The City College of New York women's basketball team (4-18 Overall, 2-8 CUNYAC) picked up their best victory of the 2010-2011 season on Saturday afternoon, turning back the Bloodhounds of John Jay College (10-12 Overall, 7-4 CUNYAC) by a score of 86-77 in overtime. With the victory, City College improved to a record of 3-4 under head coach Jackee Meadow, and the team's playoff chances increased dramatically. With three CUNYAC games to go, CCNY is currently one half game head of Medgar Evers College, with the Cougars sporting a 1-10 conference mark and having two league games left.
Prior to the game, the City College of New York athletic department held its second annual Alumni game. Former CCNY basketball players such as Rynae Rasley, Lauren Cargil, Samantha Halpern, Jennifer Ortiz, Ashley Straughn, Dana Warner, Obinna Efobi, Robert Barker, Daryl France, Andrew Mungin, Vernon Dantzler, Kevin Lowe, Steve Souma, and Larry Woords all participated in the contest, evoking memories of past City College games.
When the game started, it was the Bloodhounds getting out to a fast start, racing out to a 17-11 lead with 8:27 remaining in the opening session. The Beavers would then make a run over the next 5:31 though, putting together a 16-2 run to grab a 27-19 lead. The Bloodhounds would then finish the half strong, going on a 6-0 run to pull to within two points – 27-25 – as the teams headed into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half, the Bloodhounds picked up where they left off in the opening session, starting the half on a 13-3 run to grab a 38-30 lead. It seemed as though John Jay College may indeed pull away, but the Beavers clawed and fought and put together an 18-4 run to jump ahead 48-42 in what was clearly turning into a wild game.
In the final minute of regulation, with the game tied at 60, Donika Rexhepi would convert on a layup and draw a foul, giving her a chance for a three-point play. The White Plains, NY product would nail the free throw, putting her team up 63-60. John Jay's Allana Beddoe would answer Rexhepi's heroics with three-pointer, tying the game at 63 apiece. On CCNY's next possession, Alexis Billups was fouled and would convert on one of her two free throw attempts, and on the Bloodhounds' next possession, Jessica Lirio – who entered John Jay's 1,000 point club with a game-high 30 points – would make good on a layup to put her team up one – 65-64 with 22 tickets left.
After the Beavers brought the ball into the front court, CCNY head coach Jackee Meadow would take a timeout with 10 seconds left. Following the timeout, City College's Sajidah Pressley was fouled on a shot attempt, and would go to the line for a chance to tie the game or give her team the lead. After connecting on the first free throw, she misfired on the second one, but the ball went out of bounds and was last touched by a Bloodhound, so CCNY – with no timeouts remaining – would have a chance to win the game. Pressley would take the inbound pass and drive to the hoop, but her layup was no good, and the game was heading into overtime.
In the extra session, the Beavers scored 21 points – seven by Pressley – and pulled away from the Bloodhounds, cementing their second conference win of the year and giving the team's dream of a CUNYAC postseason berth some life.
In the victory for CCNY, it was Syreeta Williams finishing with a team-high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds. Pressley added 18 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds, and White Plains products Donika Rexhepi and Simone Tharkur combined for 30 points and 13 rebounds on the afternoon. CCNY hit 37.5 percent of its shots on the day, and committed only 14 turnovers.
Despite the loss for John Jay, Lirio was locked in all afternoon long, nailing 12 of her 24 shots and finishing with 30 points to go along with eight rebounds. Chantelle Smith also helped out with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Dominique Grice added a double-double with 14 assists and 12 points.
CCNY's women's basketball team will return to action on Monday at 5:00pm as Baruch College comes to the Nat Holman Gymnasium for a conference contest.