The Berkeley College women's basketball team's quest for its first USCAA Division I National title came up short this week, as the No. 3 seeded Knights lost to the No. 2 seeded North American University by a score of 76-35 Thursday evening at the Flickenger Center in Buffalo, NY. The following morning, in a consolation game, Berkeley was edged by the Sound of Five Towns College, 54-50. With the two defeats, the Knights wrapped-up the 2024-2025 campaign at 14-11. North American University improved to a mark of 13-16 with the triumph, and the Sound finalized its season at 13-6.
North American University 76, Berkeley College 35
Despite the loss for the Knights, three players scored seven points apiece for Berkeley, including Maria Negron, Ariella Johnson, and Khya Hough. Negron's 11 rebounds led all players, while Johnson also contributed a game-high four blocks to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Hough snatched three boards and swiped two steals in the loss, as well.
For the Stallions, three players tied for the game-high of 12 points, including Elisa Peralta, Maurdaisha Powell, and Kayla Dickey. Peralta's seven steals and five assists were both game-highs, and she also snatched six rebounds. Jewel Bradley finished with 10 points and six boards, Aliyah Solis finished with nine points, and Keasia Robinson nearly posted a double-double, netting eight points and snatching a team-high 10 boards.
The Knights led only momentarily in the contest, holding a 4-0 advantage in the opening 45 seconds following buckets by Magan Jackson and Negron. It was all Stallions from there, though. North American University put together a 17-1 run over a span of 6:38 to snatch a commanding 17-5 lead. The Stallions held a 21-13 advantage after 10 minutes of action.
After the Stallions scored the first bucket of the second quarter to go back up by double figures (23-13), the Knights rattled off five straight points, courtesy of Johnson's triple and pair of converted free throws, to inch to within five, 23-18. North American University responded with another big run, going on a 20-3 spurt to take a 43-21 advantage. The Stallions held a 45-25 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, North American University's defense completely halted any attempt of a Berkeley comeback, as the Stallions held the Knights to just four converted field goals in the final 20 minutes of action (two in the third and two in the fourth). The No. 2 seeded Stallions outscored Berkeley 31-10 in the second half to account for the 41-point margin of victory.
For the game, North American University connected on 40 percent of its attempts from the field (30-75), while the Knights hit on just 12 of 52 shots (23.1 percent). The Stallions held an impressive 53-41 advantage on the glass, while also holding edges in assists (17-6) and steals (17-6). North American University also won the turnover battle, committing just 13 miscues to Berkeley's 29.
Five Towns College 54, Berkeley College 50
In Berkeley's season-finale against Five Towns, Jackson posted a double-double with a team-high 11 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Anastasia Davis finished her morning with nine points and five rebounds, and Johnson and Kanijah Jacobs scored eight points apiece. Johnsonson added six rebounds while tying for the game-high of four steals and leading all players with four blocks, and Negron's 13 rebounds were a team-high.
For Five Towns College, Tylah Langley's 25 points led all players, and she also tied for the game-high of 14 points while swiping three steals. Layla Ford finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Ihari Oromo snatched 14 rebounds while tying for the game-high of four assists and swiping three steals.
Things looked promising for the Knights early, as Berkeley held a 21-11 advantage after 10 minutes of action, and ballooned that advantage to 15 (26-11) in the early stages of the second period. Five Towns then used a 15-4 run over a seven-minute span to close to within four (30-26) with 1:26 left in the half. A Jacobs converted trifecta put the Knights back up by seven (33-26), but the Sound rattled off five more points to inch to within two (33-31) as time expired on the first half.
In what was a very low-scoring third quarter, the teams combined for just 10 points and three converted field goals (Five Towns had two, Berkeley one), and the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 37-all.
Five Towns led 43-39 with 6:46 remaining in the game, but the Knights used an 11-2 run over a span of 4:16 to snatch the lead back, 50-45. Unfortunately for Berkeley, that would be the final offensive contribution it would enjoy for the morning, as the Sound finished the game on a 9-0 run to win it, 54-50.
The Knights connected on 29 percent of their attempts from the floor (18-62), while the Sound hit on just 18 of 77 attempts (23.4 percent). Berkeley held a slim 57-53 edge on the glass, while also holding a slight 8-7 advantage in assists. The Sound totaled 21 steals on the day to the Knights' 12, Five Towns College won the turnover battle, committing just 24 turnovers while Berkeley had 35.
Looking ahead to 2025-2026
Although the Knights fell short of their ultimate goal, Berkeley College still has plenty to look back on with pride. Competing in USCAA Division I for the first time in its history, the Knights improved their win total from last season by three games, capturing 14 wins and qualifying for the USCAA National Tournament. Magan Jackson was tabbed a USCAA First Team All-American, Khya Hough was selected a USCAA Second Team All-American, and Ariella Johnson was named a USCAA All-American Honorable Mention. Many players on the roster should be eligible to return for 2025-2026, and the Knights will gear up and prepare to make another run at NACIA and USCAA Division I titles when the season tips off in November!
