Marquee Matchups and Madison Square Garden Highlight UAlbany Basketball in 2010-11
Men's and Women's teams set for season-opening doubleheader, Nov. 12
The UAlbany men's and women's basketball teams get underway on November 12th at SEFCU Arena.
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ALBANY, N.Y. (October 29, 2010) --
The University at Albany men's and women's basketball teams start their seasons on Friday, November 12th, when the Great Danes host a doubleheader against Ivy League schools at SEFCU Arena. The women play at 5 p.m. against Brown University, while the men are set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. against Cornell.
The women's basketball team is coming off a 2009-2010 campaign in which they secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament following a seventh-place campaign during the regular season. UAlbany returns four starters from last season including sophomores Ebone Henry and Julie Forster, who were both named to the America East Conference All-Rookie Team.
"We are excited to start the season and prepared to enjoy the journey one step at a time," said Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, the new head coach of the women's team. "Our team is looking forward to getting the schedule underway."
The men's program opens its schedule at home for the first time since 2006-07 when UAlbany takes on the defending Ivy League champion in Cornell. Among the returnees are senior Tim Ambrose, coming off a season in which he averaged 12.4 points per game, and sophomore Mike Black, who averaged 7.6 ppg as a freshman.
"We are excited to open the season with two home games at the SEFCU Arena," said men's head coach Will Brown. "Preseason practice has been going well. We are a very young team that has been playing unselfish basketball and getting better each day."
February 10: Danes Leap into 'The Garden'
Both teams are in for exciting seasons featuring marquee matchups against some of the best programs in the country from last season. On Feb. 10th, the men's basketball team will head to New York City when they will play Boston University at Madison Square Garden. It will be the team's first-ever appearance at the "World's Most Famous Arena." The game is the second part of a doubleheader also featuring Connecticut vs. St. John's.
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Junion guard Felicia Johnson looks to help the Great Danes advance beyond the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament in 2010-11. |
"UAlbany welcomes the opportunity to play in a world-famous venue that is synonymous with the history of college basketball," said UAlbany Vice President for Athletic Administration and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee McElroy in a statement. "This provides us a chance to showcase a quality institution and highlight the America East Conference and representative basketball programs. Our alumni, fans and friends, who support the school's mission and athletic program's goals and values, will cherish the basketball team's first appearance in The Garden."
In another first, UAlbany heads to Cincinnati on December 28 to take on Xavier. The Musketeers, who earned a share of their fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season title in 2010, went 26-9 overall and advanced to the "Sweet 16" in the NCAA Tournament.
The women's team is in for a monumental week of basketball in early December when UAlbany visits Big East Conference opponent Syracuse on Monday, December 6th and then travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 9th for a match-up with nationally-ranked Duke. The Great Danes have not faced Syracuse since 2005-06. The Orange posted a 25-11 record a year ago and advanced to the WNIT quarterfinals. Duke went 30-6 overall last season, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title before reaching the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.
The men's and women's programs will host a total of five doubleheaders, including Tuesday, November 23rd against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams St. Peter's (women, 5:30 p.m.) and Iona (men, 7:30 p.m.).
The Great Danes will also go on the road in the annual doubleheader against Siena on Saturday, December 4th at the Times Union Center. The women are set to start things off at 5 p.m. against the Saints, followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.
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Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 58 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit https://www.albany.edu/. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.
