Kayla Cooper didn’t hesitate. Sure, her University at Albany women’s basketball team had just scored a win in a game it likely had circled on the schedule as soon as it was formed. But Thursday’s win against Vermont to start America East Conference play was one the Great Danes would stop celebrating shortly after its completion.

The Great Danes had the grit and defensive focus needed to knock off one of the America East Conference’s top contenders in their league opener. They had the late chances, too. In the end, though, the University at Albany men’s basketball program could not produce enough offense to earn the statement win Saturday it craved to start league play against UMass Lowell,