STORY COURTESY OF CUNYAC SPORTS INFORMATION
The Bearcats came out in full force to open up the doubleheader of CUNYAC semifinal games, as they opposed the Hunter Hawks. A scorching hot Baruch team opened the first half on a 6-2 run when Player of the Year, Kristen Markoe, hit the first 3-pointer of the game to cut the deficit to one point. Unfortunately for the Hawks, this was the closest they would come to snatching the lead in the first half. The Bearcats improved on their already efficient shooting as Veronica Ganziknocked down a 3-pointer of her own to stretch the Baruch lead to 14-5.
The Bearcats shot over 46% from the field and over 66% from the free throw line. The largest lead of the half belonged to Baruch as they were up by 18 points with 1:30 remaining after Sheridan Taylorhit a three. The first half ended with Baruch leading 35-21.
Leading the way for Baruch in the first was Francess Henrywith nine points, four steals, and four rebounds. Also for Baruch, Iyana Abramshad seven points and three assists, while Sheridan Taylorscored seven points and recorded seven rebounds. On the other side of the ball, Joey Chan racked up ten points for the Hawks. 2015 CUNYAC Player of the Year Kristen Markoe had six points and seven rebounds.
In the second half, Veronica Ganzi got her third assist of the game when she threaded a strong pass into the paint where Francess Henry would snag it and finish off the play with the reverse layup.
Iyana Abrams recorded her 10th point of the game after finding the bottom of the net with a left-handed layup as she was fouled. Abrams then headed to the free-throw line where she completed the three-point play.
After raking in her second steal, Taylor sent the ball down court as Abrams led the fastbreak. Abrams eventually scored her 12th point of the game and Taylor recorded her 3rd assist as Baruch stretched their lead to a game-high 22 points.
Taylor recorded her 10th rebound with six minutes remaining in the game, securing a double-double for the game.
Baruch closed out with a 10-4 run to stretch their lead to 26 points. Ultimately, the Bearcats were victorious by a final score of 70-44.
"I'm very excited. This was the goal of our staff at the beginning of the year," said Interim Baruch coach KellyAnn Barrett, who is in her first season as head coach of the Bearcats. "Now is the time we've been waiting for."
Taylor finished the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and one block en route to being named Player of the Game. Iyana Abrams concluded her night with 15 points, five assists, and four steals. Francess Henry was the third Baruch player to end up with double-digit figures in the points category as she scored 14 with nine rebounds, six steals, and three blocks.
Joey Chan of Hunter had 15 points for the Hawks with five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Dimitra Thomopoulos scored 14 points and secured nine boards. Kristen Markoe ended her night with nine points and 12 rebounds.