Bulldogs Shoot Season-Best 52.6-Percent From Three-Point Range

ALBANY, N.Y. – It may not have been the exact ending the Yale women's basketball team was looking for in the 2015 part of the schedule, but taking a four-time defending America East champion down to the wire on its home floor is impressive to say the least.

The Bulldogs (8-7) received a team-high 21 points from senior forward Nyasha Sarju (Seattle, Wash.) and sunk a season-high 10 three-pointers as a team, but ultimately fell in the final minutes to Albany, 74-70, on Wednesday night.

Facing a team that has qualified for four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, the Elis turned in a strong performance just two days after a 16-point loss at Indiana. The atmosphere was quite different for the Bulldogs in the SEFCU Arena on Wednesday.

"There are so many positives to take away from this game. The effort, the intensity, the attention to detail in terms of our scout – it was a totally different team tonight than the one on Monday against Indiana," said Joel E. Smilow '54 head coach Allison Guth.

Junior guard Meghan McIntyre (Santa Rosa Valley, Calif.) was brilliant for the second straight game, scoring 14 points and sinking four three-pointers (4-of-5 3FG) in the process. Senior captain Whitney Wyckoff (West Chester, Ohio) added 13 points in the loss.

Sophomore guard Mary Ann Santucci (Seattle, Wash.) stepped up big in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of Yale's first 14 points to keep the Bulldogs step-for-step with the Great Danes.

Five different players made three-pointers for the Elis, who went 10-of-19 (52.6-percent) from beyond the arc. Albany was 0-for-3 from three-point range – an area that proved very crucial in Yale's performance.

"It depends how the defense is playing us. We have a lot of people who have the green light from long range," said Guth. "With Albany's 3-2 zone style of defense, we worked with zone offenses to shift the zone, move the ball and create opportunities. Our players were ready to knock-down shots."

A tied game heading into the fourth quarter, Yale's deficits in rebounding and points in the paint finally caught up with Guth's squad. A 35-24 deficit on the boards, coupled with being outscored in the paint, 42-18, proved to be the deciding factors.

Albany leading scorer Shereesha Richards netted a game-high 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting, part of her double-double with 12 rebounds included. Guard Zakiya Saunders added 21 for the Great Danes.

"It came down to some missed defensive assignments, missed rebounding opportunities, and some turnovers down the stretch," said Guth. "Our transition defense isn't where it needs to be if we really want to be competitors for an Ivy championship."

Albany held a 36-12 advantage in free throw attempts, getting several Bulldogs in serious foul trouble. In the fourth quarter, Wyckoff, McIntyre, and sophomore forward Jen Berkowitz (Wayland, Mass.) all played with four fouls – weighing heavily on the defensive aggression.

"We always talk about stepping up when your name is called and the players who stepped up really responded, whether it was defensively or at the free throw line," said Guth. "We just have to avoid those mental lapses."

The Bulldogs held a 41-33 lead with eight minutes to go in the third quarter, before the Great Danes went on an 8-0 run to tie it up. Heading into the fourth quarter, it was tied, 53-53.

Two free throws by Wyckoff tied the game again with 4:05 remaining in regulation, but two consecutive buckets by Albany gave the host a 68-64 lead. A three-pointer by Santucci at 2:31 cut the lead to just one points, putting the Great Danes on the ropes.

Back-to-back jumpers for Albany stretched the lead to 72-67 with one minute left – which proved to be too little time for the Bulldogs to mount a comeback. McIntyre and Berkowitz both fouled out in the final minute, as Albany held on for the win.

"We came out of that locker room tonight with our heads held high. We're all hungry for more opportunities coming up," said Guth. "For now, we have to prepare for a great New Hampshire team. We don't have much time to prepare, but we'll be ready on Saturday."

The Bulldogs host New Hampshire on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Lee Amphitheater. A live stream of the game will be available on the Ivy League Digital Network.

It's on to 2016.

Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity