• Friday and Saturday saw 18 games played in the region, clarifying some playoff races and muddying others. The report starts in the NE10, where they divisional leaders are going in different directions…
• AIC walloped LeMoyne in Syracuse, 72-42, astonishingly holding the Dolphins to zero points in the second quarter on the way to the victory. The NE10 Southwest leaders were down by a 14-13 count after one period but did not score a single point in the second frame, going 0-10 from the floor with seven turnovers. Their scoring drought lasted almost twelve minutes (counting the latter stages of the first quarter) and by then they were in a 28-14 halftime hole. AIC kept pouring it on, extending the gap to 51-27 after three periods and winning their third game in a row. Dana Watts (28 points, 12 boards; 10-15 FG, 2-3 3FG, 6-6 FT) and Alyssa Guyon (22 points; 4-7 3FG) led the Yellow Jackets and out-scored LC by themselves, while McKayla Roberts (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Liz Millea (11 points) topped the Dolphins, who have lost two in a row. AIC, now tied for second place in the loop, shot far better (46%-28% FG) and ruled the glass (40-29) on the way to success… Bentley, the NE10 Northeast kingpin, made it eight straight wins but they had to rally from an early deficit to do so at Assumption, 57-51. The Greyhounds jumped to a 24-9 lead after one frame, which included a 12-0 run, but they netted only 27 points in the remaining 30 minutes. The Falcons trimmed the gap to 30-26 by the half and used a 7-0 start to the third frame (33-30) to take a lead they never lost. AC chipped the Falcon lead down to three points a few times down the stretch but Bentley made 5-6 at the line in the last 34 seconds to ice it and send the Hounds to their eighth loss in nine games. Amy McConnell (14 points, 6 dimes) and Victoria Lux (13 points, 8 caroms) keyed the Bentley effort as they profited in points-off-turnovers (21-12) and stretched their divisional lead to four games (just like LeMoyne). Meghan Cramb (18 points) and Morgan O’Donnell (10 points, 6 boards), who scored her 1,000th career point in this one, led Assumption, which is now three games off the playoff pace in the division.
• St. Thomas Aquinas ripped LIU Post, 85-65, to earn their fifth win in a row and keep the ECC top spot intact. Melissa Sadler (20 points, 7 rebounds), Zaria Thomas (15 points) and KellyAnn Averill (14 points) fronted five in double digits for STAC, which shot a crisp 54% overall and raced to a 47-22 halftime advantage. Sasha Patterson (15 points, 14 boards), Asia Turner and Shannon Doyle (12 points each) submitted solid games for the Pioneers but they shot only 36% and turned the ball over too much (22-13), allowing the Spartans to register a 22-9 edge in points-off-TO’s. STAC really blew the game open with an 18-3 spell in the second period and managed the game well thereafter… Daemen made it eight straight wins by dropping Molloy on Friday, 70-60, to stay in second place in the ECC. The duo of Katie Titus (25 points, 8 boards) and Tiara Filbert (25 points, 6 assists) was sensational for the Wildcats, both lodging career-highs to top the stat sheet. Daemen led 32-27 at the break and rode an 11-2 burst to a 43-29 lead right out of the half. Molloy crept back within eight points in the fourth period but another Daemen answer, this time 7-0, nudged the gap to 68-53 (3:32), enough to lock down the result. Ihnacince Grady (22 points) topped the Lions effort but they fell short on the glass (Daemen, 48-36) and at the line (4-11 to Daemen’s 20-30 showing) and are on the brink of ECC playoff elimination… NYIT stayed right on the heels of the top two in the ECC, blasting the University of the District of Columbia, 75-49. The Bears, which won all four periods and led 34-21 at the interval, were sparked by Ketsia Athias (personal-high 18 points; 9 boards; 7-11 FG), Tiara Place (15 points) and Meg Knollmeyer (10 points, 11 caroms) and dominated the window (44-29) and the paint (36-14). Natasha Roy (14 points) and Tyra Coombs (11 points) had solid games for the Firebirds but they shot just 26% overall and never cut the lead below double digits in the second half. UDC, losers of three in a row, is in a three-way battle for the last two ECC playoff spots with Roberts Wesleyan and Bridgeport.
• The CACC South leaders both won easily on Saturday with the University of the Sciences waxing Concordia, 82-46, to annex their eleventh straight decision. Alex Thomas (15 points) and Kendall Keyes (career-high 15 points) topped four players in double digits in the Devils rout, where they shot 51% overall and sank 14-31 from three-point territory. Amiya Rankins (10 points, 6 boards) was a rare bright spot for the Clippers as they fell behind 13-0 at the start of the game and never recovered. Sciences, which won the glass battle by a dozen (45-33), extended a 41-26 halftime lead to 49-26 with an 8-0 start to the third period and coasted in from there… Jefferson enjoyed a nice bounce-back after losing for the first time this season, rolling over the co-CACC North leader Dominican, 69-47. The Rams raced to a 35-17 halftime edge and maintained the margin over the final twenty minutes behind the work of Caitlyn Cunningham, who exploded for a career-high 32 points (12-20 FG, 3-4 3FG, 5-7 FT) and nine rebounds. Jessica Kaminski (16 points, 8 boards) and Beverly Kum (10 points, 9 boards) added depth for the Rams as they made 16-24 at the line and grabbed nine more rebounds (46-37). The Chargers led only once (3-0) and were led by Kyla Ramseur (12 points) and Jasmine Gee (10 points) but they weren’t really in this game once Jefferson got going.
• Adelphi fended offNew Haven, 62-53, to stay in a second place tie in the NE10 Southwest (with AIC). Niajah Morgan (22 points; 9-13 FG), Jess Camarda (15 points), Leonie Edringer (10 points, 11 caroms) and Katie Murphy (10 points, 9 rebounds) all played vital roles for the Panthers as they led 34-26 at the half and 45-42 after three frames. The Chargers remained close all day but a 6-0 spurt gave AU a 56-46 lead with 3:47 to go and the Panthers stayed the course. Alexandria Kerr (14 points, 6 boards) and Micah Womack (12 points, 7 rebounds) led the New Haven effort but they are now tied for fourth in the division with Southern Connecticut, just a game behind the AIC/Adelphi pairing… Merrimack is the hottest team in the NE10 aside of Bentley after swamping St. Anselm for their fifth straight win, 74-55. Lindsay Werner (21 points, 8 boards; 5-7 3FG) got the Warriors off to a fast 18-6 start with eight points, including her 1,000th career point, and the home team was in control for good. MC led 41-23 at the break and never allowed the Hawks to establish a foothold at any juncture. Denia Davis-Stewart (16 points, 12 boards) and Mayson Kimball (13 points) also had strong games for Merrimack as they out-shot St. A’s, 43%-32%, and made nine of the contest’s dozen three-pointers. Shannon Ryan (14 points, 8 boards) and Peyton Steinman (10 points) reached double figures for the Hawks, who stayed in second place in the NE10 Northeast despite the defeat… Southern New Hampshire repelled Stonehill, 67-62, to reamin even with Merrimack in fourth place in the NE10 Northeast, a game behind the Skyhawks. Karlee Ziliak (career-high 16 points) was among four double digit SNHU scorers, including Victoria Dean (14 points) and Gyanna Russell (13 points), as they never trailed in this game. The Penmen held a 51-38 lead with 4:30 left in the third frame when Stonehill racked up an 11-1 spree to end the quarter and make it a 52-49 game but Ziliak ended the rally by netting the first five points of a 7-0 run to start the last quarter (59-49) and the die was cast. Kayla Raymond (11 points, 11 rebounds) was Stonehill’s best option but they were out-shot (43%-32% FG) and out-paced in points-off-miscues, 25-7, to drop their second game in succession.
• Caldwell was the only North Division winner in the CACC on Saturday, hammering Chestnut Hill, 86-51. The first (27-13) and third periods (29-8) proved to be the building blocks for the Cougars, who shot 49% from the floor, made 7-21 from three-point land and forced 31 Griffin turnovers, flipping the latter into a 25-5 advantage in points-off-TO’s. Tina Lebron (20 points; 6-10 3FG), Tamrin Henderson (18 points) and Paula Dits (16 points; 8-12 FG) led the way for the Cougars, who jumped over Post into third place in the CACC North. Leah Miller (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Jaeda Wildgoose (10 points) reached double digits for CHC but they shot only 39% overall and were a dismal 1-16 from three-point range, falling into last place in the CACC South as a result… Wilmington came back from a twelve point deficit in the fourth period to force overtime, which they dominated, to shock CACC North co-leader Felician, 90-79. The Golden Falcons enjoyed a 17-2 third period run to help create the lead (63-51, 9:38) but the Wildcats rallied and eventually tied the game at 77 with 17 ticks left thanks to a Macy Robinson (27 points, 8 boards; 5-10 3FG) three-pointer. After the teams swapped baskets to start the extra session, Wilmington blazed away from Felician, scoring the last eleven points to snag the win. In all, it was a 39-16 Wildcat explosion over the final 14-plus minutes that decided the game. Nyree Grant (17 points, 14 rebounds), Kiara Eubanks (15 points) and Jadyn Whitsitt (13 points) lent support for Wilmington, the only road winner in the CACC on Saturday. Kameron Stone (21 points, 12 boards), Kayla Diaz (17 points), Kristin Smith (14 points, 16 boards) and Taliyah Brisco (14 points) all played well for Felician despite seeing their three-game win streak halted.
• Southern Connecticut snapped a four-game slide and consolidated an NE10 Southwest playoff spot, beating up the College of Saint Rose, 80-55. The Owls, tied for fourth in the loop with New Haven, received a career game from Amanda Pfohl (personal-best 28 points; 10-15 FG, 6-10 3FG), another double-double from Kiana Stienauer (24 points, 16 boards; her 19th DD of the season) and 18 points from Imani Wheeler to bury the Golden Knights. SCSU won all four quarters and held 47-32 (halftime) and 66-47 (third period) leads on the pathway to victory. Ashley Vanderwall (14 points), Isa Vara De Rey (13 points) and Zoe McDonald (12 rebounds) were the top options for Saint Rose but they were swamped in points-off-turnovers (24-5) and doubled up in three-pointers (SCSU, 10-5) on the way to their third loss on the trot… St. Michael’s kept their slim NE10 Northeast playoff hopes alive with a 74-70 win at Franklin Pierce, their third triumph in a row. Nicole Anderson (21 points; 5-7 3FG) and Brianna Purcell (20 points, 6 assists) were the ring-leaders for the Purple Knights, who built a 62-48 lead late in the third quarter thanks to a 15-2 run. The Ravens didn’t fade and eventually embarked on a 16-4 run (which included a quartet of three-pointers) that brought them within 66-64 with 4:27 to go. Anderson’s trey staunched the FPU comeback and ignited a 6-2 spell that made it 74-68 and SMC held on to salt it away. Izzy Lipinski’s career-bests of 25 points and six assists (11 boards, too) led the Ravens, who also had Sophia Holmes cash in 19 points. FPU shot 50% overall but the Purple Knights (who shot 43%) sank 10-20 from three-point range while holding FPU to 6-16 from deep.
• Probably the most hard-fought game on the weekend came on Friday, when Queens got past Roberts Wesleyan in double overtime, 84-78. This ECC clash featured ten ties and nine lead changes with the teams never separated by more than nine points. The Knights led 43-42 entering the fourth period but the Redhawks surged ahead thanks to a late push and a Taryn Wilson trey gave RWC a 59-55 lead with 1:40 to play. My’eesa Grant (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Lucy Tougas (12 points, 9 assists) both made two free throws down the stretch to tie it at 59 and force the (first) extra frame. Queens surged to a 69-64 edge with 1:23 left once there but Tashayla Sutorius (career-high 23 points; 8-13 FG, 7-9 FT) scored the last five points of the period, including a three-point play with seven seconds left, to tie it at 69 and send the game to another OT. The Knights jumped on RWC to start it, 8-1, with Kaitlyn Mahon (18 points, 10 assists) scoring four of the points. RWC rallied again, riding an 8-3 spell capped by a Taylor Bynoe (13 points, 10 rebounds) hoop with 13 seconds left to make it 80-78. They ran out of gas there, though, as Beth Bonin (24 points; 6-11 3FG) and Lakeisha Officer each went 2-2 at the stripe for QC to secure the result. Emily Miller added 19 points and 10 boards for the Redhawks, who have dropped three in a row.
• Georgian Court put four players in double digits in their 68-58 win over Nyack to keep a grasp on third place in the CACC South. Safiyyah Lee (17 points, 8 boards), Jada Atchison (13 points), Ivona Krakic (12 point, 8 rebounds) and Carna Prokic (11 points, 9 boards, 6 steals) all had hands in the Lions victory as they out-shot (46%-27% FG) the Warriors and quelled a pair of second half Nyack rallies. GCU led 34-22 at the half and used a 10-3 spell to push the lead back to 48-36 after Nyack closed to within 38-33. Another Warriors comeback, cutting the gap to 56-50 (3:52), was quashed with a 6-0 spurt (GCU, 62-50 with 2:01 left) that ended the doubt. Elle Nittinger (17 points, 10 boards) and Kyla Given (16 points, 8 boards, 5 assists) topped the Nyack stat sheet despite their tenth straight loss… Goldey-Beacom stayed in touch with Georgian Court by picking up a 55-50 grinder against Post, their third win in a row. The Lightning seemed to be in control with a 49-35 lead after three quarters, going on a 10-1 sortie to end the frame. The Eagles fought back with a 15-2 blast to start the last quarter, trimming the deficit to 51-50 with 2:28 left, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. Sarah Round (11 points) drilled a key hoop for GBC to end the Post run and Alexis Harrison (17 points, 14 boards; 7-12 FG) and Amanda McGrogan (11 points) both sank single free throws in the dying embers to wrap up the scoring. Gabriela Middleton (16 points; 4-5 3FG), Mia Crooms (15 points) and Jessica DeGree (14 rebounds) led the Eagles, who did enjoy an 18-7 edge in points-off-turnovers. GBC was superior in the paint (26-12) and had the answers in the final minutes when they needed them to ensure the decision… Holy Family wiped out Bloomfield, 79-44, winning all four quarters, dominating the window (47-34) and shooting better across the board. Casey Schwietzer (17 points, 7 assists), Molly Masciantonio (14 points, 7 boards), Elizabeth Radley (13 points) and Katie O’Hare (10 points, 8 rebounds) all filled key roles for the Tigers, who built a massive 46-20 halftime lead. Caitlin Townes (12 points) and Deja McKenzie (10 points) reached double digits for the Bears but it was of minimal effect. Holy Family was better from the field (42%-27% FG), three-point land (11-32; BC 3-16 3FG) and at the line (16-20; BC 9-12 FT) to punctuate an emphatic victory.