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Albany takes America East title over Maine 56-47

Posted March 11, 2022 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Albany coach Colleen Mullen holds up the net after Albany defeated Maine in an NCAA college basketball game for the America East Conference women's tournament championship Friday, March 11, 2022, in Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

ORONO, Maine (AP) - Morgan Haney scored 20 points and Albany hit its last seven free throws in the final minute to defeat Maine 56-47 in the championship game of the America East Conference tournament on Friday night to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.

The second-seeded Great Danes never trailed but made it tense when, up 49-42, they missed a pair of free throws at 51.1 seconds. However, they grabbed the offensive rebound and made the second of two.

When top-seeded Maine, riding a 14-game winning streak and with 11-straight wins over Albany, missed a shot, the free throws sealed the game for Albany.

Ellen Hahne added 13 points and nine rebounds for Albany (23-9), which is headed to its sixth NCAA Tournament following a five-year run through 2017. Kayla Cooper had 12 rebounds, eight points and five assists. The Great Danes were without starting forward Lucia Decortes because of a leg injury.

The difference in the game was the first quarter when four different players hit 3-pointers - in five attempts - as Albany went on top 20-12. Then Haney, the AEC sixth player of the year, kept the Great Danes ahead with 13-straight points in the second quarter. Haney hit 3 of 4 from distance and a last minute free throw from Ellen Hahn made it 34-24 at the half.

Albany made 7 of 10 behind the arc and shot 52% overall. With the No. 2 defense in the nation allowing 48.6 points, the Black Bears faced a tall task to get their 10th NCAA Tournament berth.

The Great Danes were just 1 of 9 in the third quarter but were only outscored 8-4. In the fourth quarter Maine went 4 of 17 while Albany went 11 of 16 from the foul line.

AEC player of the year Anne Simon scored 15 points for the Black Bears (20-11) and Caroline Bonermann had 13.

Albany cooled off to 41.5% shooting but was 8 of 14 behind the arc, including a critical trey from Hahne on a Haney assist at the end of the shot clock for a 49-41 lead with 1:23 to go.

Maine was 3 of 13 from distance and shot 34%, making it hard to take advantage of 18 turnovers.

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More AP women's college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Albany's Grace Heeps, left, and Ellen Hahne celebrate after the team's win over Maine in an NCAA college basketball game for the America East Conference women's tournament championship Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

Albany's Taniya Hanner (22), Abby Robinson (32) and Lucia Decortes (13) celebrate with head coach Colleen Mullen after winning the America East Conference championship tournament in an NCAA college basketball game against Maine, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

Maine's Caroline Bornemann, right, is defended by Albany's Ellen Hahne during the first half half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the the America East Conference tournament, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

Maine's Alba Orois, front,Â drives to the basket against Albany's Lilly Phillips during the first half half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the the America East Conference tournament, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

Maine's Maeve Carroll, right, drives against Albany's Ellen Hahne during the first half half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the the America East Conference tournament, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

Maine's Paula Gallego, left, and Albany's Grace Heeps battle for the ball during the first half half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the the America East Conference tournament, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) The Associated Press

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