Women's basketball team's strong effort not enough as Knights fall to Seawolves in consolation game of USCAA National Basketball Tournament

Women's basketball team's strong effort not enough as Knights fall to Seawolves in consolation game of USCAA National Basketball Tournament

The Berkeley College New York women's basketball team (13-11 Overall) put forth a valiant on Friday afternoon, but ultimately fell to the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College (21-9) in the consolation game of the 2015 USCAA National Basketball Tournament. The game took place in the Maltho Gymnasium on the campus of Penn State Fayette.

After trailing by 12 points (35-23) at the half and by 15 (41-26) in the early stages of the second session, the Knight started to make things interesting. A 7-0 Berkeley run – featuring a three-point basket and converted layup by Patricia Patterson, and a made jumper by Champagne Hazel – pulled the Knights to within eight points at 41-33 with 14:46 remaining in the game.

Later – with Southern Maine Community College holding on to a 48-39 lead, Berkeley put together another 7-0 run – this time thanks to baskets by Patterson and Rodnesha Diamond and a triple by Hazel. At that juncture of the contest, the Knights were behind by just two points – 48-46 – with 8:34 to go. From there, however, the Seawolves would allow only four more Berkeley field goals while converting on eight of their 10 attempts from the charity stripe en route to a five-point victory.

Despite the loss for the Knights, Berkeley College was paced by Hazel, as she scored a game-high 26 points while connecting on three triples. She also added four assists, four steals, and three assists. Patterson posted a double-double in her final game as a Knight, as she netted 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while also tallying three steals.

In the victory for Southern Maine Community College, the Seawolves were led by Amira Jones who drained seven of her 13 attempts from the floor to finish with a team-high 19 points. She also snatched a game-high 13 rebounds. Alicia Hoyt contributed with seven points and 12 caroms, and Jordan Turned finalized her afternoon with five points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.

Both teams struggled shooting the basketball, with the Seawolves shooting slightly more efficiently by connecting on 25 of their 75 attempts from the floor (33.3 percent) compared to 32.4 percent for Berkeley (23-71). Southern Maine Community College dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Knights 63-42, while also dishing 12 assists to Berkeley's eight. The Seawolves scored 36 points in the paint compared to 26 for the Knights, and Berkeley won the turnover battle, committing only 16 miscues to 24 for Southern Maine Community College.

Despite falling short in their quest for a USCAA National championship, the Knights' 13-11 finish clinched the fourth consecutive winning season for the program. Berkeley College will look to retool in the offseason for another run at Regional and National crowns.