Big fourth quarter pushes UAlbany women's basketball past New Hampshire

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

University at Albany head coach Colleen Mullen Wednesday, January 10, 2023.

TROY — After trailing for nearly 30 minutes, UAlbany women’s basketball used a powerful push in the fourth quarter to turn the tide on New Hampshire on Wednesday at Hudson Valley Community College, pulling away for a 65-52 win that keeps the Great Danes undefeated in the America East heading into Saturday’s showdown with Maine.

UAlbany (8-0 America East, 14-8 overall) was behind for most of the first three quarters and trailed 47-42 when New Hampshire’s Diana Eliasson scored with 3:39 left in the third, but the Wildcats then went more than six minutes without scoring as the Great Danes took control.

Grace Heeps hit a pair of 3-pointers as part of a 9-0 run that gave UAlbany a 51-47 lead with 7:48 left in the fourth quarter, and the Great Danes never trailed again.

Up 54-52 with 6:14 to play, UAlbany closed the game with an 11-0 run to keep New Hampshire (0-7, 5-14) winless in conference play.

Helene Haegerstrand led four UAlbany players in double figures with a game-high 19 points. Reigning America East Player of the Week Kayla Cooper added 14 points and nine rebounds, Heeps contributed 12 points and seven assists, and Ellen Hahne logged a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

New Hampshire got 11 points each from Avery O’Connor and Adara Groman, plus 10 points apiece from Breezie Williams and Brooke Kane, but the Wildcats made just 2 of 14 shots from the field in the fourth quarter.

UAlbany will put its undefeated league record on the line Saturday at Maine in a rematch of last year’s conference tournament final, won by the Great Danes.