2002-2003 CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championships

Women's Quarterfinals - February 22nd, 2003

Staten Island 85, Medgar Evers 27    ●BOX_SCORE
New York, NY - The College of Staten Island, the #2 team in the NCAA Atlantic Region, took the first step towards the NCAA Championships with an easy 85-27 win over Medgar Evers College in the women's quarterfinals of the 38th Annual CUNY Athletic Conference / Con Edison Basketball Championships held at Baruch College.

"We're excited to get the first game over with and get ready for the semifinals," said CSI head coach Marguerite Gualtieri, the CUNYAC Coach of the Year. "The seniors led us today, but it was a balanced effort. I was able to go deeper into our bench than usual, and that gives the team confidence."

One of the aforementioned seniors, Keisha Cook (Staten Island, NY), exploded for a season high 26 points to lead Staten Island (21-5). The 5'7" forward also had nine rebounds and six assists in the game. Senior guard April Nelson (Staten Island, NY) and sophomore forward Debra Pasquale (Staten Island, NY) each had 12 points, with Pasquale grabbing 11 rebounds as well. Medgar Evers (4-22), who won a first round game two days prior over Brooklyn College to get into the quarterfinals, was held to a .189 shooting percentage. The #9 seeded Cougars were led by freshman forward Thelma Herbert (Brooklyn, NY) with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Dolphins advance to Tuesday's semifinals where they will meet host Baruch.

"Baruch is a scrappy team," said Gualtieri, who has played in the CUNYAC final in each of her previous four seasons. "They hustle, play with intensity and take care of the ball. We're looking forward to the challenge."

Baruch 53, CCNY 49    ●BOX_SCORE
New York, NY - The second quarterfinal of the day, #4 versus #5 matchup was as good a battle as anticipated with seven lead changes and five ties, but ultimately the lower seed, Baruch won out on their home court, beating CCNY 53-49. The Bearcats now advance to the semifinals of the 38th Annual CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championships for the first time since 1998.

Trailing by two points, 49-47 with :36 seconds to go, CCNY sealed their fate when senior forward Lauren Cargill (Valley Stream, NY) drove to the basket and overreacted to a traveling call, resulting in two made technical free throws by Baruch guard Stephanie Trahan.

Trahan (Inwood, NY) led all scorers with 17 points with the 5'4" all-star guard also adding five rebounds, four assists and nine steals. Her classmate Jamees Wright had 13 points, nine steals, seven boards and four assists.

"Going with a small lineup really helped us at the end of the game," said Baruch head coach Bob DiNardo. "I'm proud of the defensive effort we put forth. It was strong from start to finish."

CUNYAC's all-time leading scorer, City College's Lauren Cargill was held to 14 points in the game, pushing her career total to 2,261, pending possible postseason action. Junior center Rahmat Balogun (Brooklyn, NY) and senior forward Samantha Halpern (Sheldon, CT) and each had 14 points and double-digit rebounds 17 and 11 respectively. As a team the Lady Beavers outrebounded the Bearcats 56-34, but Baruch had 24 less turnovers.

"We won the first game," continued DiNardo. "Now, we're just going to have fun. Staten Island is the best team CUNY has had in years and we're not afraid to play the best."

Baruch moves on to face Staten Island in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 25 at Baruch College's ARC Arena at 5:30 pm. The other two semifinalists will be determined later day.

York 47, Lehman 45    ●BOX_SCORE
New York, NY - York College has won only nine games this season - all against CUNY competition - eight during the regular season and one today in the quarterfinals of the 38th Annual CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championship. York beat Lehman College 47-45.

York (9-13) was led by sophomore guard Tashana Watson (Queens, NY) with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. Senior all-star guard Garrianne Brown (Brooklyn, NY) added 11 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Freshman center Tara Grubbs (Freeport, NY) also scored 11 points for the third-seeded Cardinals, who held the Lightning scoreless for the final 5:30 of the game, excepting a buzzer-beating three pointer that cut the final deficit to two points.

"We got Melissa in foul trouble, which was one of our top priorities," said sixth-year York head coach Jackie Smith. "We knew that without her we could beat them inside and outhustle them. We're bigger than them and we wanted to use that."

One year removed from an appearance in the championship final, Lehman (8-18) ended a disappointing season in which the Lightning dropped from second to sixth in the standings. CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Melissa Escalera (Bronx, NY) was plagued with foul trouble and held to only eleven points and five rebounds – just half of her average output. She was the only Lehman player in double figures. Sophomore guard Kathy Santiago (Bronx, NY) had nine points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and five steals.

"We have to come hard at Hunter on Tuesday," stated Smith. "They rely on their outside shooting because they're limited in the post and we have to pressure the guards. Our two seniors, Garrianne [Brown] and Nicole [Perry] are not ready to hang up their jerseys."

Hunter 74, John Jay 51    ●BOX_SCORE
New York, NY - After getting off to a slow start, defending champion Hunter College topped number seven seed John Jay College 74-51 in the final quarterfinal of the 38th Annual CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championships at Baruch College.

"We came out a little flatfooted today," said Hunter's ten-year head coach Jackee Meadow. "But we stepped it up in the second half. We switched up the lineup and went with a smaller and quicker team. That proved to be more successful."

With one minute remaining in the first half, Hunter (17-9), the second seed, took control extending a two-point lead to a 31-22 score at the break. Junior Jen Agosto (Brooklyn, NY) had all of her 10 points by the break. The Hawks put the clamps on the Bloodhounds with a 27-3 run over a span that encompassed both halves.

Senior guard Jezel Rodriguez (Bronx, NY) had a strong game with 17 points (on 7-12 shooting) with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Senior forward Jen Rogers (Brooklyn, NY) chipped in with 15 points.

"Jezel was outstanding for us today," claimed Meadow. "She played three different positions on the court and took the team on her shoulders in the second half."

John Jay (12-15) was led by sophomore guard Tiffany Crippen (Bronx, NY), who scored 14 points. She was the only Bloodhound in double figures.

The Hawks will face York in the second semifinal on Tuesday, February 25th, at 7:30 pm at Baruch College. Preceding that contest is a matchup of #1 Staten Island (21-5) and #5 Baruch (18-8) at 5:30 pm. Both games will be broadcast on WNYE Radio (91.5 FM) starting at 7:00 pm.

"York is an aggressive team and they're great on the boards," continued Meadow. "I'm pretty sure that they're going to try to pound it inside on us in the halfcourt."