March 7, 2008

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BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team will be fighting for the third seed in the America East tournament on Saturday when it hosts Albany in the regular-season finale at Case Gym at 1:00 p.m. The Terriers enter the showdown riding a three-game win streak, while the Great Danes have won eight of their last 10 games. BU is 17-11 overall and 10-5 in the America East, while UA is 12-16 overall and 10-5 in league play.

The Terriers lead the all-time series, 11-3; however, Albany claimed the most recent meeting by a 76-50 margin. Prior to that BU won four consecutive games over the Great Danes. Albany picked up its only other two victories of the series on Jan. 29, 2006, and March 2, 2005. The rivalry began on Jan. 18, 2000 with a 68-55 Terrier win and was followed by seven consecutive BU wins. The largest margin of victory in the history of the series came on Jan. 9, 2003 in a Terrier victory, 87-56.

After winning just two non-conference games, the Great Danes have stepped it up in league play, stringing together a win streak of five straight from Jan. 30 to Feb. 13, en route to a 10-5 AE mark. UA was chosen to finish eighth in the preseason coaches' poll, but is now battling with the Terriers for the third seed.

Kristin Higy is the lone Great Dane in double figures with 11.1 ppg; however, five players are averaging eight or more points per game to pace Albany on the offensive front. As a team, UA is posting 62.5 ppg and holding opponents to a 60.4 average. The Great Danes are leading the conference in steals per game (10.68) with Gia Sanders averaging 1.92 per game to rank fifth in the conference.

The Terriers' depth on the offensive front has been vital to their success this season. Junior Jesyka Burks-Wiley and senior Cheri Raffo lead with 13.1 and 10.6 ppg, respectively, followed by four players averaging at least eight points per game. Junior Christine Kinneary has reached double figures in six of the last seven games, including a career-high 23 points vs. Binghamton. Most recently, she poured in a game-high 19 points at UMBC backed by a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance. In that game she added seven assists, two steals, one block and five rebounds.

BU is tops in the league in scoring (69.1 ppg), free throw percentage (.776), turnover margin (+3.46), fewest turnovers per game (13.9), assist/turnover ratio (1.12).

The America East championship brackets will be released following the final conference game on Saturday evening. The tournament begins on Thursday, March 13 in West Hartford, Conn., and will conclude on Sunday, March 16 with the 5:00 p.m. championship game on NESN.