The Berkeley College New York women's basketball team continued its early-season success on Thursday evening, defeating the Maccabees of Yeshiva University by a score of 72-59 in a Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest played at Baruch College in Lower Manhattan. With the victory, the Knights now sit at 7-1 on the 2014-2015 campaign (2-0 HVIAC), while Yeshiva fell to 2-7 (1-1 HVIAC).
The first half of action featured two ties and six lead changes, and the Knights did not particularly shoot the basketball well, yet they still held a 36-30 edge as the teams entered the locker room at halftime. Berkeley connected on just 14 of its 47 attempts from the floor (29.8 percent) compared to the Maccabees who nailed 41.9 percent of their attempts in the opening 20 minutes (31-31). Champagne Hazel led the Knights with 12 points in the opening stanza, while Yeshiva's Stephanie Greenberg netted 12 points for her team on five-of-eight shooting.
In the second session, the Knights gradually built their lead, eventually taking their largest lead of the contest - 68-49 - following a pair of converted free throws by newcomer Lydia Casagrande with 5:26 remaining in the contest. The Knights would eventually hold on for an impressive 13-point victory.
Leading the way for Berkeley College in the win was Hazel, as her 21 points lead all-scorers. She also grabbed 12 rebounds, dished five assists, and tallied four steals. Casagrande finalized her evening with 16 points and nine boards, and veteran Rodnesha Diamond posted a double-double with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and six steals. Milan Germany added 10 points, 12 rebounds, game-highs in steals and assists with nine and eight respectively, and three blocks.
Despite the loss for Yeshiva University, the Maccabees were led by Greenberg who scored 19 points and snatched eight caroms. She also added four assists and three steals, as well. Ester Kerzner contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, and Simee Rosner chipped in with 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
The Knights took a whopping 27 more shots than Yeshiva University on the night, hitting 29 of those 90 (32.2 percent), while the Maccabees drained 24 of their 63 attempts (38.1 percent). Berkeley College held a 61-43 rebounding edge, while also forcing 35 Yeshiva University turnovers and committing 21 of their own.
Berkeley College returns to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights will play their home opener against Mid-Atlantic Christian University at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Start-time for that contest is scheduled for 2:00pm.
