The Berkeley College women's basketball team won for the third consecutive time, Friday defeating the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton-Albany by a score of 63-61. The contest took place at Achievement First Brooklyn High School. With the victory, the Knights improved to a mark of 4-3 on the 2023-2024 campaign, while the Bobcats dipped to 0-7 with the defeat.
Pacing Berkeley in its victory was veteran Za'Nya Henderson, as she recorded a team-high 22 points while snatching nine rebounds, dishing a pair of assists, and tallying two steals. Keisy Villanueva registered a monster double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down a game-high 23 rebounds. Her three blocked shots were a game-high, as well. Finally, it was Jordan Washington finishing with 10 points and six boards.
Bryant & Stratton-Albany was paced by Hasjina Gaddy's game-high 31 points and team-high 14 boards. Fatima Bakayoko narrowly missed recording a double-double, as she netted 14 points while grabbing nine boards, and Breanna "Bre" Jacobs added 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals.
The Knights trailed by nine points (25-16) after one quarter of play, but spent most of the second quarter battling back. Berkeley eventually took the lead, 33-32, with 1:32 remaining in the half following a converted jumper by veteran Trinity Sierra. A made jumper by Villanueva with 39 seconds left in the half gave Berkeley a 35-32 advantage. The teams eventually went into the locker room deadlocked at 37.
In a tightly-contested third quarter that only featured 21 combined points, the game was tied at 45 apiece with under 25 seconds left in the period. Jordan Washington sank a jumper with 21 tickets left to put the hosts ahead 47-45, but Jacobs converted on a triple with two seconds left to give the Bobcats a 48-47 advantage as the curtain dropped on the third period.
In the fourth, Berkeley led 55-50 with 8:28 remaining, but an 11-3 run by the Bobcats over a span of 6:19 put the visitors in the driver's seat, up 61-58 with 2:09 to play. Later, with 1:12 remaining, Henderson drilled a jumper to inch Berkeley to within one at 61-60. Henderson struck again 42 seconds later, sinking a shot while drawing a foul. She would convert on the ensuing free throw to put Berkeley ahead 63-61. That would turn out to be the final score, with the Knights holding on for a thrilling victory.
For the game, Bryant & Stratton-Albany converted on 34.8 percent of its attempts from the floor, while the Knights earned a conversion rate of just 28.4 percent. Berkeley dominated the glass, snatching 72 rebounds compared to 48 for the Bobcats. Bryant & Stratton-Albany won the turnover battle, committing just 11 miscues while the hosts had 15. Each team earned 10 assists apiece.
The Knights will look to make it four consecutive victories on Friday evening, as Berkeley will travel to play Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo). Start-time is scheduled for 6:00pm.
