Lady Terriers keep pace in NEC chase

Beat Wagner ahead of Thursday's tilt with first-place FDU

February 1, 2022 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Alyssa Fisher and the St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball team will try to move closer to first place in the NEC Thursday night on Remsen Street. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

Share this:

The St. Francis women’s basketball team will roll into Teaneck, New Jersey on Thursday night with an eye on the top spot in the Northeast Conference.

Though the Terriers (11-7, 7-3 NEC) can’t overtake first-place Fairleigh Dickinson (12-8, 9-1), they can move within one game of the top spot in the conference and have a shot at home-court advantage throughout next month’s NEC Tournament.

SFC, which had to forfeit its first two NEC games due to COVID-19 protocols, has won seven of eight games since, including Sunday’s 80-69 triumph at Wagner in front of 140 fans at Staten Island’s Spiro Center.

It was the third win in a row for the Terriers, who stand two games behind FDU and one ahead of third-place St. Francis University (Pennsylvania) with seven league games remaining.

Former NEC Rookie of the Year Nevena Dimitrijevic led all scorers with 24 points and Khaleah Edwards and Ally Lassen added 15 points apiece as SFC completed a season sweep of the Seahawks (11-8, 5-5).

Brooklyn celebrated another win Sunday as the Long Island University women beat visiting Bryant, 49-39, behind 14 points and nine rebounds from Brandy Thomas.

Kiara Bell added 11 points for the Sharks (4-14, 4-6), who have won two in a row for the first time this year and boast an impressive 4-2 mark since an 0-12 start to the campaign.

With its recent run of success, LIU has climbed into eighth place in the conference standings. The top nine teams in the league will qualify for the NEC Tournament.

Issac Kante and the LIU Sharks dropped their second straight game Sunday at Bryant in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

On the men’s side, the LIU men suffered an 88-80 loss at Bryant in Smithfield, Rhode Island on Sunday, the Sharks’ second straight defeat and third in four games since a season-high four-game winning streak.

NEC Player of the Year candidate Ty Flowers had 23 points and five blocked shots in 24 minutes of court time, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs (12-8, 9-1) used an 11-0 second-half run to take the lead for good.

LIU (8-12, 5-5) has dropped to fourth place in the NEC standings, but will try to get back on the winning track here Thursday night vs. Sacred Heart at the Steinberg Wellness Center on Flatbush Avenue.

Over at SFC, the Terriers did their best to take down conference-leading Wagner at the Pope Center on Remsen Street Sunday, but endured a 72-69 setback in front of 357 fans.

Tedrick Wilcox Jr. had a great all-around game for the Terriers (6-15, 3-7) with 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

Michael Cubbage and Rob Higgins added 13 points each as SFC remained in a four-way tie for the final four postseason spots in t conference.

The Terriers can gain some separation from the pack Thursday night when they host FDU, which is also 3-7 in league play.

Nancy Pham’s 14-point effort vs. Baruch helped first-place Brooklyn College complete a perfect January and keep the Bulldogs unbeaten in CUNYAC action. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

In local Division III action, CUNYAC Player of the Year candidate Gianna Gotti scored 15 points and Nancy Pham added 14 as the Brooklyn College women’s basketball team completed a perfect January with last Friday’s 77-52 rout of league rival Baruch at the West Quad Center.

The Lady Bulldogs (13-2, 7-0 CUNYAC) have won seven games in a row and will bid for yet another victory Tuesday night John Jay College in Manhattan.

The BC men dropped their fourth in a row Sunday at John Jay with a 63-56 defeat, falling to 2-16 on the season.

The Bulldogs were also scheduled to host John Jay in a rematch Tuesday in Brooklyn.