Quote from: balla4real78 on March 08, 2008, 11:16:36 AM
Wow, I think we would be going to far saying the best team of all-time in CUNY, that would be a little excessive. Good team, but not the greatest of all-time. I also dont see what the fuss is about playing Mary Washington in the first round, Baruch is no national power, they beat Messiah on a bad day at home, they havent beat anyone else, so I dont think they are on an even scale with Mary Washington, lets be realistic, if we want to talk about a game that shouldnt have been a first round match-up, #25 St. Norbert vs. #13 Stevens Point! Thats not a first round match-up.

Can you name a better CUNYac women's basketball team in the history of the conference? Considering the conference's lack of postseason success (Baruch's 05-06 team is the only CUNYac school to win a D3 game), the conference's dearth of impressive wins, and the fact that Baruch had some exceptional performances this year (only losing by two to a DII school, and beating a very talented Messiah team) is there anyone better?

Maybe Baruch's team from two years ago, but I doubt that there is some ultra-talented CUNY team from year's past that my statement is disrespecting. And if there is, let me know. History lessons are fun, and my knowledge of the CUNYac's past is pretty limited.

Of course! This year's Baruch team may be the most talented women's basketball team in the history of the Cuynyac!

I didn't see the game but it sounds like the main weakness the Bridges showed all year came up to bite them against City Tech. The Bridges have been soft interior defenders and extremely soft defensive rebounders all year. From what I heard on the radio, the Bridges got killed on the glass.

Jump shots can run hot and cold, but with the Bridges unable to get those boards, they must've been tight trying to catch up to the Yellow Jackets.

With all the athleticism Jean-Baptiste and Weismuller show, they still need to get tougher. It's just like in the NBA, no matter how athletic a frontcourt is, if it isn't tough, it will struggle in the postseason.


What an intriguing second round though!

Hunter vs York is one hell of a matchup, and John Jay vs City Tech will have a cinderella trip to the Finals.

There was a scary moment in the BC-Medgar game when Medgar Evers forward Donelle Lazare ended up landing on his head after a play and couldn't get back up. He was limp while the Medgar Evers staff helped him off the court.

Sprains and broken bones hurt, but landing on your head and possibly having a concussion is serious stuff. I think I speak for all of us by wishing him the best.

I took in the Brooklyn-Medgar Evers game last night. The Bridges had too much athleticism for the Cougars and recorded a number of easy shots in transition and on the offensive glass. When the Cougars packed in a zone to prevent points in the paint, Jean-Baptiste and Nisbett went bananas from downtown with Nisbett hitting 6-7 threes at one point. The Cougars played with a lot of grit and made a valiant comeback from a 20 point deficit to cut the lead to single digits but the Bridges made a number of clutch shots in the end to prevail.

Teams that are small and quick and get their offense in transition will have a hard time at beating BC because the Bridges have more firepower than any team in the conference. Big, long teams with athletic bigs that are discliplined on defense and willing to play in the post on offense will give the Bridges the most trouble.

Teams will always score some easy points on the Bridges because of their style of play but if a team can't get the ball inside against the Bridges and slow the game down a little, then BC will blow them out with a barrage of points.


I really like this Bridges team because their main six-man rotation is very diverse and very complementary. Jean-Baptiste is the obvious star because he runs, shoots, and jumps like a guard; handles like a forward; and is as long and tall as a center. Nisbett is a strong finisher and an explosive scorer, and McFarlane is incredibly athletic as the trigger man. Despite his athleticism, McFarlane is a pass first guard and looks for his offense by driving to the hoop instead of jacking up jumpers. Plus, McFarlane is a lethal pickpocket defender who isn't afraid to take charges either. He's one of the most complete guards in the conference.

Guerin isn't as athletic as his teammates but he's incredibly smart and clutch. For example when Medgar was on their comeback, Guerin realized the defender guarding him was 5-7 and he slid his way to the right box to hit a nifty post layup. He just has great court awareness. He's only a sophomore, but he's a really wise basketball player who does wonders for the team on defense and when the Bridges end up in a halfcourt set.

As for Medgar, it's hard to compete when you have only 3 non-freshman on the roster. Still, the Cougars look like they'll be all right in the future. They mostly played a lot of early-offense, fast break, and one-on-one stuff on offense, but with such a young team that probably gives them the best chance to win. With a year under them, the Cougars offense will probably get more complicated next year and their players have good athleticism and talent. Most importantly, they played hard throughout the game, especially in the second half. That's always nice to see from a team that's 1-18 and down by 20 points in a game. They have the right attitude they just desperately need experience.

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?

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.

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 

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.

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.

Throw in the conference's history of ineptness in the postseason, York is a pretty sizeable underdog is an understatement. They have 2 dynamic scorers in the pivot, a good perimeter shooter, and a crafty point guard so they have a chance. Even if they lose, the fact that they made it on such an incredible shot should be enough for the Cardinals to hang their hats on.

can't agree with you more allheartthere

Out of curiosity, does Baruch have any shot at all of earning an at-large?

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.

Wow...a halfcourt buzzer beating, game winning, championship clinching 3 pointer by York to win. Wow. I don't think I'll ever see anything that crazy again in my life. Simply, spectacular.