DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Albany State University women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season Monday evening with a 69-49 loss to the University of North Georgia at the UNG Convocation Center.
The Lady Golden Rams (0-1) were led by Quantrese Washington, who finished with a team-high 12 points and nine rebounds. Sariah Johnson added nine points and two steals, while Paris Triplett contributed six points and six rebounds.
North Georgia (1-0) established control early, outscoring Albany State 23-8 in the opening quarter. The Lady Golden Rams responded with a stronger offensive effort in the second period, scoring 17 points, but the Nighthawks maintained a 41-25 advantage heading into halftime.
Albany State continued to battle in the second half, scoring 12 points in both the third and fourth quarters. However, North Georgia maintained its lead, outscoring the Lady Golden Rams 28-24 over the final two periods to secure the victory.
Washington provided a spark off the bench, shooting 5-of-10 from the field while pulling down nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Chloe Evans contributed six points, connecting on two shots from beyond the arc, while Taliah Grier finished with five points, two assists and two steals.
As a team, Albany State shot 28.2 percent (20-of-71) from the field and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from three-point range. The Lady Golden Rams collected 36 rebounds, recorded nine steals and scored 26 points in the paint. Albany State's bench contributed 29 of the team's 49 points.
Despite the setback, the season opener provided Albany State an opportunity to evaluate its rotation as the Lady Golden Rams continue building toward their championship mindset under head coach Todd Triplett.
Up Next
The Lady Golden Rams will look to bounce back as they continue their opening week of the season with a matchup against NCAA Division I opponent Florida A&M University.
