6-Peat

Women’s basketball wins sixth straight America East Championship; Will face top seed UConn in the NCAA Tournament

Women's basketball defeated Maine for a sixth straight America East title. (Photo by Bill Ziskin)

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 14, 2017) – The University at Albany women’s basketball program is the definition of a dynasty.

America East Champions:

Last Friday, the Great Danes won a sixth consecutive America East Conference Championship. It was a rematch of last year’s title game, with UAlbany defeating Maine, 66-50, at SEFCU Arena.

Senior Imani Tate and freshman Mackenzie Trpcic were named to the America East All-Tournament team. Tate took home the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee “Coach Mac” became the first coach in America East history to guide a team to the title in their first year.

UAlbany (21-11, 12-4 AE) has won 12 of its last 13 games and went 7-1 in February. The team earned an automatic berth into a sixth straight NCAA Tournament after winning the America East.

“I couldn’t be more excited and happy and proud of this team and this program,” Coach Mac said. “These ladies go hard every day, and we just continue to remind them going in to this tournament that they work very hard in the summer time to preseason to in-season. I think we have great leaders and I think it showed tonight, so I’m very proud of them.”

UAlbany will play UConn in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Make History:

UAlbany will travel to play the top overall seed UConn (32-0, 16-0 AAC) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Huskies are in the midst of a 107-game winning streak, and have not lost since falling 88-86 in overtime to Stanford on November 17, 2014. Additionally, UConn has won each of the last four NCAA titles, and six of the last eight.

“It’s disappointing to get a 16-seed, but it’s exciting to play on such a big stage,” said Coach Mac. “The silver lining is our opponent is Connecticut. I think every little girl who becomes a college basketball player either dreams of playing for UConn or dreams of beating UConn, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

UAlbany has already proved it can make history. The team upset Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season. In 2006, the No. 16 seed UAlbany men’s basketball team stood tall against UConn, holding a double-digit lead in the second half.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and on Albany’s ESPN Radio affiliate, 104.5 FM – The Team. UAlbany's Alumni Association is also providing a fan bus.

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