For the second time in three years, the University at Albany and the University of Hartford will decide the 2015 America East Women’s Basketball title as the two advanced with wins in the semifinals on Sunday at Binghamton University’s Events Center.
The fifth-seeded Hawks upset No. 1 Maine, 65-54, to become the third No. 5 seed to advance to the title game. No. 2 Albany clinched a spot in its fourth-straight championship game with a, 66-37, win over No. 6 UMBC.
The 2015 America East Championship Game will be played Friday, March 13 at 4:30 p.m. at Albany’s SEFCU Arena. It will be nationally televised on ESPNU with Eric Frede and Sue Bird on the call.
No. 5 Hartford 65, No. 1 Maine 54
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- Hartford advanced to its fourth title game in the last six years and its ninth overall with a, 65-54, win over top-seeded Maine.
- The Hawks became the third No. 5 seed to advance to the final joining the 2012 UMBC Retrievers and the 2002 Hawks’ team that went on to win its first title that season.
- Cherelle Moore led all scorers with 23 points and 10 rebounds, pacing a Hartford offense that shot 54.5 percent from the field.
- Sophie Weckstrom led the Black Bears with 13 points. Maine receives the leagues automatic bid to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
- Maine’s offense took 72 shots, the sixth-most shots taken in an America East tournament game, but the Black Bears were held to 30.6 percent shooting.
- The Black Bears set an America East record with 34 3-point attempts in the contest, connecting on seven.
- Hartford has won all five of its titles since 2002 and is looking for its first crown since 2011.
No. 2 Albany 66, No. 6 UMBC 37
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- Albany will make its fourth-straight appearance in the America East title game, hosting the championship game for the third-straight year after a 66-37, win over UMBC.
- The Great Danes won their 10th-straight tournament game, the second longest streak in conference history behind Maine’s 14-straight victories from 1995-99.
- Albany stifled the Retrievers with outstanding defense in the first half, holding UMBC to just nine points to take a 37-9 advantage into the locker room.
- Liz McNaughton led UMBC with 11 points. The Retrievers were the eighth No. 6 seed to reach the semifinals.
- The Great Danes allowed just 70 points total between the quarterfinals and semifinals, the fewest points allowed in back-to-back America East tournament games.
- Shereesha Richards recorded her second-straight double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
- Albany will look to become just the second team to win four consecutive America East titles, joining Maine, which did so from 1995-99.