The University at Albany women's basketball team held its own in the first half of Thursday's game at No. 2 Duke.

In face, sophomore Shereesha Richards proved she could play right with the Blue Devils, posting 20 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

In the second half, Duke proved why they are the No. 2 ranked team, coasting away to an 80-51 victory.  

 

AP

The UAlbany men's team takes on Yale on Friday evening, at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany Athletics

University at Albany forward Shereesha Richards is making the America East Player of the Week award her own.

The sophomore is averaging 23.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Great Danes, who are undefeated, at 5-0. UAlbany has also won 22 straight regular season games, dating back to a loss to Sam Houston State last year.

On Monday, Richards was named America East Player of the Week for the third consecutive time to start the year.

Last year's rookie of the year in the league seems to be headed for another, even more prestigious award this season, although it's still very early.

Here is the America East release.

Here is the UAlbany release.

The University at Albany women's basketball team got off to a great start, winning both Friday and Sunday, to start the season 2-0.

A big reason for that was sophomore Shereesha Richards, who was honored on Monday as the America East Player of the Week.

Richards, who was a preseason all-conference selection, averaged 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in the two games.

The University at Albany women's basketball team has been selected to finish first in the America East Conference preseason poll.

The men's team, also defending champions, was selected to finish 3rd in the preseason poll, behind Vermont and Stony Brook.

Here is a link to today's story, which talks about both programs having media day on Tuesday.

Here is the full men's poll, selected by the coaches.

1. Vermont
2. Stony Brook
3. UAlbany
4. Hartford
5. New Hampshire
6. UMBC
7. Binghamton
8. Maine
9. UMass Lowell

The men's preseason America East team consists of Stony Brook's Jameel Warner and Dave Coley, Vermont's Brian Voelkel, Binghamton's Jordan Reed and Mark Nwakamma of Hartford. 

The women's poll is below.

1. UAlbany
2. Hartford
3. Stony Brook
4. New Hampshire
5. Vermont
6. Maine
7. UMBC
8. Binghamton
9. UMass Lowell

The preseason women's team consists of Shereesha Richards and Megan Craig of UAlbany, Hartford's Amber Bepko, Sabre Proctor of Stony Brook and Kelsey Hogan of New Hampshire.

ALBANY - They should have just named to America East awards banquet, the University at Albany awards banquet.

On Thursday evening, the Great Danes cleaned up, winning all of the major awards.

Senior Ebone Henry was named co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson was named Coach of the Year. Freshman Shereesha Richards took home co-Rookie of the Year, while Julie Forster was named to first team, the all-defensive team and the all-academic team.

The top-seeded Great Danes play in the conference semifinals, on Sunday, at 1 p.m.