The ACPHS Women's Basketball Team played their final game of the year on Saturday, falling to the CNR Blue Angels by a score of 67-47 in the semi-final of the 2019 HVIAC Women's Basketball Tournament. They finish the season with a record of 4-16.

Two members of the ACPHS Women's Basketball Team were recognized as members of the 2019 HVIAC All-Conference team prior to today's contest: freshman guard Clare Snell (Potsdam, NY / Parishville Hopkinton) and junior guard Emma Webster (Cadyville, NY / Saranac High). Snell averaged 12.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 steals per game starting all 19 games for the Panthers. Webster also started all 19 games, leading the Panthers in scoring with 14.3 points per game which included 3.2 threes per game.

It was Snell who got the Panthers going early, forcing a turnover and converting a fastbreak lay-up for the game's first points. Albany went on to score the game's first seven points, hitting three of their first four shots. The Panthers would only make one more field goal for the rest of the quarter, but went into the 2^nd quarter tied 10-10 thanks to some stellar defense on the other end.

The second ten minutes were a grind for ACPHS, as the Blue Angels gained their offensive footing causing the home crowd to get more involved. The Blue Angels went on an 8-0 run to give themselves a five-point lead with 3:54 remaining in the half, forcing Head Coach Cornelius Tavarres to call his first timeout of the game to try and slow the momentum. The Panthers did respond with a bucket on back-to-back possessions, and were unable to cut into the CNR lead. They went into the break down 34-25, despite leading of the large portions of the first half.

Both teams struggled to shoot in the opening 20 minutes, but CNR was able to attempt 14 more shots than the Panthers due in large part to their 14 offensive rebounds. A bright spot for ACPHS offensively was sophomore forward Ava Misner (Meriden, CT / Platt), who went 4-4 from the field and led all scorers with 12 points heading into halftime.

ACPHS began the second half well, matching the Blue Angels shot-for-shot but never cutting into their hefty lead. This came back to bite them in the end, as the Blue Angels finished the quarter on a 9-2 run which ballooned their advantage all the way to 17 heading into the final ten minutes.

The Panthers were unable to mount a historic comeback in the fourth, and their season came to end while CNR advanced to play Davis College in the 2019 HVIAC Tournament Final. Albany was able to rebound well in the second half, but struggled with turnovers, recording 18 to CNR's seven. Misner finished with a game-high 17 points, while junior forward Olivia Parameter (Waddington, NY / Madrid Waddington Central) finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

In the end, this season was a tough one for ACPHS, as they struggled to replace their star player Dannie Griffin after she completed her senior season in 2017-18. Albany did not have any seniors this year though, and they will return their entire starting lineup when they return to action in October 2019. We at the athletics department would like to congratulate the Panthers on another fun season!