Posted: Feb 26, 2016
- Nina Vukosavljevic’s three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining was the decisive blow in NYIT’s thrilling ECC 74-72 win over the University of the District of Columbia in Old Westbury on Thursday evening. The victory puts the wraps on the regular season for the Bears, who notched their program-record 24th win in the process. A game replete with back-and-forth (seven ties and eleven lead changes) saw the clubs battle down to the wire, never separated by more than seven points all night. NYIT used a 9-0 spurt spanning the first two quarters to nab a 21-14 lead (8:26) and didn’t trail again in the half, going into the break with a 35-30 edge. The Firebirds, who have now dropped back-to-back games and are in third place in the ECC, rattled off 10-0 and 7-0 bursts in the third period, the latter to close out the quarter with a 54-50 advantage. The final 6:25 of the game featured multiple lead changes with neither team holing anything greater than a two-point advantage. Tiara Goode (19 points, 8 boards, 5-12 3FG) gave UDC a 72-70 lead with a triple at the :45 mark, only to see Vukosavljevic (20 points, 5 assists, 3-3 3FG) match it shortly thereafter. UDC missed twice on its next possession and Vukosavljevic tacked on a free throw with one second left to create the final margin. Shanice Allen (23 points, 4-6 3FG) and Dina Ragab (10 points, 6 rebounds) played key roles for the Bears, who shot 46% and dropped in 16-24 at the stripe. Iman Scott (15 points, 8 boards) and Taj Baldwin-Kollore (14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 dimes) were solid for the Firebirds as they won the glass battle (46-36). NYIT awaits the ECC semifinals next week while UDC could finish anywhere from second to fourth place in the loop as they joust with Roberts Wesleyan and Queens for seeding.