Three-peat: Bulldogs headed to NCAAs

BC draws unbeaten Christopher Newport in opening round

February 28, 2023 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Brooklyn College women's basketball team celebrated its third straight CUNYAC title and trip to the Division III NCAA Tournament Friday. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

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Unbeaten through 15 games thus far in 2023, the Brooklyn College women’s basketball team will test its mettle against a squad that hasn’t lost a contest all season in the opening round of the Division III NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs (19-7) earned their third consecutive trip to the national championships last week, upending York College in the semifinals before completing their historic CUNYAC three-peat with a 64-58 triumph over John Jay Friday in front of 2,500 fans at CCNY’s Nat Holman Gymnasium.

Their reward for 46 consecutive conference wins and a trio of titles?

A Friday night date with regional host Christopher Newport University (26-0) in Newport News, Virginia.

“It was a great team win tonight, lots of big plays from our seniors all night. I am extremely proud of the entire team,” said BC head coach Alex Lang after his dynastic unit held on against the rival Bloodhounds in the final.

“Winning our third straight title and fourth in five seasons is a tribute to who has been a part of our program – players, coaches, and staff,” he added. “It’s been such a fun season, thanks to everyone from Brooklyn, our fans, and of course our team.”

The Bulldogs needed a late run to put away York last Wednesday at the West Quad Center, but appeared to have John Jay on the ropes late in Friday’s championship game before the Bloodhounds closed on them with a 12-2 run in the final moments of regulation.

Clinging to a 62-58 lead, the BC defense held up before senior Ericka James buried a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to secure the crown.

Senior Gianna Gotti, the newly minted CUNYAC Player of the Year and tournament most valuable player, poured in 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out six assists and added to her NCAA-leading steals total with six thefts for the Bulldogs, who haven’t lost since Dec. 30.

“This season as a whole has been an amazing experience. We worked so hard to get to where we are and earned this win,” gushed Gotti, who knocked down 4-of-7 3-pointers after putting up 19 points in the semifinal win.

“Being named MVP is an incredible honor and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates by my side every step of the way.”

James had 15 points in the final and Nancy Pham added 10 for BC, which will have its hands full Friday night one year after stunning Emmanuel College in last year’s opening-round game.

Top-seeded Christopher Newport had a blemish-free run to its fourth consecutive Coast-to-Coast Conference championship, outscoring its opponents by an average of just over 36 points per contest.

The survivor of Friday’s much-anticipated showdown will take on the winner of Elizabethton University (22-4) and Steven Institute of Technology (22-5) on Saturday.

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Josiah Harris and the St. Francis Brooklyn basketball team will begin their quest for an elusive NCAA Tournament berth Wednesday at FDU. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

In local Division I hoops news, the St. Francis Brooklyn men’s team dropped its regular-season finale to Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday afternoon in Hackensack, N.J., but the Terriers will begin their quest for a Northeast Conference title crown this week.

No. 7 seed SFC (14-15, 7-9 NEC) will have a quick rematch with second-seeded FDU (17-14, 10-6) Wednesday in the opening round of the NEC Tournament in Teaneck, N.J.

The Terriers lost both of their regular-season meetings to the Knights, including a 76-57 setback at The ARC on Jan. 5. Saturday’s rematch wasn’t any tighter.

Despite pulling with four points at the half, SFC suffered an 86-69 defeat.

Di’Andre Howell-South posted career bests of 18 points, six assists and four steals and Josiah Harris added 10 points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Terriers, who went 5-4 over their last nine league contests.

Over at Long Island University, the Sharks got a team-high 14 points from Tre’ Wood on Saturday, but suffered a regular season-ending 80-59 loss to Merrimack at Downtown’s Steinberg Wellness Center.

LIU (3-25, 1-15) still grabbed the No. 8 seed in the NEC Tournament and will visit the top-seeded Warriors (15-16, 12-4) just four days after getting swept in the regular-season series.

Merrimack also beat the Sharks, 76-59, in North Andover, Massachusetts on Feb. 2. The Warriors are eligible to compete in the league championships for the first time after three years competing against NEC opponents.

On the women’s side, NEC Tournament slots haven’t been settled yet.

LIU (6-21, 4-11) is ranked eighth in the NEC after winning three of its last four contests, including Saturday’s 58-54 triumph at Merrimack.

Mariah Elohim scored 17 points and Ashley Austin added 14 for the Sharks, who will be in New Britain, Connecticut Thursday night for their regular-season finale against Central Connecticut State.

Emaia O’Brien and the LIU women’s basketball team will be at CCSU Thursday for their regular-season finale. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

The SFC ladies will be battling it out with Merrimack for the No. 3 seed in the NECs when they visit the Warriors Thursday.

The Terriers (10-17, 9-6) will host an NEC Tournament game regardless, but would like to repeat their win over Merrimack at The ARC on Jan. 2, when Sheridan Kavanagh shot the lights out, going 7-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range.

The women’s NEC Tournament will kick off Monday with the quarterfinal round.