UAlbany women’s basketball moves on to semifinal with win over UMass Lowell

Fifth-year guard Ellen Hahne provided the biggest of those momentum changes, making two big 3-point baskets in the fourth quarter to cement UAlbany’s lead.

“We started running those plays where we can get those looks in the corner, or slips, which we were getting more so in the beginning of the game,” Hahne said. “That’s what was open right there and then, so that’s what we got there.”

After a back-and-forth first half in which neither team was able to lead by more than four, the Great Danes (21-10) had built a seven-point lead early in the fourth. The River Hawks (5-22) cut it to two points with a 5-0 run before Hahne hit hit her first triple with an assist from Lilly Phillips.

The River Hawks had a chance to respond when junior guard Jaini Edmonds stole the ball from Hahne and raced down the court for what looked like an easy fast-break layup, but Edmonds couldn’t finish at the rim.

Hahne got back on defense, grabbed the rebound, then drained her second 3 off another pass from Phillips. Cooper made it a 10-point lead with a jump shot, and Phillips went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute to put away the game.

Cooper led the Great Danes with 13 points and eight rebounds. Hahne added 12 points and seven boards. 

Graduate guard Mili Carrera and sophomore forward Amaya Dowdy had 12 points each for UMass Lowell, and Dowdy had 11 rebounds, eight offensive.

UAlbany will host No. 3 Maine at 3 p.m. Sunday in the semifinal matchup.