UAlbany women's basketball out to best start in program's D-I history after burying Bonnies

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The University at Albany women's basketball team never trailed, and led by as many as 24 points in Saturday's 64-48 home win over St. Bonaventure. With the victory the Great Danes improve to 9-1, which is the best 10-game start in the program's Division I history.

“Today was all about defense and rebounding. We had a tremendous first half defensively and the players were locked into the scout for 40 minutes. Kayla [Cooper] and Jessica [Tomasetti] had exceptional all-around games and Lilly [Phillips] and Martina [Borrellas] played great defense on their leading scorer. We will continue to build from this win.”

KEY STATS

• Graduate student Kayla Cooper led the offense with 17 points off eight made field goals, and she also contributed five assists.
• Fellow graduate student Jessica Tomasetti scored 13 to make it two Great Danes with double-digit points.
• Cooper and junior Gabriela Falcão each grabbed eight boards to lead UAlbany's defense.
• Tomasetti and Cooper each had two steals. As a team, the Great Danes scored 11 points off turnovers.
• UAlbany totaled 10 second chance points off 10 offensive rebounds, including six from Cooper.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Great Danes scored the first two baskets of the game with a quick jumper from Delanie Hill and another two-point shot from Kayle Cooper before the Bonnies got their first basket.
• St. Bonaventure was held scoreless for over five minutes while UAlbany extended their lead to six (9-3).
• Martina Borrellas and Jessica Tomasetti scored in the final 90 seconds of the first to end the quarter with a double-digit lead, 16-6.
• The two teams traded points for the first four minutes of the second quarter.
• After two minutes of scoreless play, the Bonnies scored what proved to be their last basket of the half. UAlbany held a 31-16 advantage with nearly four minutes remaining until halftime.
• The Great Danes had four scorers add points to the board before Cooper put up a monster block as time expired to end the first half, 39-16.
• Cooper scored the first two UAlbany baskets in the second half after two minutes of play.
• With just under four minutes remaining in the third, Lily Phillips scored her second three-pointer of the quarter.
• The teams went back and forth to end the quarter with a UAlbany advantage, 55-36.
• After three minutes in the final quarter, Cooper scored a driving layup while being fouled for the ‘and one’ as the Great Danes’ first basket in the fourth.
• Kaci Donovan and freshman Emma Hákonardóttir each scored from downtown to end the Bonnies’ attempt at a comeback and secure the victory, 64-48.

NEXT: The Great Danes will host Merrimack on Monday (Dec. 16) after a one-day break.