The Berkeley College women's basketball team split a pair of games over the weekend, falling to Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) by a score of 85-71 Friday evening, before turning around the following day and holding off the Vikings of Villa Maria in a non-conference game by a score of 45-39. With the 1-1 output, the Knights are now 5-4 on the 2023-2024 campaign. The Bobcats improved to a mark of 5-4 with their victory Friday night, while the Vikings dipped to 0-6.

Despite the loss to Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo), Keisy Villanueva put forth a tremendous effort, scoring a team-high 25 points while also leading all Knights with 15 rebounds. Her seven swatted shots were also a game-high. Za'Nya Henderson nearly registered a triple-double, as she scored 14 points, snatched nine boards, and added a game-high eight assists, and Jordan Washington and Christa Williams grabbed nine and eight rebounds, respectively.

Leading the way for the Bobcats in their victory was Saige Roberts, as she recorded a triple-double, posting game-highs of 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Chy Isom contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, and Chanice Willis added 11 points, a game-high five steals, four assists, and three rebounds.

The Bobcats scored the first eight points of the contest, but Berkeley College finished the quarter on a 14-6 run to tie the contest at 14 apiece after 10 minutes of action. The Knights momentarily took the lead when Henderson converted a jumper 14 seconds into the second, but a ferocious 11-0 run over a span of 5:12 catapulted the hosts to a 25-16 advantage.

The pendulum would then swing Berkeley's way, as the Knights scored six straight points (courtesy of a Villanueva trifecta, a Henderson drained freebee, and a made jumper by Trinity Sierra) to pull to within three at 25-22. The Knights kept the game relatively close, trailing the Bobcats by just six points at the conclusion of the half (37-31).

Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) opened the game up in the third quarter, outscoring Berkeley 22-7 and allowing just two Knights field goals in the process. After 30 minutes of action, the Bobcats held a commanding 59-38 edge. The Bobcats' second half domination continued into the fourth, where Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) doubled-up Berkeley, outscoring the Knights 26-13 in the period to account for the 85-51 final score.

For the game, the Bobcats shot 39.1 percent from the floor (36-92), while the Knights earned a conversion rate of just 28.6 percent. Each team snatched 54 rebounds apiece, and Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) held a 22-12 edge in the assists. The Bobcats also had 13 steals compared to four for Berkeley, but the Knights registered 10 steals, while the hosts had 10. Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) won the turnover battle, committing just eight miscues, while the Knights had 25.

In the victory over Villa Maria, Berkeley was paced by Henderson, as she scored a team-high 17 points while also snatching eight rebounds and dishing a game-high seven assists. Washington scored 11 points while grabbing five boards. Sierra added eight points, and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds, and Villanueva finished with eight points, 12 boards, and a game-high four blocks.

Despite the loss for the Vikings, Shanughnessy Bennett scored a game-high 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds, and Jimmia Green posted a double-double, netting 12 points and snatching 14 rebounds.

In what was a very competitive game between the two HVIAC foes, the teams were knotted at 32 apiece heading into the fourth quarter. Berkeley, who entered the game with a record of 2-1 in games decided by six points or less, pulled out another close contest, outscoring the Vikings 13-7 to win the game, 45-39.

Berkeley College connected on 27.4 percent of its attempts from the floor (20-73), while Villa Maria shot just a cut below, converting on 25 percent of its shot attempts. The Knights dominated the glass, snatching 52 rebounds compared to 31 for the hosts.

The Knights will play their final game in calendar year 2023 on Thursday afternoon, as Berkeley will travel to Syracuse to take on Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse. Start-time is scheduled for 3:00pm.