Trpcic's 16 points pace Danes

Albany

Sophomore guard Mackenzie Trpcic and her University at Albany women's basketball teammates adjusted just fine to the glare of Times Union Center on Saturday.

As a result, the Great Danes danced around the Albany Cup trophy once again.

Making its only appearance at the downtown arena this season, UAlbany made a season-high 12 3-pointers in 27 attempts and handled Siena 78-63 for their eighth straight win in the series.

"It was a bit different just because of the lights shining bright on you, but we got used to it," Trpcic said. "(At) shootaround we got used to it and we hit shots and it just kept going throughout the game."

UAlbany improved to 7-2 while Siena fell to 4-5.

Trpcic shot 4 of 7 from behind the arc and finished with 16 points. Senior forward/center Tiana-Jo Carter tied her career high with 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and senior guard/forward Jessica Fequiere had 13 points as both players finished their careers undefeated against the Saints.

"It's awesome," Carter said. "We come every day working hard and when we get to the Siena game, we know it's going to be a fight. To come in for my senior year and win it for the fourth straight (year) is an amazing feeling and we're trying to keep it going."

Afterward, the UAlbany players formed a circle around the trophy and showed off their dance moves.

"No, I don't work on my dance moves," Trpcic said. "I'm a terrible dancer. No, we just have fun with it."

The Saints were again left with no reason to celebrate. The game was tied at 21 in the second quarter until UAlbany ripped off a 11-1 run with Trpcic hitting two 3-pointers and freshman guard Patricia Conroy (12 points) adding another.

Trpcic drilled another 3-pointer with seven seconds left to send UAlbany into halftime with a 40-31 lead.

"They're good shooters and they always show up for this game," Siena head coach Ali Jaques said. "I think we could have done a much better job of contesting. I think that's on us."

Meanwhile, the Great Danes shut down Siena senior guard Kollyns Scarbrough, who entered the game as her team's leading scorer at 15 points per game. She was held scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting and played only 15 minutes, including only four in the second half.

"That was one of the things I was really proud of them for," UAlbany coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said. "The last couple of games, we've let the other team's best scorer get their points they average or then some. That was something we talked about with (Scarbrough). She's this team's engine. We wanted to try to focus on not giving her what she wanted."

UAlbany's lead never dipped below eight in the third quarter and the Great Danes led by as many 19 before taking a 61-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

Siena briefly came alive with an 8-0 run to draw within 66-55 with 5:17 to play. But two Fequiere foul shots and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Kyara Frames put the game out of reach.

The bigger Great Danes held a 38-28 rebounding advantage and grabbed 19 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.

"We've got to be better than that," said Jaques, who fell to 0-6 against UAlbany. "I know we're better than that. Maybe the lights of this game and everything else gets to us. But we've got to mature and grow and be better than that."

With Scarbrough not a factor, Siena senior guard Aaliyah Jones had a career-high 15 points, senior guard Deja Rawls added 12 points and senior forward Emmanuella Edoka had 11 points and eight rebounds.

"I think Kollyns just had an off day,'' Jaques said. "And I think we have a really deep bench, and some people stepped up."

msingelais@timesunion.com • 518-454-5509 • @MarkSingelais