Final Stats

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Imani Tate scored 27 points and added nine rebounds and five steals as four-time defending America East Champion and preseason favorite UAlbany won its sixth straight Albany Cup, defeating Siena Women's Basketball 61-42 at the Times Union Center. Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough scored 13 points for the Saints which saw their four-game winning streak snapped.

UAlbany (7-2) scored the first eight points and led throughout in building as much as a 22-point advantage. The Great Danes have now won the last five meetings by an average of 21.2 points.

Both teams' defenses took center stage over the first 20 minutes. Siena (4-6) limited the America East's most prolific scoring offense to a season-low in scoring in the first half. But UAlbany's full court zone defense held the Saints to just 4-19 shooting in the opening stanza as the Great Danes took a 21-12 lead at the half.

Siena used a group effort in the post to shut down two-time defending America East Player of the Year and 2014-15 AP Honorable Mention All-American Shereesha Richards. Siena held Richards, who entered play ranking 12th nationally in scoring (22.8), to just six points on 1-8 shooting in 31 minutes.

However Tate and the Great Danes offense came alive in the third quarter, doubling their first half scoring output. UAlbany opened the period on an 8-2 run to open a 15-point cushion and led by no fewer than 13 points the rest of the way. Tate scored 11 of her points in the period as the Great Danes ultimately shot 55.2% (16-29) in the second half.

Freshman guard Jackie Benitez contributed eight points and two blocks, sinking a pair of threes off the bench for the Saints. Half of Siena's 14 field goals came from distance as UAlbany's zone limited the Saints to just 23 shots from inside the arc.

Scarbrough continued her consistent play over the first month of the season for Siena, reaching double figures for the 10th straight game to begin the year while adding three steals. Sophomore forward Margot Hetzke was limited to just two points, but did yeoman like work against UAlbany's imposing front line in grabbing 10 caroms including six off the offensive glass.

Zakiya Saunders contributed 12 points and four assists for UAlbany which entered play ranked 20th in the latest College Insider Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. The Great Danes capitalized off a season-high 27 miscues by the Saints, holding a 23-13 edge in points off turnovers.

After opening the season with a challenging 10-game slate spanning just 29 days, the Saints have earned a well-deserved 16-day respite for final exams and the holidays. The break between games marks Siena's longest since a 17-day layoff in December 2012. The Saints return to action on Monday, Dec. 28 for a 5 p.m. non-conference clash at Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y.