ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit and missed opportunities, the Albany women’s basketball team outlasted Maryland-Baltimore County 69-63 in a double-overtime marathon on Saturday at SEFCU Arena. The America East Conference contest, witnessed by 1,306 fans, saw the Great Danes overcome a sluggish offensive performance for much of regulation before finally seizing control in the final extra period. The victory improved Albany’s record to 14-13 overall, while the Retrievers fell to an even 13-13. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute of the first overtime, transforming what seemed like a certain Retrievers victory into an extended battle. With Albany trailing 51-49 and just 21 seconds remaining, UMBC’s Tiara Bellamy was fouled and sent to the line for two shots. She made the first but missed the second, leaving the door slightly ajar with a 52-49 lead. On the ensuing possession, Albany’s Delanie Hill drove for a layup but missed. However, UMBC’s Heidi Williams was called for a foul on the rebound attempt, sending Albany’s Bella Stuart to the line for two free throws with nine seconds left. Stuart missed the first, but Williams was whistled for a lane violation. Stuart then calmly sank the second free throw, cutting the deficit to 52-50. Albany immediately fouled Williams, who missed the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds remaining. The Great Danes secured the rebound and called timeout with one second on the clock. Out of the stoppage, Julia Palomo inbounded the ball to Martina Borrellas, who drained a clutch 3-pointer from the wing as the horn sounded, sending the game to a second overtime tied at 54 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Retrievers, who had led for nearly the entirety of the first overtime, could not recover from the emotional blow. Albany carried the momentum into the second overtime, opening a six-point lead and sealing the game at the free-throw line, where they held a decisive advantage all afternoon. Albany finished 21 of 26 from the charity stripe, while UMBC attempted only 11 free throws, making eight. That disparity proved pivotal in a game where both teams struggled from the field. Albany shot 22 of 53 overall and 4 of 16 from 3-point range. UMBC was 25 of 62 from the floor and just 5 of 22 from beyond the arc. Delanie Hill led all scorers with 19 points for Albany, adding six rebounds and three assists. Amaya Stewart provided a crucial interior presence with 16 points and four rebounds, while Martina Borrellas scored 11, including the game-tying three. Julia Palomo contributed six points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 46 minutes. For UMBC, Carmen Yanez led the way with 13 points, while Jade Tillman added 12 points and seven rebounds. Heidi Williams recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The game was a defensive struggle from the outset. Albany led 10-7 after a low-scoring first quarter, but UMBC clamped down in the second, holding the Great Danes to just six points to take an 18-16 lead into halftime. The teams traded small leads throughout the second half, with neither able to build an advantage larger than five points in regulation. UMBC had a chance to win in the final seconds of the fourth quarter with the score tied at 44, but a driving layup attempt by Yanez rimmed out as time expired, setting the stage for the overtime drama. The win gave Albany a measure of revenge after falling to UMBC 55-46 in overtime just three weeks prior in Baltimore. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Albany entered the game with a 78.6 percent probability to win. Both teams continue conference play on Thursday. Albany travels to face Maine, while UMBC visits Bryant.