Saturday, March 5, 2011

South Rises In CACC With Holy Family and Goldey-Beacom Semifinals Win

(Guru's note -- the CACC tournament story is direct from the DII conference website but the Guru at the bottom will handle the DIII teams playing in the NCAA tournament)

PHILADELPHIA – Holy Family University and Goldey-Beacom College will battle for the 2010-11 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Championship Saturday afternoon at Holy Family's Campus Center in Northeast Philadelphia.

Holy Family, the top seed from the South Division, upended North No. 2 Caldwell College, 83-62, in Friday's semi-final round. GBC advanced after a 62-57 victory over the North top seed, Bloomfield College. The championship game is slated for 4:00 pm Saturday afternoon.

The last time these teams met, the Lightning ended two Holy Family win streaks with a 64-51 win on Jan. 13 in the Campus Center. The loss snapped HFU's NCAA record 110-game regular-season conference win steak and also ended a 71-game home winning streak. Sophomore forward Irene Hudson tallied 19 points to lead GBC, while classmate Devonne Richardson registered 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

The host Tigers got off to a quick start against Caldwell, scoring the first 10 points of the game. Sophomore guard Torey Jones helped the Cougars get back in the game by scoring 14 of Caldwell's first 17 points to pull her team to within two, 19-17 with 12:37 on the clock. Holy Family, ranked 15th nationally and first in the East Region, regained control with a 13-4 run, capped by a three-pointer from Megan Gibson. The lead grew to as many as 14 points en route to a 47-33 lead at the break.

Following a basket by junior forward Kaitlyn Lambert to open the second half, Holy Family's Samantha Thompson notched eight consecutive points, including a pair of threes, to put the Tigers on top, 55-35. The Cougars weren't able to get closer than 17 the rest of the way, as Holy Family led by as many as 28 points.

Thompson paced Holy Family with 21 points while going 5-of-8 from three-point range, while senior forward Catherine Carr added 16 points despite playing only 23 minutes due to foul trouble. Sophomore forward Erin Mann contributed 12 points and eight boards. Jones finished with a game-high 26 points for Caldwell while making four three-pointers, while senior guard Kirsty Leedham registered 16 points.

A Jacinda Jones triple in the waning moments capped Goldey-Beacom's upset over Bloomfield. The Lightning are the No. 3 seed in the South and were coming off a first round win over South No. 2 University of the Sciences. Sophomore forward Devonne Richardson had 13 points in the second half and led all scorers with 15 while also pitching in 10 rebounds and three assists.

Senior guard Janae Weldon knocked down three three-point field goals to finish with 11 points and also recorded four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Jones finished with nine, including the big three with 23 seconds left on the clock to ice the game. On the interior, sophomore forward Akilah Sewell and senior forward Arielle Alford commanded the paint.

Sewell finished with nine points, nine rebounds, five blocks and one steal, and Alford grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds while scoring four and collecting one block.

GBC held all five Bloomfield starters in single-digits as the Deacons, ranked tenth in the East Region, stayed in the game with great bench play, including 14 points by Dre'Shonda Williams and 13 points and three assists by Ivettlis Castro. Senior forward Tiffany McDaniel had a team-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points and two blocks.

Bloomfield opened the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 33-31 lead at the 17:20 mark, but the Lightning took the game over by going on a 12-0 surge over the next 6:16 to go up 43-33. GBC led by as many as 11 (50-39) after a pair of free-throws by Sewell with 9:35 left to play.

The Deacons scored 16 of the game's next 24 points to pull within three, 58-55 with just 48 seconds left in regulation. That is when GBC moved the ball around to work the clock, and with just nine seconds left on the shot clock and 23 seconds showing on the game clock, Jones buried her third three-pointer of the game.

2010-11 CACC Women's Basketball Tournament

Quarter-Finals – Monday, Feb. 28
N#1 Bloomfield 56, N#4 Dominican 42
N#2 Caldwell 65, N#3 Felician 54
S#1 Holy Family 72, S#4 Philadelphia 58
S#3 Goldey-Beacom 57, S#2 USciences 54

Semi-Finals - Friday, March 4 at Holy Family University
Holy Family 83, Caldwell 62
Goldey-Beacom 62, Bloomfield 57

Championship Game – Saturday, March 5 at Holy Family University
Holy Family vs. Goldey-Beacom – 4:00 pm

NCAA Division III Tourney

Katie Young had 24 points and 15 rebounds but Neumann University fell to host Lebanon Valley 83-68 Friday in Annville, Pa., in an NCAA Division III opening round game.

Erica Marvel had 18 points and Bethany Humenik scored 10 for the Knights (20-8) which had beaten Immaculata to win the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

Suzie Noyes scored 18 points for the Dutchwomen (26-2).

Lebanon Valley will host Randolph-Macon in the second round.

Elsewhere, Muhlenberg (22-5), the Centennial Conference champions, advanced on Alexandra Chili's 3-pointer with 1.0 seconds left to give the Mules a 64-63 win over Williams. They advanced to play host Rochester, a 70-52 winner over Daniel Webster in upstate New York.

"It's hard to describe," Chili said of her winning shot in comments posted on the Muhlenberg team's web page. "It's a great feeling having everyone rush the court. They lifted me up; then dropped me. I hope not too many people noticed that.

"The NCAA tournament is something you work for all season. It's really a reward because each game is never promised, so I'm glad we're able to continue our season."

Williams finished at 21-6.

Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins (22-5) eliminated Richard Stockton 76-68 in a first-round game at Newport News, Va., on the campus of Christopher Newport. The Ospreys (17-10) from Pomona and the New Jersey Athletic Conference got 21 points from Aspen Price-Perry and 13 each from LaTonya Oliver and Che'Na Thompson.

The winning Blue Jays were led by :Lyndsay Burton, who scored 31 points.

It was the Ospreys' first NCAA appearance since 2006.

Cherelle Simmons had 15 points and 12 rebounds -- her 11th double double -- but DeSales fell in the first round to host SUNY Geneseo 62-51.

The Freedom Conference champs finished 19-9.

-- Mel

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

West Chester And Kutztown Fall in PSAC-East Sectionals

By Mel Greenberg

Both area teams were eliminated in Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference quarterfinal action Tuesday night in the East Division games.

Third-seeded West Chester (20-7) fell at second-seeded Millersville, 70-65, while fourth-seeded Kutztown finished at 15-12 after losing 80-66 at top-seeded Bloomsburg.

The semifinals and finals will be held at Bloomsburg (22-5) with Millersville (22-5) opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday night against Edinboro (24-3), the West top seed, before the Huskies play West three-seed California (Pa.) at 7:30 p.m.

The Vulcans (21-6) pulled the lone upset on the road Monday ending second-seeded Indiana (Pa.)’s season at 19-8 with a 61-51 triumph.

Cal’s Kayla Smith scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while shooting 8-of-11 from the field. Amy Johns scored 14 points and Ryah Gadson scored 12.

Edinboro grabbed an easy 75-51 win over fourth-seeded Mercyhurst (15-15), ruining the Lakers’ first ECAC tournament appearance.



The Fighting Scots maintained their season-long balanced attack on offense with Samantha Blazetic and Kiara Brown each scorinfg 15 points.

Raven Metz and Darche' Jackson both scored 12 points.

Here are accounts of both Tuesday games gleamed directly off the websites of West Chester and Kutztown with some Guru editing in the interest of space:

Millersville Subdues West Chester

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Megan Stewart and Alex Lennon each scored 14 points, and Allison Hostetter finished with a double-double (11 points, 15 rebounds), but host Millersville outlasted visiting West Chester, 70-65, in a PSAC women’s basketball quarterfinal round matchup inside Pucillo Gym Tuesday evening.

Stewart knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the game to draw visiting West Chester into a tie with host Millersville, 60-60. However, the Marauders rang up the next nine points to move out to a comfortable lead.

Aurielle Mosley (18 points, 11 rebounds) converted a layup with four minutes left to give Millersville the lead for good.

Domonique Stroman (12 points) hit a jumper in the lane and Gabrielle Styles (7 points) dropped in a baseline jumper at the 2:24 mark to give the Marauders a 66-60 advantage. All three Millersville baskets followed high percentage shots by West Chester (20-7) that did not fall.

“I think Millersville hit some big time shots down the stretch,” West Chester head coach Deirdre Kane said. “We hung around. We didn’t go anywhere.

“I stayed with the zone because I didn’t want to see the ‘Mashira-dishes-to-Mosley’ show, if I went to a man-to-man.”

Millersville put four players in double figures. Mashira Newman finished with 15 points and Sophia Waters scored 11.

Lennon added seven rebounds and four blocked shots to her 14-point effort, offensively.

Bloomsburg Brings Career Finish To Kutztown Senior Stars

BLOOMSBURG, PA – The curtain has closed on the careers of seniors Melissa McQuade and Meredith Starr as the Kutztown University women's basketball team dropped an 80-66 decision to Bloomsburg University Tuesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal match at Nelson Field House.

The two seniors combined for 25 points and after being subbed out in the final minutes, were found embracing one another in a career-ending hug as current members of the Kutztown women's basketball team. The pair of roommates and best friends off the court have built a bond and chemistry between them over the past four years that finding each other on the court has almost become a task they could do in their sleep.

“Melissa is such a great person to play with and just a great person overall,” said Starr. “On the court, we have figured out where each other are on the floor at all times. Even if I close my eyes I could probably tell you where she is on the floor. I know exactly when she's going to cut, I know exactly when she's going to pass, and I know exactly when she's going to shoot. I couldn't have asked for anything else when coming to KU four years ago.”

McQuade certainly had an outstanding career as she cemented her legacy as arguably the greatest player in Kutztown University women's history. McQuade is Kutztown's all-time leading scorer (1,624 points) and rebounder (973) in program history. In addition to leading the Golden Bears in scoring and rebounding, McQuade is third on the all-time 3-point list with 152, fourth on the all-time steals list with 207, and fifth on the all-time assist list with 342. McQuade has led the Golden Bears in scoring in each of the last three seasons and helped KU to the PSAC playoffs for a third straight year. McQuade has recorded 30 double-doubles, scored in double figures 84 times, and helped the Golden Bears win 65 games during her career.

Looking back over her career, a smile came to McQuade's face that lit up the dimly lit bus on her final road-trip back to KU. She has enjoyed everything that Kutztown offered, both on and off the basketball court.

“It has been awesome and just a great experience,” said McQuade. The teammates I've had over the years have been great. I am going to miss playing at Kutztown so much. I wouldn't trade it for anything.”

This year, McQuade led Kutztown in scoring (16.9 points per game), rebounding (9.0), steals (60), blocked shots (19), and assists (102). A two-time All-PSAC East first team selection, McQuade was named the Lehigh Valley Small College Coaches' Organization Player of the Year this season. She was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team and All-District II first team.

The Golden Bears fought to the final whistle against Bloomsburg as they refused to give up and truly left everything on the floor. After being down by as many as 18 early in the second half and 67-53 with 7 minutes, 4 seconds remaining, KU dug in on the defensive end and started the comeback.

Fittingly, McQuade started the run for the Golden Bears with a mid-range jumper and Starr capped off the eventual 10-0 run with a layup of her own to bring the game to four at 67-63 with 4:11 remaining. That toughness and desire to win has carried this year's edition of Kutztown basketball and head women's basketball coach Janet Malouf couldn't be any prouder of her senior class.

“They've done a tremendous job,” said Malouf. Meredith and Melissa are our hardest workers and are also our two best players. Every day at practice was a joy to come to because we knew they were going to give everything they had. I can truly say that they are two of my favorite people and I am looking forward to continuing the relationship and the friendship I have with those two.”

When asked about at their time after KU, it was shocking the similarities between the two scholar-athletes who both hold an impressive 3.94 GPA. Despite the intense eight-hour drive between their hometowns of Pittsburgh and Richmond, VA, both seniors talked about keeping in touch on almost a daily basis with even references to being in each other's weddings.

“She's my best friend,” said Starr. “We weren't roommate's freshman year, but we were basically roommates who lived right next to each other because we were always together with basketball. We have lived together ever since and it has just been great. I know we'll stay in touch after we graduate. She'll probably be in my wedding someday and I can already see us raising each other's kids to be little basketball players.”

Starr also ends her career with impressive numbers. Starr finished her career fifth on the all-time list for made 3-pointers with 107 and third on the all-time assist list with 389. She has scored in double figures 21 times during her career. Starr scored 708 points during her time in the maroon-and-gold.

“Meredith has been the best point guard I have ever played with,” said McQuade. “I always know where she is on the court and where she likes to shoot from, and I'm going to miss having that player to rely on who I am can play with so comfortably.”

KU also lost its third senior Kristen Murray earlier in the year to injury. She had been averaging 9.6 ppg until she went down in KU's first conference game of the season.

In Tuesday’s game, freshman Andrea Sisson led the team with 17 points, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Both of which tied her career-highs.Steph Zewe added 11 points for the Golden Bears and led the team with seven rebounds.

The Huskies were led by sophomore Kayla Oxenrider who had a game-high 29 points off 8-for-16 shooting including 5-for-9 from 3-point range. She also made eight free throws. Dana Wieller had 17 points and Kelsey Gallagher added 16 points. Alyssa Flanagan had a game-high nine rebounds.

Swarthmore’s Stockbower A National Finalist
(Courtesy of an email report from the Garnet)

SALEM, Va. - Senior Kathryn Stockbower of the Swarthmore College women's basketball team has been named a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club announced on Tuesday.

The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. This year's class marks the 14th year the award has been presented.

Stockbower is aiming to become the second member of the Swarthmore College women's basketball program to win the award; Heather Kile '02 won the coveted trophy in 2002.

The senior captain from Fort Washington, Pa. capped off an illustrious career with a record-breaking final season at the College. For the 2010-11 season, she led the Centennial Conference in rebounding average (12.4 rpg), finished fourth in scoring average (14.8 ppg), fifth in shooting percentage (48%) and 16th in the nation in rebounding average.

During the season, Stockbower broke numerous Swarthmore program records and reached several national and conference milestones. With 83 career doubles-doubles, she is the all-time NCAA Division III leader, breaking the record with her 80th career double-double at Johns Hopkins on February 5. She also became Swarthmore's all-time leading rebounder against Muhlenberg on February 2. She finished the season as Swarthmore's all-time leading rebounder (1,335) and third-leading scorer (1,677), as well as the Centennial Conference's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. Stockbower is one of only three players in Centennial Conference history to reach 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

A double major in biology and German studies, Stockbower has compiled numerous academic and athletic awards over her career.

Her accolades in the classroom include 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America and All-District II First Team, 2009-10 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Third Team, 2009-10 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II First Team, 2008-09 and 2009-10 Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic All-Star Teams, 2009-10 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Basketball Player of the Year and 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll selection.

On the court, Stockbower is one of only two players in Centennial Conference history to be named to the All-Centennial Conference First Team for four seasons (the other is Swarthmore's Kile). Over her career, she has been honored as a 2010-11 D3Hoops.com Second Team Preseason All-American, 2009-10 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, 2009-10 D3Hoops.com Fourth Team All-American, and 2008-09 Centennial Conference Player of the Year.

A remarkably consistent player over her four-year career, Stockbower scored in double figures in a Centennial Conference record 73 consecutive games and has been named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week seven times for her career.

Holy Family Ranked 15th

The Tigers, heading into this weekend’s showdown in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women’s, as well as men’s, semifinals and finals at Holy Family, moved up two spots to 15th in Tuesday’s USAToday/ESPN Division II coaches poll while also holding the top spot in the NCAA Division II East region.

Holy Family (22-3) the South Division top seed, will open play at noon Friday against North No. 2 Caldwell (21-5).

Goldey-Beacom (16-11), the South No. 2 will meet North top seed Bloomfield (19-8) at 2 p.m.

The winners will play for the championship at Campus Center in Northeast Philadelphia Saturday at 4 p.m.

-- Mel

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

CACC Tourney: Holy Family And Goldey-Beacom On Collision Course

By Mel Greenberg

Can Goldey-Beacom’s Lightning strike twice?

After snapping Holy Family’s NCAA-record 110-game win streak in regular season conference games in January at the Tigers’ Campus Center in Northeast Philadelphia, the two teams can meet again at the same site but this time to decide the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament.

Holy Family (22-3), the top seed out of the South Division, advanced with a 72-54 home win Monday night over fourth-seeded Philadelphia University (15-12).

Goldey-Beacom (16-11), the third seed, again rode the upset route, this time beating host and second seed University of Sciences 57-54 at the Devil’s Bobby Morgan Arena in Southwest Philadelphia.

USP (21-6) could still get an at-large bid to the NCAA field.

Before a rematch can occur, Holy Family and Goldey-Beacom must first deal with an opponent from the North Division in Friday’s semifinals beginning at noon.

Goldey-Beacom in the second game at 2 p.m. will have to get past Bloomfield College (19-8), the top seed out of the North, which advanced at home in northern New Jersey with a 56-42 win over fourth-seeded Dominican College (9-18) as Robyn Burton scored 13 points for the Lady Deacons.

The championship is Saturday at 4 p.m. and Thursday’s awards banquet will be at Citizens Bank Park.

Caldwell College (21-5), the second seed, tied a school record for seasonal wins set by three teams previously (including 2003), by putting away third seed Felician College 65-54 in Caldwell, N.J.

The Cougars, who meet Holy Family at noon, pulled away from a narrow 29-28 lead at halftime over the Golden Falcons as Torey Jones scored 15 points, while Kirsty Leedham scored 14 points and Jeanette Anderson scored 14.

Felician’s Quay Baskerville, whose trey at the buzzer produced the Golden Falcons’ halftime lead, had 29 points and 10 rebounds.

Back in the South, Holy Family had to fight off a 15-point deficit that existed in the first to the Rams, who led 31-27 at the break.

But the Tigers roared the rest of the way with a 45-27 advantage.

Erin Mann had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers, while Catherine Carr scored 18 points, Samantha Thompson 13, and Lindsey Tennett had 10 points.

Holy Family had 24 assists on the night.

Philadelphia U. had a balanced attack with Stephanie Agger scoring 15 points, Kate Brennan and Christine Wooding 11 each, and Kristen Blye 10.

The day started on a positive note for University of Sciences, whose Caitlin Shaw was named CACC player of the year and whose Paul Stadelberger, a former Philly U. assistant to Tom Shirley, was named coach of the year.

Holy Family’s Carr also made the first team while Philly U’s Brennan and the Tigers’ Mann made the second team.

USP’s Colleen Christian, Holy Family’s Lauren Peter’s and Philly U’s Wooding made the third team.

Chestnut Hill’s Lindsey Alexander was an honorable mention honoree.

But the Devils’ night did not go as well.

Christian scored 18 points for USP, shooting 7-for-12 from the field. She had four treys to gain 51 for the season to become the third woman and first since 2003 to get 50 or more in a season for the Devils.

Shaw scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds.

Goldey-Beacom’s Jacinta Jones scored 17 points and Devonne Richardson scored 13.

USP’s undoing was at the foul line where the Devils were a mediocre 5-for-14 while the Lightning shot 17-for-22.

Still, there was a chance with the score tied 50-50 with 1: 04 left in the game and another on Christian’s shot to make it 54-54 with 11.08 seconds left.

But then Janae Weldon was fouled. She made the first, missed the second before the Devils turned the ball over and Weldon hit two more shots to finish the game.

Division III Pairings

Four area teams have made the NCAA Division III tournament field with action set to begin Friday.

Neumann University, which won the Colonial States Athletic Conference title and automatic bid over Immaculata will be in the quad in Annville, Pa., playing host Lebanon Valley, which won its first Commonwealth title.

Bridgewater, Mass., meets Radolph-Macon and the winners play the second round Saturday.

Johns Hopkins, the Centennial top-seed which fell to Muhlenberg in the championship, will meet Richard Stockton, an at-large pick out of the New Jersey Athletic Conference in Newport News, Va., where host Christopher Newport will meet York (Pa.).

In Rochester, N.Y. Muhlenberg will play Williams while Daniel Webster will meet host Rochester.

DeSales, formerly Allentown U., which won the Freedom Conference for the fourth straight time, will play host Geneseo State in Geneseo, N.Y., with Babson to meet Medaille.

The Guru will update this with records in the next day or so.

-- Mel