BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College women's basketball team earned a CUNY Athletic Conference victory, by cruising past CCNY, 85-58, in the APEX Main Gym, on Saturday afternoon. The Lightning have now won four games in a row, and nine out of the last 10.
It was a historical day as junior guard Jennifer Navarro (Jamaica, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) eclipsed the 1,000 point plateau for her career, on a three-point shot, with 2:55 remaining in the first half. Navarro is the first Lehman player to score 1,000 career points since Sally Nnamani ('09). "I feel very happy, very accomplished," Navarrao said. "I could not have done this without my teammates and coaches."
As a team, the Lightning (9-3, 4-1 CUNYAC) got off to a sluggish start as CCNY (2-10, 1-4 CUNYAC) jumped out to a 19-12, with 10:20 remaining in the first half. Lehman turned momentum into their favor by going on a 7-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back two-point field goals from junior forward Amani Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton), to tie the game at 19, with just over eight minutes left to play in the opening stanza. After the Beavers regained a one-point lead, Lightbourne countered with a jump-shot to put Lehman in the lead for good, 21-20, with just under eight minutes left until halftime.
With Lehman up by four, sophomore guard Amely Del Rosario (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) dished the ball out to Navarro, who nailed a wide-open three-point shot to eclipse the 1,000 point mark for her career, to put the Lightning up, 34-27. For Navarro, it was business as usual as she did not let her milestone impact her actions on the court. "I didn't think about it," Navarro said. "I just shot it, and it went in." Lehman took a 38-32 lead into the half.
The Lightning's momentum from the end of the first half carried them into the second. The home team went on an 11-0 run, in a span of just 1:07, to take a commanding 54-37 lead, with 17:22 left to play. Highlighted in that run was back-to-back steals by junior forward Karrin Walker (New York, N.Y./Richard R. Green), who hustled down the court and laid the ball up an in both times.
Later in the half, Del Rosario and Navarro combined for back-to-back three-point field goals to give the Lightning a 22-point lead, with 8:17 remaining in the game. The Beavers never made the game close again as Lehman went on to win, 85-58.
It was a balanced effort for the Lightning as five players scored in double figures. Del Rosario had a team-high 20 points, while dishing out a career-high 11 assists. She was aggressive on defense by forcing three steals and blocking two shots. For the third straight game, Walker tallied a double-double, with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Lightbourne scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, while junior forward Yarmese Jones (Astoria, N.Y./William C. Bryant) scored 14. Navarro's 17 points now puts her at 1,015 for her career.
The Lightning will travel to Old Westbury for a non-conference matchup with the Panthers, on Tuesday, at 6:00 p.m.
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