By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Saturday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball schedule saw five District 2 graduates playing or serving as head coach.
Here is a recap of how each did:
VICTORIA TOOMEY, RIDER UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-2 senior center from Dunmore
Saturday’s result
Rider (9-20 overall, 6-14 MAAC) defeated visiting Marist (12-17 overall, 8-12 MAAC), 66-63 in overtime.
Individual statistics
Started, played 39 minutes; 8/16 FG, 3/3 FT, 19 points; 3 offensive, 5 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 2 assists; 3 turnovers; 1 steal.
Notes
Toomey’s 19 points led the Broncos. It is her 12th game scoring in double figures this season. … Rider outscored Marist, 20-14, in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Trailing by one point with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, Toomey drew a foul and made both shots, putting the Broncos ahead by one. After Rider forced a turnover, Amanda Mobley made one of two at the line, before Kiara Fisher made a layup with 2.4 seconds remaining. … Marist scored first in the extra session. Rider’s Makayla Firebaugh made a three, then converted an and-one to put the Broncos ahead for good. A Toomey layup followed by a pair of free throws by Raphaela Toussaint made it 66-60.
Up next
Rider, the No. 10 seed plays Marist, the No. 7 seed Tuesday in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
KYLIE LAVELLE, DREXEL UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-2 freshman forward from Riverside
Saturday’s result
Drexel (21-8 overall, 13-5 CAA) lost to visiting North Carolina A&T (18-11 overall, 12-6 CAA), 59-57.
Individual statistics
Started, played 37 minutes; 5/12 FG, 2/5 on 3-pointers, 7/8 FT, 19 points; 3 offensive, 4 defensive, 7 total rebounds; 1 turnover; 2 steals.
Notes
Drexel dropped a heartbreaker on Senior Day. With the result, Drexel shares the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship and is the No. 2 seed in the upcoming CAA Tournament. … Leading by two points entering the fourth quarter, Drexel scored the first five points before North Carolina A&T battled back within two. Drexel pushed the lead back to 55-49 on a three-pointer by Lavelle with 4:48 remaining. The Aggies clawed their way back and scored the winning points on a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining. … Lavelle is averaging 10.9 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Up next
Drexel, the No. 2 seed plays the winner of No.7 seed Monmouth/No. 10 seed Charleston Friday in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Towson, MD.
BECKY BURKE, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WOMEN
Head coach from Abington Heights
Saturday’s result
University at Buffalo (12-15 overall, 7-11 MAC), defeated visiting Western Michigan (12-17 overall, 7-11 MAC), 72-67
Notes
The University at Buffalo clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament with the win on Senior Day. … Buffalo’s seniors combined to score 63 of the Bulls 72 points. Re’Shawna Stone led all scorers with 23 points while Zakiyah Winfield recorded her 15th double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds. … ”Pure joy for the young women in our locker room and this staff and the fans that have stuck by us all year.” Burke said in a recap posted on the university’s athletic website. “I think if you watched us from beginning to end, you truly formed an appreciation for this team and you can’t help but feel so happy that they punched their ticket with this win today. Can’t say enough how proud I am, and we are ready to go play again in Cleveland.”
Up next
Buffalo, the No. 8 seed plays Toledo, the No. 1 seed Wednesday at 11 a.m.
GEORGE TINSLEY, MOUNT ST. MARY’S MEN
6-foot-6 senior forward from Abington Heights
Saturday’s result
Mount St. Mary’s (12-19 overall, 8-12 MAAC) won at Manhattan (12-17 overall, 10-10 MAAC), 74-69
Individual statistics
Came off the bench, played 24 minutes; 1/5 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 2/4 FT, 4 points; 3 offensive, 1 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 2 turnovers.
Notes
Mount St. Mary’s withstood a second-half rally to hold off Manhattan in the regular-season finale. The Mountaineers have won four of the last five games and clinched the No. 8 seed in the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. … Leading 42-30 at the half, the Mount saw Manhattan open the second half on a 25-7 scoring run to build a six point lead. The game went back and forth from that point and Mount St. Mary’s converted key free throws down the stretch to preserve the win. … The Mountaineers shot 57.1 percent (16-for-28) in the first half, including 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from 3-point range. They also held a 23-8 edge in the rebounding category.
Up next
Mount St. Mary’s, the No. 8 seed plays Canisius, the No. 9 seed Tuesday in the MAAC Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Atlantic City.
DA’MIR FAISON, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MEN
6-foot-7 junior forward from Hazleton Area
Saturday’s result
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), the No. 8 seed (7-23) lost at Vermont, the No. 1 seed (21-10), 84-57, in the quarterfinals of the America East Conference Tournament.
Individual statistics
Started, played 25 minutes; 1/4 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 2 points; 4 defensive rebounds; 2 assists.
Notes
Vermont raced out to a 45-28 halftime lead and pulled away in the second half for the quarterfinal victory. The top-seeded Catamounts advance to take on No. 5 seed Binghamton University Tuesday. … The Highlanders were led by Kevin Osawe’s 18 points and Kjell de Graaf’s 14 points. … Vermont’s defense held the Highlanders to 37.9 percent (22-for-58) shooting while holding a 39-27 advantage on the boards. … Vermont won all three meetings against the Highlanders this season.
Up next
Season complete.
