The University at Albany Great Danes became the first team in conference history to win five-straight America East women’s basketball titles, defeating the University of Maine Black Bears, 59-58, at SEFCU Arena on Friday evening. The Great Danes are the 16th program in the history of college basketball to win five-straight conference tournament titles.
Behind 31 points from the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Shereesha Richards, Albany earns the America East's automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Championship. It is the fifth trip to the Big Dance in program history.
Richards became just the second player in America East history to be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player three times. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate Imani Tate, who notched 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the final. Tate totaled 23 assists over the three games, the second-most in a single tournament.
Maine’s Sigi Koizar and Liz Wood also earned selections to the All-Tournament Team. Koizar scored 15 points in the final and averaged just over 17 points per game for the tournament. Wood finished with 10 points and six boards in the title game. Maine earns an automatic bid to the WNIT and will appear in the postseason for the third-straight season.
Stony Brook’s Brittany Snow rounded out the All-Tournament Team after averaging 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in the quarterfinals and semifinals for the Seawolves.
It was a back-and-forth first quarter that featured three ties and three lead changes and had Albany holding a slim, 14-12, advantage. The Great Danes were 7-of-13 from the floor in the first period with Richards and Tate each scoring six.
Maine controlled the second quarter, outscoring Albany 16-9 after ending the period on a 12-0 run that helped the Black Bears take a, 28-23, lead heading into halftime. Maine held Albany to 4-of-12 shooting in the quarter and forcing four turnovers.
Albany became just the second team this season to overcome a halftime deficit against the Black Bears, thanks in large part to 21 second-half points by Richards. The senior totaled 96 points over the three games, the second-highest total in America East tournament history.
Bella Swan’s layup with 5:49 left in the third gave Maine its largest lead of the game before Albany mounted a comeback. The Great Danes drew even for the first time since the 2:29 mark of the second quarter on a Cassandra Edwards free throw with 2:21 remaining in the third. A three by Lauren Bodine and a Koizar layup kept Maine on top 41-38, heading into the final stanza.
Maine maintained a lead until Richards hit a jumper with 6:06 left in the game, evening the contest at 49 apiece. The Great Danes went ahead on the ensuing possession as Tate knocked down a jumper from the baseline. Albany would not trail again.
Tate hit a driving layup and Richards went a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line in the final three minutes, giving Albany a 57-52 lead with 1:52 left.
Maine hit clutch shots down the stretch, first with Bodine drilling a 3-pointer with 1:37 left, and then Koizar hitting one on the very next possession with 55 seconds on the clock to bring Maine within one point at 59-58.
The Black Bears had two shots in the final three seconds to win the game, but could not get a shot to fall as Albany held on for the win. With the win, home teams improved to 22-4 all-time in America East title games.
Albany will discover its opponent in the 2016 NCAA Championship during the selection show on Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. that will air live on ESPN.