The Berkeley College women's basketball team picked up a pair of victories in recent days, defeating Villa Maria in an NACIA game by a score of 88-54 this past Thursday night, before turning around and downing Bryant & Stratton-Albany on the road, 69-63. With those triumphs, the Knights are now over the .500 mark on the season, improving to 10-9 on the year (3-3 NACIA).
Prior to the game against the Vikings, which took place at Achievement First High School in Brooklyn, the Berkeley College Department of Athletics took the time to honor three seniors who have given so much to the women's basketball program at the institution. Those seniors included Za'Nya Henderson, Magan Jackson, and Khya Hough. Each senior was presented with special gifts as tokens of appreciation for their hard work and diligence during their tenures on the team.
In the victory over Villa Maria, Hough played exceptionally well, scoring a game-high 29 points (12-24 FG, 3-4 FT), dishing four assists, swiping four steals, and snatching three rebounds. Jackson added 24 points, a team-high 14 rebounds, four dimes, and four steals, and Ariella Johnson recorded 17 points, swiped five steals, snatched three rebounds, and swatted a pair of shots. Finally, it was Anastasia Davis finalizing his evening with 10 points and seven boards.
For the Vikings despite the loss, Mia Special scored a team-high 20 points while snatching eight rebounds and dishing a team-high five assists. Daishya Stallings posted a double-double with 12 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, and two steals. Finally, it was Ellanda Francois netting 10 points and snatching six boards.
Berkeley College built a 16-9 advantage after 10 minutes of action, before extending its lead to 14 points (40-26) at halftime. The Knights continued its efficient play, outscoring Villa Maria 24-16 in the third, and 24-12 in the fourth to account for the 34-point victory.
The Knights were the more efficient team shooting the basketball, as Berkeley earned a conversion rate of 36.8 percent for the night (32-87), while Villa Maria connected on just 14 shots all evening (14-55, 25.5 percent). Berkeley held a 53-45 edge on the glass, while also dishing 16 assists on the evening compared to seven for the visitors. The Knights swiped 26 steals on the evening to Villa Maria's nine, and Berkeley won the turnover battle, committing 25 miscues, while the Vikings had 41.
Two days later in Berkeley's victory over the Bobcats, Jackson posted a colossal double-double with a game-high 26 points, and team-highs of 21 rebounds and six assists. Johnson also registered a double-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, a team-high three swatted shots, and two steals. Davis scored 10 points and snatched 11 rebounds, and Skyla Watts and Christa Williams netted six points apiece.
Despite the loss for Bryant & Stratton-Albany, Dasia Edmond's 24 points were a team-high. She also added six rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals. Amari Scott netted 19 points and swatted a game-high four shots, and Mei-Lin Calliste posted a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 23 rebounds. She also dished four assists and swiped a pair of steals.
Trailing 17-11 after a quarter of play, the Knights outscored the hosts 18-10 in the second quarter to take a slim 29-27 advantage at halftime. Berkeley later led 46-43 after three quarter, and netted 23 points in the fourth to the Bobcats' 20, to account for the six-point margin of victory.
Bryant & Stratton-Albany earned a better conversion rate from the floor, connecting on 23 of 72 shots (31.9 percent) while the Knights earned a conversion rate of 29.9 percent (26-87). Berkeley dominated the glass, snatching 70 rebounds on the evening compared to 46 for the hosts, and the Knights held a slim 6-5 advantage in blocks. Bryant & Stratton-Albany held edges in assists (12-11) and steals (8-5), and the Bobcats won the turnover battle, committing just 10 miscues, while the Knights had 17.
Berkeley College will return to action this evening, as the Knights play Paul Smith's College in a road game. Start-time is scheduled for 4:00pm.
