 54-52, decision at No. 4 seed Duke. The Great Danes put a major scored into the Blue Devels, holding a lead into the final minute of play on Duke's home court.
Imani Tate had 17 points and Shereesha Richards added 12 for the Great Danes (24-9), who forced 27 turnovers and were trying to become just the seventh No. 13 seed to win a game in the tournament and the first since Marist in 2012. The Great Danes were looking for their first tournament victory after a pair of close calls in 2013 and 2014.
Albany built a four-point lead at 52-48 following a Tate jumper and a Royals free throw with 2:06 to go. After Duke's Elizabeth Williams hit a layup to cut the deficit to two with 1:10 left, the Blue Devils got a defensive stop to get the ball back with a chance to tie. Williams was fouled and missed the free throw, but a jump ball on the rebound gave the ball back to the Blue Devils. That set the stage for Greenwell who hit her sixth 3-pointer of the day from the right wing to put Duke up, 53-52.
Greenwell finished with 20 points for the fourth-seeded Blue Devils (22-10). They won their NCAA Tournament opener for the 22nd straight time.
Albany had a pair of chances to regain the lead. The first was on a drive by Tate that just rimmed out with nine seconds left. Duke's Azura Stevens was fouled on the rebound with six seconds to go and made one of two from the line.
On the ensuing possession, Zakiya Saunders drove all the way down the floor and found Erin Coughlin for an open look from three in the corner for the win but it hit off the back iron as time expired.
"We should have won the game," guard Sarah Royals said. "I think that we outplayed them, and I'm not ashamed to say it."
Tate also finished with eight steals as Albany forced Duke into a season-high 27 turnovers.
Albany trailed the majority of the game but just kept fighting against a Duke team that had more size.
Senior Margarita Rosario gave the Great Danes a lead late, hitting a 3-pointer to put Albany up, 44-43, with 5:58 remaining. Stevens would give Duke the lead right back before Royals had a steal, score and a foul with 3:56 left that gave UAlbany at 47-45 advantage.
The Great Danes held the lead until Greenwell's three in the closing seconds.
Rosario and Royals had six points and four assists apiece. The Great Danes also held Duke star, Williams, to nine points on the day.
Albany was just the second team in America East history to win four-straight America East titles. The Great Danes join Maine, which accomplished the feat under the direction of current Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie from 1995-99. Albany finished the year with the second-most true road wins in the country with 13.