Articles

Albany Nips Vermont in Women's Basketball, 59-56

Details: Created on Thursday, 16 February 2012 04:22; Written by George Commo

Arlington native Ashley Hoyt puts up 13 points and 15 rebounds in losing cause

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON – Senior Ashley Hoyt posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds in her first start of the year, but the Albany Great Danes held off a late UVM rally to nip the Catamounts, 59-56, in America East women's basketball action at Patrick Gymnasium.

“I am disappointed our team couldn't pull this out, disappointed for them cause I thought they played really hard. I thought they made some really nice adjustments from our last game. The whole focus going in was increasing our defensive intensity and team play,” said Vermont head coach Lori Gear McBride.

Vermont trailed by six, 53-47, with 7:30 remaining in the game, but a 9-3 spurt behind seven points from Hoyt pushed UVM back in front 56-55 with 2:25 left. Albany answered with a layup from Julie Forster and a pair of free throws by Ebone Henry to retake a three-point lead with 55 seconds remaining.

The Catamounts had three tries to knot the game up in the closing seconds and Kayla Burchill's last 3-point attempt from the corner hit the front of the rim and bounced off to give the Great Danes the victory.

“We executed our game plan but fell a little bit short. We got the shots but sometimes they just didn't fall. We worked a lot on decision making and our shot selection was better tonight,” continued Gear McBride.

Vermont jumped out 9-2 to start the game, but Albany outscored UVM 9-5 over the next three minutes to take a 14-11 advantage with 12:57 showing in the first half. The Great Danes extended their lead to six at the 8:12 mark, but UVM climbed back to tie the game at 25-25, behind an 8-0 run, which included back-to-back baskets by Niki Taylor. Albany was able to push back in front with an 8-0 run of its own over a three-minute span in the closing minutes of the half and went to the locker room with a 33-28 advantage.

Albany scored the first five points of the second half to push the lead to 10, 38-28. A pair of free throws by Hoyt sparked a 15-4 run for Vermont that allowed the Catamounts to retake the lead, 43-42 with 11:38 remaining in the game. The Great Danes answered with an 11-4 spurt to shove back out in front by six and the Great Danes were able to hold off one final rally by the Catamounts.

Hoyt, who made her first start of the season and fifth of her career, added four blocks and three steals to her second career double-double. Freshman Tierra Shumpert matched her career-high with 17 points off the bench and Taylor added eight points and 13 rebounds for the Catamounts.

“I'm really proud of our team, especially Ashley Hoyt, she stepped up and made huge plays for us. She has been a model team player this year and has that sense of urgency as a senior. Our upperclassmen stepped up tonight in their starting roles and did a good job of doing what upperclassmen need to do and that's show the way for some of the younger players. It was important to for everyone to see and to know that everyone can be a part of success. Tonight I was especially proud of the effort,” continued Gear McBride.

Henry led all scorers with 18 points and Adrienne Jones added 12 points while playing all 40 minutes for Albany. Forster, the league's leading rebounder, collected a game-high 16 caroms and chipped in eight points.

Vermont returns to action on Sunday (Feb. 19) when it hosts Maine in the final regular season game at Patrick Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game can be seen for free via CatamounTV at UVMathletics.com. Prior to the tipoff, UVM will honor its senior class of Hoyt and Tory Dennerlein.

NOTES: America East Player's of the Game: Ebone Henry (Albany)/Ashley Hoyt (Vermont) … Hoyt's last double-double was in the second game of the 2010-11 campaign at North Dakota with 17 points and 12 rebounds … She is averaging 9.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game over the last three games ... Vermont used its 10th different starting lineup this season … Junior Morgan Albert also made her first start of the season and third of her career.