TROY, N.Y. -- Ania McNicholas lead the Cornell women's basketball team (5-4) to a 53-45 win over Albany (4-5) with a team-high 14 points and five rebounds. The team combined to shoot a collective 40.9% from the field.

The Big Red opened the scoring on the day with a quick basket by Kaya Ingram, just 16 seconds into the game. Cornell forced a steal on the first UAlbany possession and capitalized with a three from McNicholas to take a 5-0 lead. The Great Danes hit their first shot of the game nearly two minutes into the game. Both teams could only tally four more points in the quarter, bringing up an 11-9 Cornell lead at the first break.

In the second period, another quick Big Red basket, this time by Anna Hovis, expanded the Cornell lead to 13-9. The Danes never led in the second, and Cornell went into. halftime with a 24-22 lead.

UAlbany found it's first lead of the night in the third period at 8:32 with a layup at 26-24. The Danes held Cornell scoreless through 6:32. Emily Pape broke the drought with a long two from the corner to trail 26-28, but UALbany stretched the lead to seven at 35-28. The Big Red closed out the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 37-35 lead.

The Big Red held the lead until 5:57 remained, when the Great Danes closed a 6-3 run to lead 41-40. Pape retook the Cornell lead just 21 seconds later on an and-1 layup, putting th Big Red up 43-41. Cornell closed with a 10-4 run to close the game.

UP NEXT
The Big Red remain on the road for a Monday night matchup against the University of Hartford. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on December 5 in the Chase Arena in Hartford, Connecticut.