WBB: City University of New York Athletic Conference

Started by mpsting, December 03, 2004, 09:15:01 PM

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BaruchFan

Baruch v. Lehman will be a classic. Baruch is the fav, but lehman could stay with them. In the end, it should be the Bearcats. They have ashot to win afew in the NCAAs.

NYCGATORfan

If Baruch is on, the game could get ugly. Lehman was a nightmare matchup for John Jay (maybe even a tougher matchup than Baruch would be for the Bloodhounds). Baruch's players are all small and quick. Theywont let Nnamani get penetration into the paint, and wont turn the ball over close to 40 times. But then again, you have to play the games, and few games play out their expected storylines. Enjoy the game Baruch fan, maybe I'll see you in the crowd!

atn alum

CUNYAC women's title game webcast
Lehman vs Baruch, 5:15 PM

http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/d3football/d3basketball022307-1.asx


feel free to write in and let us know you're listening at ATN@d3hoops.com

coachharrison_4_president

I told you Lehman was going to win it all...  Baruch choked in the finals...didn't score for the last 11 minutes.  Coach Harrison wins the big games...Watch out for Lehman in the NCAA Tournament...

Coach Rosario for vice president...

NYCGATORfan

My God I've never seen a team choke as bad as Baruch did. No FG's the last 12:33, 4 points over that span.  If you saw the eyes of Baruch's players down the stretch, you saw doubt and fear. Lehman didn't even play that well. Nnamani never got going and forced a lot of shots down the stretch. Credit role players Kathy Santiago, Tiara Carroll, Kim Kelly and Monique Sampson for stepping up their play while Nnamani struggled on the offensive end.

NYCGATORfan

And well, Harrison certainly outcoached Machli Joseph. Why did he keep McCelndon on the bench while Baruch was choking. I know she had 4 fouls but still. And what is he think having Trapp go the length of the court for a final shot attempt while she's guarded by the ultra athletic Nnamani. Of course Trapp wouldn't get a good look at the basket!

Nnamani had an awful night offensively and Lehman still won. That's a huge confidence boost for Lehman going into the NCAA tournament, that they can suffer through a bad shooting night from their best player, and still pull out a win.

allhearthere

The championship game was all about heart. It showed who wanted the game more. Good luck to the lehman lightning.

NYCGATORfan

can't agree with you more allheartthere

NYCGATORfan

I wrote an article about the Final if any of you care to read it. Good luck to Lehman in the NCAA's!


Young Jeezy's "Go Getta" blared throughout the Nat Holman Gymnasium after the Women's CUNYAC Final, Friday night. It was the appropriate song to cap off Lehman College's incredible evening. Down by 11 points late in the 2nd half, they went out and got themselves a championship, beating Baruch College 52-51.

Even without Preseason All-American Chiresse Paradise who was injured in their quarterfinal matchup with City Tech, Baruch had a dominant team full of speed and athleticism. Baruch had won 31 straight CUNYAC Conference games, were the defending CUNYAC Champions, and had the honor of being the first CUNYAC women's basketball team to win a game in the Division 3 NCAA tournament, when they upset Mount St. Mary last year 66-64.

The #1 seeded, and more talented Baruch Bearcats looked poised to blow #3 Lehman out early in the game. They led 32-21 with 2:11 left to go in the half, using their superior athleticism and depth to attack Lehman in waves. Three different Baruch players scored at least 7 points in the half with Dominique McClendon (8 PTS 3-5 FG) using a variety of spin moves to attack the basket, Ally Stamatiades ( 9 PTS 3-6 FG 2-2 3FG) filling the basket with a lethal outside jump shot, and Racquel Reid (7 PTS 3-8 FG 1-3 3FG) knocking down shots from inside and outside.

To make matters worse for Lehman, Their star player, CUNYAC player of the year, Sally Nnamani, was held in check by Stamatiades's perfect technique defense, not allowing Nnamani to drive to the basket, and forcing her to take long, contested, jumpers. A 5-0 Lehman run to close out the half, fueled by a Nnamani 3, and capped by a Tiara Carroll short jumper in the lane allowed Lehman to stay close at the half with a 32-26 deficit.

The second half started out much the same way the first half went: With Baruch scoring points at will. Racquel Reid scored 5 points within the first 2 minutes of the half, and Jody Trapp knocked down a 3 to give the Bearcats a 42-31 lead with 17 minutes left to go in the game. After a brief Lehman spurt, the lead ballooned back up to 11 with Myleka Garnett hitting two free throws, and Stamatiades driving to the basket from the right wing for a layup with 12:33 left in the game.

Unfortunately for Baruch, Stamatiades sprained her ankle landing on her layup. The Bearcats would never record a field goal the rest of the game.

After Jody Trapp hit a pair of free throws Baruch's next possession, the Bearcats went through a 6 minute stretch of 7 turnovers---many unforced---a blocked 3, and no other shots attempted.

While Baruch was folding, Lehman was beginning to play inspired basketball. Kathy Santiago hit a runner in the lane, Sally Nnamani deflected an errant pass to herself for an uncontested fast break, Kim Kelly was left under the basket for a layup off the Baruch full-court press, and Santiago was able to make a pass to a cutting Monique Sampson for an easy layup.

After two more Baruch free throws, Sally Nnamani made a "player of the year" type play, starting on the right baseline, dribbling hard to the middle, spinning away from the basket, and unleashing a behind the back, over the head pass into the arms of Monique Sampson for an easy layup, cutting the lead to 51-48.

A Kathy Santiago steal and layup, cut the lead to one on the next possession, and a Santiago layup the possession after gave Lehman an improbable 1 point lead with 4:36 to go.

Meanwhile, Baruch was still in the midst of a miserable collapse. Stamatiades returned to miss an open layup, and make two passes stolen by Lehman down the stretch. Racquel Reid missed an uncontested 3, and Naesha Tyler-Moore dribbled the basketball right into Kim Kelly's outstretched arms with a minute to go. Baruch's defense was steadfast, not allowing any Lehman points after Santiago's layup. After a Nnamani miss, the Bearcats had one final shot at surviving the game, and winning the championship.

Unfortunately, even Baruch's coaching staff choked with the game in the balance. Off a timeout, Baruch's coach Machli Joseph surprisingly decided to have his 5-2 point guard Jody Trapp race the length of the floor while guarded by the 5-11, and ultra athletic Nnamani. Trapp never got a good look at the basket, and her last second shot attempt was swatted away by Sampson.

After the final buzzer sounded, the ecstatic Lehman Lightning stormed the court and embraced on the floor, realizing that they had come back from 11 points down to win the CUNYAC Championship, and advance to the Division 3 NCAA tournament.

Despite scoring only 10 points, Monique Sampson was named MVP of the game, and of the entire tournament. She added 9 rebounds and the very key game-clinching block. The Player of the Year, Sally Nnamani was shut down to the tune of 8 points on 3-18 shooting, including 1-10 on 3's, but she did record 4 blocked shots in the 1st half, keeping the game close. Kathy Santiago scored 10 points, recorded 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Tiara Carroll led Lehman in scoring with 14, and also had 2 blocks. She joined Sampson on the All CUNYAC Tournament Team.

As for the Bearcats, their collapse likely ends their season. With a 22-9 record in a weak conference, they will likely be sitting on their couches when the NCAA tournament starts March 1st. The Bearcats committed an unsightly 17 turnovers in the 2nd half, and were held without a field goal for the final 12:33. Being that Baruch had gone undefeated in CUNYAC play the last two years, reeling off 31 straight conference wins in that span, their implosion is as stunning as it is epic. Baruch was heavily favored, and many believed was dangerous heading into the tournament. They were led by Racquel Reid, and Dominique McClendon, both named to the All Tournament Team. Reid finished with 12 points, McClendon with 10. Stamatiades scored 11, but only had the bucket in which she injured her ankle in the 2nd half.

NYCGATORfan

Considering they were only down 2 to the #2 team in the nation with about 10 minutes left in the game, not a bad showing at all by Lehman in this year's tournament.

atn alum

Posting merely to say I made the first post of 2008 on the women's boards (yes, TOTALLY pathetic, I know)...also will be the first post on this conference board in nearly 9 months?

CUNYAC FANS...WHERE ARE YOU???

NYCGATORfan

We're here...it's just that with the exception of Baruch looking as strong as usual, there isn't too much to get excited about yet  :(

Zak Ivkovic

Excellent game on tap tonight at Staten Island with Baruch visiting. Should be the best game in the league thus far in 2007-08...

NYCGATORfan

I saw Lehman play against Brooklyn and their defense is just as long and obnoxious as it was last year. They're a big, strong team but they become way too jumper happy against smaller teams; Nnamani especially. Lehman-Baruch looks like the eventual CUNYAC Championship Game although Staten Island may throw their name into the mix.

NYCGATORfan

I was wondering, Quandra Rogers hasn't played this year for Medgar Evers has she? Is she ineligible or has she transferred? Does anyone know of her situation?