Kingsborough Wins 1st-Ever CC Women's Title, 62-53 Over BMCC!
In 2012 CUNYAC / Con Edison Community College Women's Basketball

KINGSBOROUGH 62, MANHATTAN 53 - BOXSCORE

A strong second half by sophomore CARLA BAENA led Kingsborough Community College to the 2012 CUNYAC/Con Edison Community College Women's Basketball Championship title tonight, with a 62-53 victory over Borough of Manhattan Community College. The Wave (11-15) won the school's first-ever championship in the 13th year of the event, the game with a full house on hand was played at the Robert F. Kennedy Gymnasium on the campus of Queensborough Community College in Bayside, NY.

Last year we lost by two points and the team and myself were crushed," said second year head coach RONETTA COPELAND. "But it just made us more hungry for the championships this year. Tonight I told the girls, its now or nothing, that nothing else matters. It was nice to have a lot of the sophomore' back and they knew this was they're chance to win it for the school and get a championship."

In the first half, the Panthers (9-18) held an 11-7 lead six minutes in when JKCC’s KRISTIN D’CHIUTIIS, the CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, almost single-handedly gave the Wave a six-point lead, 17-11 with a trey and two buckets, while fellow all-star SAMANTHA MANSOUR also drained a three-pointer during the two-minute run.

But of course, BMCC, who played tough against KCC in their two earlier matchups this season came right back and took a 21-20 lead with 6:51 remaning after four players put ten unanswered points up on the scoreboard. Then just minutes later KCC’s HILLARY ROMAN hit back-to-back threes on a pair of assists from D’Chiutiis to give the Wave a 30-21 advantage. As a team, KCC was 5-9 (56%) from long distance in the first half and led 36-27.

Mansour ended the period with 10 points, while D’Chiutiis was well on her way to a double-double with nine points and seven assists. Sophomore center CARLA BAENA also had a strong half with six points and a game-high eight rebounds.

All-Star DEANA FLEARY led BMCC in the first half with eight points. Guard AIYANA HARRIS had seven points and center GABRIELLE ALLEYNE grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to help keep the game close.

In the second half, the Panthers were able to cut the lead to three a few times and finally got it to two points, 55-53 with exactly two minutes remaining on a pair of free throws by Fleary, but the veteran KCC squad responded at the free throw line to keep the differential at more than one score. Inside, Baena has getting fouled and hit 3-6 and a basket to finally put the final score on the board, 60-53.

Baena, the Tournament Most Valauable Player had 12 points in the second stanza to finish the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds (6 offensive), five steals and two blocks. D’Chiutiis had a spectacular all-around game with 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Mansour and Roman added 14 and 10 points respectively, and shot an impressive 6-14 from long distance in the contest.

"I was actually a bit suprised, I felt like I was struggling for a little bit in the game," said a humble but jubilant Baena. "I feel great! I'm really happy. This team is such a family, I'm gonna see these girls tomorrow and we'll celebrate!"

Harris tallied 16 points to lead the Wave, followed by Fleary with 12 points and Christina Best who had 11. Alleyne finished 5-11 from the field and had a double-double for KCC with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Besides Baena, KCC's LATOYA KINLOCH (seven points, nine rebounds in final), Best, Harris, Hostos' JACKIE AWOSIKA and Queensborough's SABRINA RODRIGUEZ were all named to the 2012 CUNYAC/Con Edison All-Tournament Team for their play over the two rounds.

-- CUNYAthletics.com --