EASTON, Mass. (December 1, 2024) – The University at Albany outscored Stonehill College 26-14 in the second quarter to break open a three-point game on its way to an 80-59 victory to remain unbeaten on the season after a non-conference women's basketball matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Postgrads Lilly Phillips and Kayla Cooper powered UAlbany to a 7-0 start to lead three in double-figures for the afternoon. Phillips buried 6-of-7 three-pointers on her way to a game-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting overall, while Cooper registered a double-double of 13 points and a game-best 15 rebounds (six offensive), with four assists, two steals, and a blocked shot.

Phillips led UAlbany's 57.7-percent shooting (15-for-26) from three-point distance, including 10-for-16 (62.5%) in the first half to build a 15-point halftime lead (42-27) it would not relinquish. Fellow postgrad Kaci Donovan rounded out the Great Danes in double-figures with 12 points, connecting on 4-for-10 threes.

 

Swider totaled 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and a career-best four blocks (PHOTO BY Sophia DiNanno, '27)

Sophomore Brooke Paquette paced Stonehill with 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while postgrad Kylie Swider added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds, and career-high four blocked shots. Freshman Megan Sias contributed nine points and four boards off the bench, while senior Maureen Stapleton shared the team lead with eight rebounds. Junior Chelsea Graiver chipped in eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three, off the bench for the Skyhawks.

UAlbany scored the first six points of the contest, with three-pointers from Phillips and Donovan in the opening minute and a half, but Stonehill answered with a Swider jumper and three from senior Sharn Hayward to pull back within a point (6-5) two minutes later. The Great Danes reclaimed a pair of six-point cushions, the latter at 13-7 after a jumper by senior Meghan Huerter with three minutes to play in the opening quarter. The Skyhawks closed back within two (13-11) with a Graiver triple with 1:24 left and Swider answered a three from senior Laycee Drake with a putback with two seconds to go to trail by three (16-13) heading to the second quarter.

Stonehill was still within three (22-19) following a layup by sophomore Emma Arcá four minutes into the second quarter, but UAlbany would bury six three-pointers in the second quarter alone to help break the game open. Four of those threes contructed a 12-0 Great Danes run, the first two by Phillips before Huerter and Donovan added on from long range to stretch the lead to 16 (37-21) with three minutes to go in the half.

Stonehill trimmed the deficit to 12 (44-32) after a Paquette three-pointer 1:40 into the second half and was back within nine (49-40) with a Graiver three midway through the third quarter. UAlbany scored nine of the last 11 points in the third to reclaim its 16-point cushion (58-42) on a three-pointer from freshman Martina Borrellas heading to the fourth, where the Great Danes used a 9-2 run of their own, keyed by Phillips and Huerter three-pointers, to extend the lead to 23 (67-44) and closed the game out from there.

 

Paquette led the Skyhawks with 14 points, adding four assists (PHOTO BY Bree Smith, '27)

Noteworthy

Up Next
Stonehill (2-5, 0-0 NEC) returns to action on Thursday, when its non-conference schedule continues against Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Tuesday, December 10, to host Dartmouth College at Merkert Gym at 7 p.m. UAlbany (7-0, 0-0 America East) visits Siena College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.