From the opening tip-off of the 2012-13 season, the Albany women’s basketball team has amassed a 45-3 record in America East play, showing no signs of slowing down.

Capped by an undefeated AE season in 2012-13, the Great Danes (21-8, 14-2 America East) have established themselves as one of the top dogs of the conference, entering the AE tournament this weekend looking for their fourth straight title. But for Albany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson — who has overseen all three of Albany’s championship runs in program history — this weekend is all about keeping cool.

“We don’t try to look at pressure,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “The pressure comes when it’s the last game, but it’s not the last game — we’ve got a nice week off. We’re looking forward to our first game, and we’re going to only be concerned about that first game.”

The pressure will be on for Albany’s opponent, however. Behind the second-best scoring defense in the AE, Albany has only allowed its conference competition to score over 60 points in four games. The Great Danes lead the conference in steals per game — averaging 10.3 — and defensive rebounding — allowing only an average of 28.5 per contest.

“We play as a committee, we play together,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “I think this weekend’s going to be all about defense.”

It does win championships, after all. But despite their defensive reputation, the Great Danes have no shortage of offensive power. Propelling the America East’s top-scoring offense is junior forward Shereesha Richards, who leads the conference in scoring and field-goal percentage through conference play. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 23.1 points per game on a 61.9 percent shooting clip from the floor through the AE slate. The all-purpose player also paces the team in steals (38) and rebounds (8.5 rpg).

Sophomore guard Imani Tate has also impressed on the floor this year. In a breakout season, Tate has averaged 14.1 points per contest to put her at sixth-best in the AE.

With the team headed to Binghamton to compete in its first away AE tournament game in six matchups, the Great Danes will have to be able to win on the road in the post-season — something they have not done since 2012. But despite this new element, Albany remains confident leaving the SEFCU Arena.

“We actually play better away, quite frankly,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “I don’t know what it is, but we just like to travel. And there’s only one team that has that home court advantage — and that’s Binghamton — and we don’t have to play them.”

Seeded second, Albany is set to face off against seventh-seeded Vermont in its first game of the tournament. But don’t let that two seed fool you. Of the eight returners on Albany’s roster, they all have one thing in common — they know how to win. And while it doesn’t hurt that the Great Danes haven’t fallen to the Catamounts (5-23, 2-14 AE) since 2010, Abrahamson-Henderson hopes that giving her team time for some rest and relaxation will pay off come playoffs.

“I would assume that every school is resting a little bit,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “Just because I know a lot of schools had injuries and a lot of things have happened. Especially [early in the week], I think schools are kind of taking time off, making sure they’re rehabbing and taking care of those little bumps and bruises before we get going.”

Come tip-off, however, urgency must be of the essence if Albany hopes to four-peat in the AE. And while a two seed has not fallen to a seven seed in the conference final since 2007, Abrahamson-Henderson knows that both teams will be 0-0 come Saturday, and madness will begin.

“Take it one game at a time,”Abrahamson-Henderson said, “because everyone’s really good, and it’s March madness.”