Boxscore
CALDWELL, N.J. – The Goldey-Beacom College women's basketball season came to an end in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference semifinals on Fri. night as the No. 3 seeded Lightning out of the South Division succumbed to the North's No. 1 Nyack by a score of 71-55.
GBC, which returns its entire 12-player roster next season, finished the season 17-12 overall and 12-7 in the conference. The Lightning nearly doubled their win total of nine last season en-route to its first CACC playoff appearance since the 2006-07 season. They also boast the program's only two wins over Philadelphia University after beating the Rams at the Gallagher Center twice within a week, including in the CACC quarterfinals.
After starting the season 1-7, the Lightning bounced back to win 16 of their final 21 games this season. Third-year head coach Jen Carleton said her young team handled the adversity as though they were a team of veterans.
"I'm so proud of everything we have accomplished this year and how far we have come," Carleton said. "We never lost sight of the goal, even when things were difficult. I have incredible leaders that have helped our team believe in what we can be on and off the court. This season has been an awesome experience."
Nyack, which will go on to face the South Division No. 1 seed and No. 14 ranked team in the nation, Holy Family on Sat. at 7 p.m. in the CACC finals, led wire-to-wire after jumping out to an early 21-4 lead. But the Lightning never showed any signs of quitting.
Beginning with a three-pointer by redshirt-sophomore guard Jacinda Jones (13 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, three steals), the Lightning went on a 14-2 run to close within 23-19. Two consecutive Nyack baskets padded the Warriors' lead back to eight before GBC junior guard Janae Weldon (15 points) hit a jumper to pull her team back within six.
But right before the half, GBC seemed to lose momentum after a technical foul was assessed to a Lightning player for elbowing a Nyack player while controlling a defensive rebound, though it seemed the elbow was accidental. Nyack's Kelsy McIntosh made 1-of-2 at the line to put the Warriors up seven. GBC freshman forward Irene Hudson answered with a layup to bring her team back within five, but Bobbi Van Fleet hit a three-pointer just before the end of the half to give Nyack a 31-23 lead at intermission.
Freshman forward Devonne Richardson (eight points, 10 rebounds) opened the scoring in the second half by converting a conventional three-point play to pull her team within five. But it was all Nyack after that, as the Warriors used a 25-6 spurt over the next nine minutes to take an insurmountable 56-31 lead.
Graduate senior Shelly Yount led Nyack with 25 points on 11-for-17 shooting and eight rebounds, while junior forward Victoria Sweet added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Senior point guard Jasmine Minter flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Carleton said that she and her players hope to build on their successes this season and they anticipate a great season in 2010-11.
"We can't wait to get back to the court next year and work on the things we need to do to get better," Carleton said. "This is only the beginning for us, and we are very excited to keep growing as a team."
