Firebirds claim vital ECC victory
* The University of the District of Columbia edged past Roberts Wesleyan, 68-62, in Sunday's only game, taking over the ECC lead in the process. The teams were never separated by more than six points during a tight, taut affair. The host Redhawks trailed only once in the first half (14-13) but a 7-0 run gave them their largest lead of the day, 20-14 (8:58). Lucy Covley (10 points) sank a trey with five ticks left in the stanza to send RWC into the break ahead, 34-31. The Firebirds took their first lead of the second half at the 12:36 mark (42-41) after a Denikka Brent (21 points, 10 boards) basket, kicking off a spate of lead-swapping. UDC assumed the lead for keeps thanks to a 7-0 flurry (55-49, 6:15) but the Redhwaks stayed in range and closed to within a point (61-60) with 1:30 to play after a Marissa Sell (16 points, 12 caroms) hoop. Telisha Turner (10 points) answered that with the game's biggest score, a three-pointer at the 51-second mark to extend UDC's lead to 64-60. Brooke Fields got RWC within a pair, 64-62, after two fouls shots (:29) but the guests nailed it down with two freebies each from Shantrel Oliver and Taj Baldwin-Kollore (18 points). UDC, winners of eight in a row, shot 43% and held RWC to just 33%, balancing off the Redhwaks advantage at the line (RWC 23-26; UDC 10-17 FT). Samantha Courtney (21 points, 9 rebounds, 9-10 FT) topped the scoring for Roberts Wesleyan but their four-game win streak came to an end and they are now tied with LIU Post for 4th place in the loop.
Poll Info
* The new D2SIDA East Regional poll was released today with minimal changes from last time. Adelphi (1), Stonehill (2), New Haven (3) and UDC (4) comprise the top four again while the University of the Sciences is now 5th all alone. Franklin Pierce, tied with Sciences last week, is now #6. Philadelphia (7) and Queens (8) switched spots while Roberts Wesleyan (9) remains in the same place. Southern Connecticut is again tied for 10th, this week with NYIT; LeMoyne also received votes.