* The CACC playoffs began on Saturday with no upsets while the ECC is almost done with its regular season, yet their playoff seeds are not totally decided in the latter loop. This recap starts with playoff action in New Jersey...
* Bloomfield claimed a workmanlike 64-48 decision over Chestnut Hill to advance to the CACC semifinals as they took control late in the first period and never let it slip. Tianna Smith (17 points), Chyna Golden (13 points, 11 boards) and Ariel Wilson (13 points, 8 caroms) topped the Bears effort, one which put together a 14-0 flurry spanning the first two periods to take a 23-13 lead. That margin largely held up for the duration - the Griffins had small spurts yet didn't seriously threaten the CACC's top seed. Jaeda Wildgoose and Caity Kuhnen (both 12 points and 6 boards), along with Lauren Milligan (10 points, 13 boards), did the work for CHC but their shooting was subpar (31% FG, 1-10 3FG) and they lost the boards, 52-43. Bloomfield, which will face Holy Family in the CACC semis, didn't shoot the lights out either (39% FG, 5-15 FT) but did enough to progress.
* Philadelphia shot 53% and led most of the way en route to dispatching Nyack in their CACC quarterfinal clash, 91-69. The Rams assumed the lead after one period (23-13), held a 42-29 edge at the break and really pushed the envelope after that. Third quarter runs of 8-0 and 13-0 helped build a 68-42 lead late in the frame and the Warriors had no way back into it after that. Jessica Kaminski (20 points, 8-10 FG), Mary Newell (19 points), Tori Arnao (18 points, 11 boards, 8 assists) and Rachel Day (14 points, 4-8 3FG) marshalled the troops for the Rams as they won their seventh game in a row. Raven Makins (22 points, 12 boards) and Japria Karim-Duvall (21 points) supplied the pop for Nyack but they mustered just 33% accuracy from the field, nowhere near sufficient to keep pace with Philadelphia. Next up for the Rams is a semifinal date against Caldwell.
* Holy Family scored the first dozen points of the game and never trailed in defeating Dominican to earn their way into the CACC semifinals. The defending tourney champions received a glittering three-point shooting show, going 10-15 from deep (DC went 4-21) and coupled that with solid defense (the Chargers shot 30% overall) to get the job done. HFU buried a quartet of treys to start the game, three by Erin Fenningham (20 points, 5-7 3FG), to stake an early lead but Dominican stayed in touch, trimming the deficit to 29-24 by the half. It was a 46-36 edge after three periods and the Tigers kept grinding, eventually bursting the damn. Holy Family out-scored DC 26-10 in the last period to punctuate their superiority. Jill Conroy (17 points, 3-5 3FG) and Kelly Giedemann (10 points) tossed in double digits for the winners, who shot 44% overall. Rebecca Rabeiro, Lisa Bouffard (14 points each) and Deja Gabbidon (15 rebounds) led the Dominican attack in defeat. Holy Family will take on Bloomfield in the semifinals as they seek a CACC repeat.
* Caldwell owned the second half, 43-23, to help shed the University of the Sciences in their CACC quarterfinal, 79-56. Following a tight first half (Caldwell led 36-33 at the conclusion of a half that saw nine ties and six lead changes) the Cougars got into gear. The Devils were unable to quell the Caldwell attack and fell into a 59-45 hole by the end of three periods. It turned out to be more than they could recover from and the Cougars moved on. All five Caldwell starters reached double digits, led by Kristen Drogsler (21 points), Karlie O'Driscoll (14 points, 8 boards) and Antoinette Pilla (13 points), while the trio of Megan Wolf (17 points, 7 caroms), Alex Thomas (14 points) and Laura Trisch (13 points) keyed the Devils. Shooting was a huge boon for Caldwell as they held a 53%-29% edge. That negated Sciences better ball-handling; the Devils won the tale of points-off-turnovers, 26-7, but it proved to little to tilt the balance. Caldwell will face Philadelphia in the CACC semifinals.
* Molloy turned on the jets in the fourth quarter to shade Roberts Wesleyan, 55-49, and firm up the #5 seed in the ECC, setting up a rematch between these two teams in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday (at RWC, that is). The Redhawks are locked into the #4 slot as they lose a tie-breaker to Queens (in action tomorrow). Neither team led this one by more than seven points but RWC (which led 23-21 at halftime) grabbed a 45-38 lead with 6:48 to go after a Necedah James (12 points) free throw. The Lions answered with a roar, tearing off a 15-1 explosion into the final minute of play, taking a non-refundable 53-46 lead (:47). James' trey cut the gap to 53-49 (:29) but the damage was done and Molloy had the win. Alexia O'Connor (15 points), Kimani Jackson (9 points, 10 boards) and Ally Leftridge (8 points, 10 rebounds) spurred the Lions while Taylor Bynoe (12 points, 11 rebounds), Lucy Covley (12 boards) and Samantha Courtney (11 boards) helped James for Roberts Wesleyan. Both team had shooting troubles (Molloy, 31%-26%) in a hard-fought contest.
* St. Thomas Aquinas won their fifth straight game and will head into the ECC playoffs as the #6 seed on the back of a 77-64 victory over Dowling. The Spartans led 35-28 at the break and held a 43-33 edge when they broke the game open, posting a 14-0 bomb to turn it into a 57-33 laugher late in the third period. The Giolden Lions were done after that and their season comes to a close. KC Solinski (13 points, 8 rebounds), Jenna Erickson (13 points) and Alex Bertolino (11 points) were STAC's leaders as they smoked DC on the glass (48-20) and lived at the line (20-29 FT; DC 7-9 FT). Krstina Surlan (17 points, 6 boards) and Kayla Hill (17 points) led the Dowling effort as they sank 9-17 from deep as a unit. The Spartans will visit either UDC or Queens in the ECC playoffs on Wednesday.
* The University of the District of Columbia kept up its hopes for a #2 seed and first round ECC bye thanks to a gritty 57-53 win at LIU Post. Taj Baldwin-Kollore (16 points), Brandi Henton (12 points, 6 boards) and Tiara Goode (11 points) did the honors for the Firebirds while Melsha Messam (15 points, 10 caroms) and Janaysia James (14 points, 7 rebounds) shined for the Pioneers. UDC established a 25-18 halftime advantage and kept a single-digit lead for the entire third period before LIU Post snapped back and grabbed the lead early in the last period. The teams swapped the lead most of the fourth quarter with the final tie at 51 (2:00) after a Khea Gibbs three-pointer for LIU Post. Henton's basket (1:07) and two Tatyana Calhoun foul shots (:16) put the Firebirds ahead to stay, 55-51. Gibbs got a pair back soon after but a couple of Henton free throws with eight ticks left salted it away for UDC. Most team numbers were close, including shooting (UDC, 32%-29%) and three-pointers (UDC, 6-4). The Firebirds playoff fate will be determined after the Queens-Daemen game tomorrow.
* Bridgeport ended the season on a positive note, handing Mercy a 60-46 defeat in Dobbs Ferry. The Purple Knights led 33-31 at the half and compiled third period runs of 12-0 and 9-0 to help extend the margin to 48-35 late in the quarter. The Mavericks never got within single figures again and end their campaign with eleven straight setbacks. Aurelie Leblanc-Florent (20 points, 4-7 3FG), Kadijah Dickson (11 points, 9 rebounds), Louise Ovner (8 points, 12 carioms) and Evelyn Ovner (8 points, 11 rebounds) all chipped in for UB as they dominated the glass, 51-34. Deasia Goodson (16 points, 14 rebounds) and Paxton Reddington (14 points) led the Mercy effort.