Great Danes Take Court Focused on Renewed Success
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2022) — As the fall sports season kicks into championship mode, winter sports teams are set to start as the men's and women's basketball teams prepare for season openers in November.
The UAlbany women's basketball team has been picked to finish on top of the league in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Wednesday. In addition, returning stat leaders senior Helene Haegerstrand and junior Kayla Cooper were picked to lead the conference as a part of the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Haegerstrand returns after leading the Great Danes in scoring (11.8 points per game and a .384 three-point percentage) while Cooper returns with her team-highs in rebounds (7.2 rebounds per game, 84 offensive and 153 defensive total).
As a team, the Great Danes earned 59 points with seven first-place votes to land in first place just one year after being picked fifth. The returning America East Champions, coached by Colleen Mullen, are followed by the 2021-22 AE Regular Season Champions, Maine, with 54 points.
UAlbany's season opener is scheduled for Nov. 11 against Merrimack.
The men's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Thursday. The Great Danes earned 25 points to land in the sixth spot under second-year head coach Dwayne Killings. Vermont topped the list with 63 points and seven first place votes.
The men are set to begin the 2022-23 campaign on Nov. 7 with a matchup on the road against Towson. The team then travels to Immaculata on Nov. 8 before returning to the Capital Region on Nov. 12 for the Albany Cup. The team's first home game of the year is set for Nov. 14 against Union at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC).
Both the men's and women's teams are playing their home games at HVCC while the SEFCU Arena undergoes renovations and improvements.
View the basketball schedule and buy tickets.
Meanwhile, UAlbany's fall sports teams are wrapping up regular-season play or heading to conference tournaments.
The field hockey team has advanced to the America East semifinals, where it will face the winner of a quarterfinal between New Hampshire and UMass Lowell. The game is set for 3 p.m. on Friday.
The women's soccer team has advanced to the America East semifinals as well after defeating No. 4 UMass Lowell on Sunday, 3-1. They face top-seeded Binghamton on Thursday at 6 p.m. for a spot in the America East championship game.
Meanwhile, the men's soccer team has advanced to the America East playoffs, which begin on Friday. The men wrap up their schedule with a home game against Vermont tonight under the lights Casey Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The football team earned a hard fought victory over SUNY rival Stony Brook in the Golden Apple game on Saturday. The Great Danes close out their home campaign against Maine on Saturday, Nov. 12. The game gets underway at noon.
The women's volleyball team will close out its regular season on Sunday, Nov. 13 against UMBC at 4 p.m. The senior day event will take place at Robison Gym at Russell Sage College.