Women's Game Recaps #65 - 2/25/15

Posted: Feb 25, 2015

Caldwell, Sciences claim CACC Division crowns…

  • Caldwell won a thrilling double overtime game over Bloomfield, 87-82, to snare the #1 seed in the CACC North. The teams shared the regular season title but by virtue of a season sweep, the Cougars nail down the top seed. This one had heroics aplenty, with BC’s Tianna Smith (14 points) hitting a trey at the regulation horn to force overtime (70-70) and Cougar Nicole Angelo (14 points) doing the same at the end of the first OT session (79-79). Finally, Caldwell assumed control in the second OT period to prevail and end the Bears great recent run (six straight wins, including decisions over Sciences and Philadelphia). The Cougars led for most of the first half but the game was even at the break, 39-39. Both teams enjoyed spells of dominance in the second half; Bloomfield had an 8-0 run to gain a 47-40 lead (13:51) while Caldwell put up a 9-0 spurt to go ahead, 59-54 (5:53). Antoinette Pilla’s (18 points) trey at 4:02 sent the Cougars into a 66-58 lead but the Bears rallied and cut the lead to 68-67 (:52) after two Ariel Wilson foul shots. Emily Caswell (25 points, 19 boards; her Division II-leading 21st double-double of the year) sank a couple of FT’s with six ticks left to make it 70-67, only for Smith to hit the game-tying shot and ensure OT. BC led all the way in the first overtime (until the end, of course) and had a solid 79-74 edge with 31 seconds on the clock after four foul shots (two by Smith and two by Iman Williams, who had a career-high 20 points). Caswell got two points back at the line and after a BC 1+1 miss, Angelo drilled her game-equalizer to send the game to the second OT. Sharell Sanders scored and Karlie O’Driscoll (14 points, 7 boards) canned two FT’s to put Caldwell ahead for good, 83-79, once there. BC battled back and was within a digit at 83-82 (:15) thanks to two Lauren Deverin free throws but Angelo matched that at :13 (85-82) and when Smith missed a possible game-tying trey (:03), the Cougars had it. Caswell’s two ensuing free throws put the cap on a 20-20 FT exhibition by Caldwell and secured the win. The Cougars were +9 on the glass (51-42) and are now 4-1 in overtime tilts this season. Morgan Taylor (21 points) and Tierra Scott (12 points, 9 boards) also registered double digits for Bloomfield in a gallant effort. Both teams will host CACC quarterfinal games on Saturday, Caldwell (winners of seven in a row) against Goldey-Beacom and Bloomfield welcoming Holy Family.

 

  • The University of the Sciences beat Georgian Court, 66-48, and combined with Philadelphia’s loss, the Devils therefore win the CACC South outright. The game itself was a comfy win, as the Devils scored the initial eight points and never trailed. Sciences poured it on in the first half, getting to the half on top, 36-18, and they didn’t allow the Lions to make any sort of move thereafter. Brianne Traub (14 points, 15 boards), Jessica Sylvester (14 points) and Kaitlyn Schmid (11 points) rallied the troops for Sciences, as they held GCU to 17% from the floor in the first half (5-29 FG), made more three-pointers (10-4) and forced eight more turnovers (19-11). Kiara Colston (15 points), Tahira Matthews (14 points, 13 boards) and Morgan Peacock (12 points, 11 caroms) collected the numbers for the Lions but they end the season on an eight-game slide. The Devils will host Post in a CACC quarterfinal tilt on Saturday.

 

  • Philadelphia wasted any chance they had to win the CACC South (or at least get a share of the regular season crown) as they lost to Goldey-Beacom, 82-73. The Rams, who won the tie-breaker over Holy Family for the #2 seed in the loop, enjoyed a brilliant start here, scoring the first 15 points of the contest. The Lightning cut the margin to four points but faced a 40-28 halftime deficit. Philadelphia still held a 53-37 lead with 13:13 left when the GBC fireworks began. A 12-0 spurt, populated by four three-pointers, drew the Lightning within 53-49 at the 10:49 mark, and the comeback was on. GBC finally grabbed the lead with 7:33 left, 60-59, thanks to a Reighly Melochick (11 points, 3-6 3FG) trey. The teams traded the lead but another GBC triple, this one from Marisa Howard, put them ahead to stay, 67-66, with 4:59 left. With the momentum theirs, the Lightning took it from there to prevail and head on the road for the CACC tournament with a win. Lillian Chukwueze (18 points, 10 boards), Lexi Bruno (17 points, 10 assists), Mikila Stefanski (13 points, 3-5 3FG), Melochick and Jasmyne Lewis (10 points) registered double figures for the Lightning, which shot a blazing 63% in the second half (19-30 FG), including going 9-16 from three-point range. Overall, GBC shot 45%, made 11-29 from deep, canned all eleven free throws they tried and dominated in the paint (48-28) while also producing a dazzling 22-assist, 5-turnover line. The Rams were topped by Alex Heck (16 points, 6 boards), Mary Newell (16 points, 6 caroms), Monica Schacker (16 points) and Najah Jacobs (14 points) and they also shot well (48% FG) and had a terrific day with the ball (13 assists, 5 miscues). The Rams host Dominican and GBC travels to Caldwell for CACC quarterfinal games on Saturday.

 

NE-10 tournament issues decided, including Southwest crown and Northeast entrants…

  • Adelphi annexed the NE-10 Southwest Division title outright thanks to a tight 76-73 win at #2 seed New Haven. Kelly Mannix (22 points, 12 boards) led the way for the Panthers with Anh-Dao Tran (12 points) and Ashley Gomez (11 points) adding strong support. AU used an 11-2 run to help earn a 36-35 halftime lead and, after an Ashley LeBlanc (9 points, 10 boards) basket put the Chargers ahead, 37-36, they went on a 7-0 spell to go back ahead, 43-37 (16:45). The Panther lead stood 54-47 with 10:50 left when UNH rattled off the next ten points, capped by another LeBlanc basket, to grab a 57-54 edge at the 7:55 mark. Again, Adelphi answered, this time with another 7-0 burst (61-57, 6:07) and they never trailed again. New Haven tied it at 68 but a Mannix trey gave Adelphi a 71-68 lead (3:08) and they kept it. UNH had the chance to tie or win down the stretch but a turnover with six ticks left allowed Calli Balfour to make a free throw to account for the final score. Aquillin Hayes (22 points, 13 boards) led all scorers for UNH, with Briana Bradford (14 points) and Lauren Hebert (13 points, 9 rebounds) also having solid days. Most team stats were close but AU made more three-pointers (9-4) and forced six more turnovers (22-16), making amends for New Haven’s more frequent visits to the line (UNH 17-24; AU 7-16 FT). New Haven, who saw a nine-game win streak end and lost for the first time at home all year, will host Assumption in an NE-10 quarterfinal game on Sunday while Adelphi will face either LeMoyne or Merrimack on the same day.

 

  • The only other NE-10 Southwest matter aside of the title to be decided was which team would get the #4 seed, AIC or LeMoyne. The Yellow Jackets had their fate in their own hands and made sure of it with a 53-43 win over Southern Connecticut. AIC scored the last six points of the first half to claim a 34-24 lead and ripped off a 12-4 burst to start the second half; the overall 18-4 run put the home team ahead, 46-28, with 11:46 to play and rubbed out any Owl comeback hopes. Krista Ferrentino (17 points, 11 boards), Alyssa Roach (12 points, 9 boards, 5 assists), Brianna Bishop (12 points) and Kamika Mason (12 caroms) shared the load for AIC, as they hammered SCSU on the glass (53-36) and out-shot them, 33%-26%. Jackie Beathea’s double-double (11 points, 12 boards) led the Owls in both areas. AIC will host St. Michael’s in an NE-10 1st round game on Friday while Southern Connecticut goes to Franklin Pierce for a quarterfinal clash on Sunday.

 

  • LeMoyne may have been ousted for the #4 seed by AIC but they beat Pace, 63-61, in an amazing ending in Syracuse nonetheless. The Setters seemed to have things in hand with 39 seconds left to play, ahead, 61-57, but an Emily Greer (17 points, 4-8 3FG) four-point play tied the game with 30 seconds left. Margo Hackett (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) missed at the other end for Pace and LC made it hurt, as Alex Marple drilled the game-winner with 0.7 to go. The Setters never trailed in the opening half (29-23 at the break) and the Dolphins didn’t enjoy a lead until the 13:14 mark, 39-37. The game stayed tight and when Bath-Sheba McMahon (19 points, 10 boards) scored at the 2:33 mark, LC led 55-54. Pace countered with a 7-2 stretch to go ahead, 61-57, but couldn’t hold it. Vandell Andrade (15 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists) flirted with a triple-double for LC, which won the glass (41-33) and had twice as many assists as turnovers (16/8). Jaclyn Oskam (14 points, 7 boards) was Hackett’s main support for Pace, as they out-shot LeMoyne (46%-35%) yet fell short, ending their season. The Dolphins visit Merrimack for an NE-10 1st round game on Friday.

 

  • Stonehill knocked off St. Anselm in Manchester, 64-56, eliminating the Hawks from post season contention. St. A’s had a chance to advance, as St. Michael’s lost, but they needed a victory and, despite leading by as many as 13 points, they could not hang on. The Hawks rode a 15-4 run to a 27-14 lead with 5:20 on the clock in the first period but the Skyhawks tore off the next eleven points to make it close by the half (St. A’s, 30-25). An 8-0 start to the second half (19-3 overall) sent Stonehill into a 33-30 edge early in the period. The teams swapped the lead until an 8-2 spell put the guests ahead, 51-46 (6:01), for good as it turned out. Ali Glennon (16 points) brought the Hawks within 55-53 with 3:33 left but the Skyhawks iced the win with an 8-0 counter, the run started by Paige Marshall (five of her 11 points). The resulting 65-53 scoreline (:34) was too much for the Hawks to bounce back from, putting an end to their season. Kelly Martin (14 points), Tori Faieta (12 points, 12 caroms) and Shannon Brown (11 points) were among the double-digit scorers for Stonehill while Caitlin Abela (18 points, 4-11 3FG) and Glennon led the way for St. A’s. Stonehill will host the St. Michael’s-AIC winner in an NE-10 quarterfinal on Sunday. 

 

  • Merrimack handed St. Michael’s a 63-50 setback in Vermont but based on other results, SMC still got a playoff berth (St. Anselm losing). For the Warriors, they end up as the #4 seed and will also have to play a 1st round playoff game, as Assumption’s win meant the Greyhounds grabbed the #3 seed thanks to tie-breakers. The game itself was virtually all Merrimack; the only lead the Purple Knight had was 2-0, and Merrimack rolled to a 28-21 halftime lead. They really put the hammer down right after the restart, a 13-5 run making it a 41-26 gulf (15:58) and SMC never got the lead under double digits thereafter. Aria Johnson (14 points, 12 boards, 6-9 FG) and Caitlin Garger (12 points) marshalled the Warriors, who out-shot SMC (46%-32%) in a big way. Makenzie Burud (15 points, 7 boards) and Maggie Sabine (13 points) were the only Purple Knights to muster more than six points. Merrimack hosts LeMoyne in a 1st round game on Sunday while St. Michael’s heads to AIC in the other NE-10 1st round contest.

 

  • Assumption assured itself of 3rd place in the NE-10 Northeast and a quarterfinal trip to New Haven with a 65-52 win over already-eliminated Southern New Hampshire. The Greyhounds led 30-26 at the half and broke the game open with an early 12-0 second half sortie (44-32, 15:32). The Penmen battled back within five points a few times, the last at 50-45, but a five-point play (a trey from Kelly Conley and a foul on Jaclyn Storey on the play, sending her to the line for two foul shots) put a pin in the SNHU hopes. The resulting 55-45 lead (7:55) was the platform for AC to ease in the rest of the way and prevail. Caitlin Ackerman’s career-high 23 points (8-14 FG, 7-8 FT; 7 rebounds) was tops for the Hounds but Conley and Allison Stoddard (12 points each) also chipped in nicely. Catherine Stinson (13 points) and Vic Wiseman (11 points, 6 boards) led the SNHU attack. Among Assumption’s stat advantages were shooting (41%-30%) and rebounds (47-39).

 

  • The only NE-10 game with no impact on the standings took place in Rindge, where Franklin Pierce shot 54% (61.3% in the second half) to send Bentley home with a 79-50 defeat. The Falcons led 10-8 in the early going but the Ravens took flight at that point, scoring 26 of the next 30 points (34-14, 5:12) to take the lead for good. Bentley ended the frame on a 14-4 run (38-28 at the half) and cut the arrears to 42-40 with a 12-4 start to the second half (26-8 overall) but that was where their comeback ended, as FPU posted two 8-0 spurts and a 10-0 jag to make it a 68-45 game with 6:27 left (26-5 in all). Jessica Hurd (18 points, 10 boards) and Kara Charette (16 points, 11 rebounds) led the way for the Ravens while Natalie Bastian (15 points), Dyamond Gardner (12 points) and Alison Palma (8 points, 11 boards) lent excellent depth. FPU was better on the glass (45-32), in the paint (58-32) and in points-off-turnovers (26-8) as they improved to 12-1 at home. Jen Gemma (23 points, 7 boards) topped the Falcon scoring but they shot just 32% and end the season with a losing record for the first time in program annals. Franklin Pierce will host a Sunday NE-10 quarterfinal clash against Southern Connecticut.

 

ECC sees movement; STAC secures playoff berth…

  • The combination of a St. Thomas Aquinas win and a Molloy loss means that the Spartans have clinched the #6 seed in the ECC tournament (remember, Daemen is not playoff-eligible yet due to their transition to NCAA Division II). STAC slipped past Mercy last night, 55-53, to hold up their end of the deal. The Spartans led by a point at the half (24-23) and put up an 8-0 run to go ahead, 45-38, at the 5:40 mark but the Mavericks stayed in it. Tanayzha Augustine’s (17 points, 9 boards) basket with 1:46 left capped a 13-4 jag and sent Mercy ahead, 51-49, but the killer shot of the night came from STAC’s Kristen Olsen, who buried a trey in response (her only basket) to put STAC ahead to stay, 52-51, with 50 ticks left. A Maverick miss was followed by a pair of Jenna Erickson (19 points) foul shots; Augustine scored to make it 54-53 but Erickson sank another FT to push the lead to 55-53 with three seconds to play. Briana Rhett’s three-point try to win at the buzzer for Mercy missed and STAC had their win. Kaitlyn McCue added 10 points off the bench for the Spartans, who scored all 18 bench points in this game. Brandone Roberts (20 points, 12 boards) and Deasia Goodson (12 points) joined Augustine in doubles for hard-luck Mercy. The Spartans were the better team in turnovers (21-15), free throw shooting (18-24; Mercy 11-16 FT) and from long-range (3-15; Mercy 0-13 3FG), mitigating the Mavericks +10 (46-36) on the glass. 

 

  • Queens kept their share of 2nd place in the ECC and ended Molloy’s playoff hopes with an 85-65 decision in Flushing, fueled by a big second half performance. The Lions opened the game with an 11-3 spell and closed it with a 9-2 rush, more than balancing out a 10-0 Knight run in between. Molloy had a 36-28 halftime lead as a result but QC was about to rev their jets. A 7-0 start to the stanza was soon followed by a 15-0 explosion, giving the Knights a 52-40 lead (9:19). The Lions were unable to seriously trouble Queens after that and absorbed the loss. Madison Rowland (21 points, 14 boards, 5 assists, 5 steals), MacKenzie Rowland (18 points, 6 boards), Taylor Miller (15 points) and Elisabeth Gully (11 points) combined to lead the Queens effort as they shot 60% in the second half (43% overall), hit 27-34 at the line and ruled the glass (48-30). Kimani Jackson (16 points) and Sabrina Padro (13 points) were Molloy’s top scorers but they shot 39% and went 16-29 at the stripe to damage their chances.

 

  • Roberts Wesleyan got the drop on Daemen in a hard-fought upstate New York ECC battle, 60-55, to retain their piece of 2nd place with Queens. The host Redhawks scored the first seven points and got to the break on top, 36-31. Carneisha Henry’s (9 points, 10 rebounds) basket made it 38-31 to start the final frame but the Wildcats got their footing quickly and an 8-0 spree put them ahead for the first time, 39-38 (15:51). RWC reclaimed the lead for good thanks to an 11-3 burst (51-46, 6:22), although Daemen did get as close as 54-53 (2:00) after a Shy Britton hoop (15 points). RWC held firm, scoring seven of the game’s last nine points to make it five straight wins. Necedah James (15 points), Brooke Fields (10 points) and Marissa Sell (9 points, 11 boards) led the Redhawk attack while Sarah Saba (12 points, 8 boards) was Daemen’s only other double digit scorer aside of Britton. The Redhawks flourished at the line (13-21; Daeman 3-7 FT) and from long-distance (7-21; Daemen 4-20 3FG) to help hold off the Wildcats.

 

  • For the second time this season NYIT hit triple digits, this time eviscerating LIU Post, 100-68, in the ‘Battle of the Boulevard’. In truth it was not much of a battle, as the Bears took control from the beginning and got to the half with a 53-37 bulge. A 24-7 spread over the first eight minutes of the final frame extended the NYIT lead to 77-44 (12:11) and it was only a matter of the final score at that point. Shannon Duer (22 points, 13 boards) and Dina Ragab (20 points, 10 caroms) were the pick of the lot for NYIT but Shanice Allen (18 points), Nina Vukosavljevic (14 points) and Audrey Knowlton (11 points) enjoyed the game, too. Chelsea Williams (20 points, 7 assists), Ashley Castle (15 points, 6 boards) and Nyasia Davis (15 points, 10 rebounds) did the bulk of the scoring for the Pioneers in a losing cause. The Bears shot a sterling 63% from the field and made 19-24 at the line, numbers the Pioneers had no chance to match (30% FG the key one). The outcome sends NYIT game ahead of LIU Post for 4th place in the ECC.

 

  • Bridgeport beat Dowling, 76-62, in a game between two clubs already out of ECC playoff contention. The Purple Knights led by four at the half (37-33) but put up two 10-0 second half sprees to help widen the cushion to 71-55 with 4:21 to go, more than the Golden Lions could counter. Tiara Aziz (23 points), Shannon Holt (16 points, 13 boards, 4 rejections) and Jennifer Kucukkaya (12 points, 12 rebounds) led the way for UB, which shot 48% from the floor and were +8 in both rebounds (37-29) and turnovers (24-16). Christine Verrelle (17 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds) was solid for Dowling while Kristina Surlan (14 points) and Kamille Ejerta (13 points) added double digits to the cause. DC actually shot more accurately than UB (50%) but their deficiencies hurt them, especially points-off-turnovers, where Bridgeport out-scored them, 26-10. 

 

CACC wrap-up…

  • Holy Family warmed up for their playoff game at Bloomfield on Saturday with a 71-60 win over Chestnut Hill, the 16th straight time the Tigers have beaten the Griffins. HFU notched the first ten points of the game and later on put up an 11-0 run to build a 42-19 lead (1:53). The Tigers led 42-22 at the break and coasted in from there, their edge not going below nine points at any juncture (and then only in the final minute when the result was not in doubt). Kasey Woetzel (19 points, 7 rebounds), Sarah Pawlak (16 points) and Kylie Giedemann (11 points) led the HFU scoring while Tiffany Turner (17 points, 10 caroms) and Shayla Felder (17 points) did the scoring for CHC. Holy Family was +12 on the glass (48-36) and sank 20-22 at the line in a game that had just 17 turnovers (9 by CHC). Despite the loss, Chestnut Hill had their best-ever Division II season (10 wins).

 

  • Dominican placed five players in double digits as they defeated Nyack, 78-51, prepping for their CACC playoff visit to Philadelphia on Saturday. The Chargers built a 45-30 halftime edge and extended the margin to as much as 34 points (72-38, 8:02) en route to victory. Lisa Bouffard (18 points, 9 boards), Lashonda Hathorne (17 points) and a trio of players with 10 points (Jacqueline Rywalt, who also had 7 rebounds; Rebecca Rabeiro and Deja Gabbidon) accounted for the majority of the DC scoring as they were superior at the line (21-26 FT), in shooting terms (40%-29%) and off the glass (49-39). Only Lindsay Williams (11 points) reached double figures for the Warriors, who committed 26 turnovers (DC had a 24-14 edge in points-off-TO’s) and never had much of a foothold in the game.

 

  • Ashley Morris’ career-high 34 points (13-27 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-7 FT) and 15 rebounds helped Felician hand Concordia a 71-61 setback in Bronxville. Morris entered the game needing 33 points to reach the 1,000-point career plateau and achieved the feat late in the game to make it that much more memorable for Felician. As for the game, the Golden Falcons led by as many as a dozen points in the first half and got to the interval ahead, 29-20, but the Clippers stayed in touch, closing the deficit to 57-55 (4:47) after a Selbe Lo (11 points, 9 boards) basket. Felician answered that with the next eight points (65-55, 2:34) and kept Concordia at bay thereafter to record the win. Eliana Scanlon (18 points) and Shyla Osmond (17 points) supported Morris nicely for the Golden Falcons while the quintet of Kelly Ann Caravello (career-high 22 points; 9-22 FG, 4-13 3FG), Lo, Jessica Rosalbo (10 points), Hadiyah Black (11 boards) and Brianna Hendrick (8 points, 10 rebounds) sparked the Clippers. Felician was the better shooting combine (46%-33%), the major team-stat difference.

 

  • West Virginia Wesleyan ended Wilmington’s season with a 74-65 non-league defeat in Newark, largely on the basis of superior rebounding (54-39; 23-13 in offensive caroms). The Bobcats (4-21) led by as much as 13 points in a first half that ended with them ahead, 36-33. The teams traded the lead until the midpoint of the second half, when a 13-2 Bobcat surge turned a 48-47 deficit into a 60-50 lead (8:16); they held onto it to pick up the road win. Mari Stewart (19 points, 9 boards), Kiki DeVane (10 points, 17 rebounds, a dozen of them at the offensive end), Allie Browne (10 points) and Allyson Freiermuth (10 boards) led the path for the Bobcats while the trio of Taylor Carter (11 points), Tashea Plummer (10 points, 10 caroms) and Cari Callaway (10 points) submitted solid outings for the Wildcats.

 

Poll info…

  • The WBCA/USA Today Division II National poll was released yesterday and shows four East Regional teams in the top 25. Adelphi went up four spots to #8 while Stonehill slipped a few places into a tie for 12th with Emporia State (Kansas). UDC jumped into the poll for the first time this season, tied for #22 with Cedarville (Ohio), the first time since December 10, 2013, that the Firebirds appear in the poll. It’s been an even longer wait for New Haven but the Chargers broke into the top 25 at #21, their first showing in the poll since February 26, 1989. Philadelphia and the University of the Sciences also received votes. The entire poll can be seen at http://www.wbca.org/pages/POLLS_d2_2014-15_022415

 

  • The new D2SIDA Division II National poll also came out yesterday and highlighted the regular East Regional teams. Adelphi (#8) and Stonehill (#12) switched positions while New Haven (#21) and UDC (receiving votes) stayed in the same sport. The full poll is at http://www.goskyhawks.com/news/2015/2/23/WBB_0223155731.aspx

 

  • The all-important NCAA Division II East Regional rankings will come out at some point later today; please check the standings page(s) for updated poll places (on the standings page, check the number in brackets [x] for current ranking status).