Home Court Advantage Holds True in Hercules Tires Women's #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals
For the second consecutive year, all four of the top seeds advanced in the Hercules Tires America East Women’s Basketball Playoffs. #1 Stony Brook came back from a 15-point deficit to win in overtime on Long Island and #3 UMass Lowell won its first playoff game in Division I history to headline Wednesday night.
#2 Maine will host #3 UMass Lowell in the first semifinal on Sunday at 1 p.m. #1 Stony Brook will host #4 Binghamton on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the two winners advancing to the championship game the following Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.
Read more about the quarterfinals below. For full playoff coverage, including box scores, highlights and more, visit Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs Central.
Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals Recap
at #1 Stony Brook 54, #8 UAlbany 49 (OT)
- UAlbany led 11-5 at the first break behind six first-quarter points from Kyara Frames.
- Down by as much as 15, Stony Brook cut the deficit to three at the halftime intermission.
- The Seawolves did not lead until there was one minute and 22 seconds left in overtime.
- The Great Danes had led for 39 minutes and 30 seconds of game time until a KK Hilaire steal and Hailey Zeise layup tied the game to force overtime.
- Third-Team All-Conference selection Annie Warren scored seven of her team-high 16 points in the overtime period.
- Fellow Third-Teamer Alexi Schecter led the way for the Great Danes with a game-high 20 points.
at #2 Maine 78, #7 Vermont 66
- Guard play was strong to start the game as Dor Saar had 14 points and Josie Larkins had 13 points in the first half, where Maine led 39-35.
- Saar and teammate Maeve Carroll, both of whom were selected to the All-Conference Second Team, each scored 20 points in the game.
- Carroll had a near triple-double with a game-high 22 points complemented by 11 boards and nine assists.
- Vermont shot 45 percent but just 23 percent from three-point range.
- Larkins ended the game with 19 points and nine assists – both team-highs.
- Both teams relied on six-player rotations throughout the game as Saar, Larkins, Hanna Crymble and Emma Utterback each played all 40 minutes.
at #3 UMass Lowell 66, #6 UMBC 58
- It was UMass Lowell that had the largest lead at the half of any quarterfinal game, scoring 31 points to UMBC’s 18.
- The River Hawks left the first quarter with a nine-point lead on 50 percent shooting. Kharis Idom scored seven of the team’s first 18 points.
- The sophomore had 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting at halftime and finished with career-high 25, playing all 40 minutes.
- UMass Lowell’s stingy defense held the Retrievers to just 27 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.
- UMBC closed the gap to three behind 10 third-quarter points from First-Team All-Conference choice Te’yJah Oliver.
- The game was tied 52-52 with 2:25 remaining and, moments later, freshman Kaylen Banwareesingh secured two defensive rebounds, hit a three-pointer, got a steal and hit two free throws to help put the lead to 60-52.
- Hosting its first Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs game, UMass Lowell won its first postseason game since joining Division I.
at #4 Binghamton 51, #5 New Hampshire 42
- New Hampshire led 21-20 at the half in what was a back-and-forth affair for the majority.
- Junior Olivia Ramil led Binghamton with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks, all game-highs.
- First-Team All-Conference selection Ashley Storey finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in her final game for the Wildcats.
- Ramil and Storey were the only players in double figures scoring.
- Binghamton went to the charity stripe at a frequent rate, making 14 of 17 free throws throughout the game.
- In front of 1,522 fans at the Events Center, the Bearcats advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2016.
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