Women's Game Recaps #66 - 2/27/15

Posted: Feb 27, 2015

Firebirds clinch ECC regular season title; Knights win #20, take over 2nd place…

  • The University of the District of Columbia rubbed out Mercy last night, 87-74, to secure the ECC regular season crown as well as equaling the program-record for wins in a season (24). The Firebirds, on a thirteen-game win streak, led from start-to-finish, creating a sizeable cushion in the first half thanks to separate 16-0 and 9-0 runs. By the break UDC was on top 47-23 and the visiting Mavericks, wrapping up their ECC slate, could do little to change the outcome despite a 51-point second stanza. Shakena Williams (21 points, 6-13 3FG) led the attack for UDC with strong support from the likes of Denikka Brent (16 points, 7 boards, 6 steals, 3 rejections), Telisha Turner (15 points) and Iman Scott (10 points). Brandone Roberts (22 points, 8 boards; 9-13 FG) and Tanayzha Augustine (19 points, 15 rebounds) stood tall for Mercy at both ends. UDC was the better unit in terms of three-pointers (12-27; Mercy 5-14 3FG) and ball-handling (+11 in turnovers, 21-10; leading to a 27-10 edge in points-off-miscues), balancing off Mercy’s +7 on the glass (39-32). The Firebirds complete their regular season tomorrow at St. Thomas Aquinas and then await the ECC semifinals a week later. The Mavericks close their season with a non-league clash at New Rochelle on Monday.

 

  • Madison Rowland (27 points, 6 boards, 6 steals, 4 assists) led Queens to a comeback win at Dowling, 74-63, keeping the Knights in the catbird seat for 2nd place in the ECC. The Golden Lions scored the first seven points of the game and led by as many as ten points in the first half, arriving at the interval with a 37-30 edge. Krstina Surlan (16 points) scored the first bucket of the second period to make it 39-30 but QC followed with the next ten points (the final eight by Madison Rowland) to assume the lead for the first time, 40-39 (14:23). After a spell of lead-swapping, the Knights took the lead for good thanks to a 10-2 spree, 52-44, with 8:11 left. DC didn’t back down, closing the deficit to 56-54 after an Andrea Bender trey (5:06), but Queens notched the next six points (62-54, 3:24) and nursed the lead in from there. MacKenzie Rowland (10 points, 10 boards, 5 assists) lent a hand for Queens, which shot better than DC from the floor (47%-43%) and had slim edges in turnovers (20-17) and rebounds (41-36). Christine Verrelle (12 points, 8 caroms, 5 dimes) and Jessica Kalbfleisch (10 points, 11 boards) aided Surlan for the Golden Lions, who had the upper hand in three-point production (3-15; QC 1-10 3FG) and free throws (10-18; QC 5-6 FT). The Knights can clinch the #2 seed (and a playoff bye into the semifinals) with a win at home tomorrow against Bridgeport or one Roberts Wesleyan loss (they play tonight and Sunday). Dowling finishes its season tomorrow at Molloy.

  

  • A 20-4 closing spree sent Bridgeport to a 76-67 win over Molloy, its second straight success. The Lions, led by Nicole Arnone’s career-high 31 points (13-21 FG, 3-6 3FG, 2-3 FT; 10 rebounds, too), held a 63-56 lead with 7:31 left yet could not close it out. The Purple Knights grabbed the lead for good on a pair of Jennifer Kucukkaya (13 points, 8 assists) free throws at the 5:12 mark, 66-65, and never looked back. UB’s only lead of the first half was 2-0; the Lions quickly assumed control and led by as many as a dozen (35-23) before settling for a 40-36 lead at the half. Bridgeport had scored the last five points of the half, though, and continued the momentum with a 10-0 burst to begin the final frame (15-0 overall) to go ahead, 46-40, setting the stage for their eventual winning rally later on. Tiara Aziz (21 points, 8-11 FT), Jenna Hoffman (12 points) and Shannon Holt (10 points, 10 boards) joined Kucukkaya in double digits for UB while Alexia O’Connor (12 points) gave Arnone some help for Molloy. UB’s main team stat advantages were in bench points (31-6) and at the foul line, the latter in astonishing fashion (UB 23-28; Molloy an abysmal 5-20 FT). Both teams end their seasons tomorrow, Molloy hosting Dowling and Bridgeport at Queens.

 

NCAA East Regional Poll #2…

  • The NCAA Division II East Regional poll was released for the second time this season on Wednesday. This is how the rankings look (last week’s ranking is in brackets to the right). Keep in mind that the poll reflects only games through Sunday, February 22:
  1.  New Haven [3]                           
  2. Stonehill [1]
  3. Adelphi [2]
  4. UDC [4]
  5. Queens [9]
  6. Franklin Pierce [7]
  7. Sciences [5]
  8. Bloomfield [NR]
  9. Philadelphia [8]
  10. Roberts Wesleyan [NR]

Dropped out: NYIT [6], LIU Post [9]