Box Score
The Lehman College women’s basketball team (20-10 Overall, 10-3 CUNYAC) advanced to the championship game of the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Women’s Basketball Tournament by defeating the Rams of Farmingdale State (18-10 Overall, 14-4 Skyline) by a score of 79-71 Saturday afternoon at the APEX Center in the Bronx.
The Lightning were led in the contest by three-time CUNYAC Player of the Year Sally Nnamani who paced her squad with a team-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds. Senior center Whittney Barnes chipped in for Lehman College as well, posting a double-double with 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds and three blocks. Junior point guard Tonisha Kirby added 11 points and five assists. Following the game, Head Coach Eric Harrison gave his thoughts on the victory.
“Our players played a great game today,” he said. “We were able to generate things on the offensive side of the ball, and we did a fine job of getting stops when we needed to. We were able to control things on the boards as well, and that turned out to be crucial for us. Tomorrow’s championship game should be exciting, and we’re going to leave everything on the court.”
The Lightning shot lights-out from the floor for the game, connecting on 52.5 percent of their shots (31-59 FG). The team also knocked down seven three-pointers and shot 7-17 from beyond the arc. On the flip side, the Rams were only able to hit on 39.1 percent of their shots. Lehman controlled things on the glass as well, out-rebounding Farmingdale State 42-30.
Despite the loss for the Rams, Skyline Player of the Year Kimberly Blakney put forth a stellar performance, netting a game-high 40 points (14-19 FG) to go along with eight rebounds, seven steals, and four blocks. Kamaya Miller also chipped in as well, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Farmingdale State recorded 13 steals on the afternoon compared to just three for the Lightning.
The Lehman College women’s basketball team will conclude its season tomorrow afternoon as the team travels to the College of Staten Island to battle the Dolphins in the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Women’s Basketball Championship game, with game-time scheduled for 3:00pm. The game will also serve as a rubber match, as the two teams split their two previous meetings this season, with the Lightning winning the latter, 58-51 in the CUNYAC semifinals back on February 24 at CCNY’s Nat Holman Gymnasium.