KINGSTON, RI – Toledo suffered a 63-55 setback against Albany on Saturday in the first round of the URI-Tip-Off Classic at the Thomas M. Ryan Center. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 0-3 on the season.

UT will now play Ivy League member Harvard in the consolation round of the two-day tourney tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The Crimson lost to host Rhode Island, 56-52, in today's other first-round match-up.  

Junior Janice Monakana paced UT with 12 points and senior Ana Capotosto had 11. The Midnight Blue & Gold also received eight points from freshman Halee Printz and seven by senior Brenae Harris in a losing effort.

As a team, Toledo shot a season-high 45.5 percent (20-of-44) from the field, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range, but those percentages were overshadowed by 23 costly turnovers.

Albany took full advantage of those miscues and translated them into 21 points to hand UT its third consecutive loss to start a season for the first time since 1978-79.

Imani Tate led the unbeaten Great Danes (3-0) with a game-high 33 points, including 23 in the first half. Tate was the only UA player in double figures.

Albany led throughout today's non-league contest, hitting six of its first 10 shots from the floor to jump out to a 13-8 lead at the 3:56 mark. Cassandra Edwards and Tate sparked the quick start for the Great Danes with two baskets each.

The Rockets retaliated by scoring the final two field goals of the quarter to cut the deficit to 13-12 following 10 minutes of action. UT received buckets from sophomores Michaela Rasmussen and Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott to make it a one-point contest.

UA's Tate then took the game over to start the second period, igniting a game-changing 20-0 run to make the difference 33-12 with 2:49 remaining before intermission. Tate accounted for all but three points in the rally to stretch the margin to 21 points.

UT sophomore Jada Woody finally ended the drought with a 15-foot jumper and helped the Midnight Blue & Gold end the half on a mini 8-2 run to set the margin at 35-20 at the break.

The Great Danes' Tate finished with 23 points while playing all 20 minutes in the first half to give the visitors a comfortable 15-point cushion at intermission.

Toledo tried mightily to close the gap in the third period on the strength of strong play from Monakana and Capotosto. The duo combined to score nine of the team's 12 points in the quarter to make the difference 47-31 after 30 minutes.

Monakana remained red-hot shooting the ball to start the final 10 minutes and tallied a pair of early field goals to pull within 51-39 with 5:10 left in regulation.

The Rockets made one final push in the waning seconds of regulation by hitting four three-point field goals to pull within nine points, but Albany made enough free throws down the stretch to make the final score 63-55.