By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Saturday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball schedule included seven teams that have District 2 graduates either on the roster or serving as head coach.
Here is a recap of how each did:
RACHAEL ROSE, WOFFORD COLLEGE WOMEN
5-foot-7 sophomore guard from Scranton Prep
Saturday’s result
Wofford (12-5 overall, 2-1 SoCon) defeated host University of North Carolina Greensboro (9-9 overall, 2-2 SoCon), 55-51.
Individual statistics
Started, played 40 minutes; 5/13 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 4/6 FT, 15 points; 3 offensive, 9 defensive, 12 total rebounds; 3 assists; 2 turnovers; 3 steals.
Notes
Wofford once again found itself in a tight battle but protected the ball well to grind out a win. … Rose and Helen Matthews tied for the team lead in scoring. … Rose’s double-double was her third of the season and sixth in her career. … Leading 40-39 entering the fourth quarter, Rose scored five points in a little over four minutes to give Wofford a 47-43 lead. … Rose and Matthews combined to score 13 of the Terriers 15 fourth-quarter points.
Up next
Wofford hosts University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Thursday at 6 p.m.
BECKY BURKE, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WOMEN
Head coach from Abington Heights
Saturday’s result
Buffalo (8-5 overall, 3-1 MAC) defeated visiting Eastern Michigan (9-6 overall, 1-3 MAC), 78-59.
Notes
Buffalo dominated from start to finish in the win over Eastern Michigan and improved to 3-1 in league play for the third consecutive year. …The Bulls were led by their superior backcourt as three players scored 20 or more points in the win. … University at Buffalo’s Zakiayah Winfield recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. … Buffalo’s defense held its seventh opponent of the season to fewer than 60 points and are 6-1 in those games. … “I’m so excited for this team and how they are playing right now,” Burke said, according to a recap posted on the university’s athletic website. “We have really come a long way and figured out how and when we play our best basketball.”
Up next
Buffalo hosts Ball State Wednesday at 6 p.m.
VICTORIA TOOMEY, RIDER UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-2 senior center from Dunmore
Saturday’s result
Rider (5-12 overall, 2-6 MAAC) lost to visiting Niagara (7-9 overall, 6-2 MAAC), 67-55.
Individual statistics
Started, played 22 minutes; 3/3 FG, 6 points; 2 offensive, 3 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 4 turnovers; 1 block; 1 steal.
Notes
Niagara got off to a quick start, making three 3-pointers to gain a 12-4 lead just eight minutes into the contest. … Rider struggled in the first quarter, committing nine turnovers and had 32 turnovers in the game. … “We played hard; our effort was there.” Rider head coach Lynn Milligan said in a recap posted on the university’s athletic website. “When we executed, we executed well, but there were 32 times that we didn’t, and when you turn the ball over 32 times, it’s tough to get a win.”
Up next
Rider travels to Iona Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
CECELIA COLLINS, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot sophomore guard from Scranton Prep
Saturday’s result
Bucknell (6-11 overall, 2-4 Patriot League) lost to visiting Colgate (10-7 overall, 4-2 Patriot League) 64-57, in overtime.
Individual statistics
Did not play
Notes
Colgate outscored Bucknell, 32-17, in the fourth quarter and overtime, to come back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter.
Up next
Bucknell hosts Army Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
LEO O’BOYLE, LAFAYETTE COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-7 senior forward from Scranton Prep
Saturday’s result
Lafayette (5-14 overall, 3-3 Patriot League) defeated visiting Holy Cross (6-13 overall, 3-3 Patriot League), 62-48.
Individual statistics
Started, played 29 minutes; 4/10 FG, 2/5 on 3-pointers, 5/5 FT, 15 points; 3 offensive, 4 defensive, 7 total rebounds; 1 assist.
Notes
Lafayette extended its Patriot League winning streak to three games. This marks the largest win streak since the Leopards recorded a five-game streak in January 2020. … Lafayette’s defense held Holy Cross to 16.9 points under its average of 64.9 points per game. …O’Boyle made a 3-pointer with 8:14 remaining to give Lafayette a 48-46 lead. The Leopards went on a 14-2 run over the last eight minutes.
Up next
Lafayette travels to American Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ETHAN MEUSER, STONEHILL COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-8 freshman guard from Wyoming Seminary
Saturday’s result
Stonehill (7-12 overall, 3-2 NEC) lost to visiting Merrimack College (5-14 overall, 3-2 NEC), 59-47.
Individual statistics
Did not play
Notes
Merrimack’s defense held Stonehill to just 25 points over the final 28 minutes, including 18 in the second half to secure the victory. … Stonehill’s Andrew Sims finished in double-figures (12 points) for the 17th time in 18 games played this season. He enters Monday’s game against Fairleigh Dickinson needing six points to become Stonehill’s 43rd player to score 1,000 career points.
Up next
Stonehill hosts Fairleigh Dickinson University Monday at 7 p.m.
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) (5-12 overall, 2-2 America East) defeated visiting U Albany (6-14 overall, 1-4 America East), 74-67.
Individual statistics
Did not play
Notes
NJIT outscored U Albany, 41-34, in the second half, after the teams battled to a halftime tie. … NJIT led, 44-42, with just over 13 minutes to play before a three-pointer from Kjell de Graaf jumpstarted a 15-2 run to give the Highlanders a comfortable 13-point lead at the under eight-minute media timeout. … The victory was the first in program history for NJIT over U Albany. NJIT came into the game 0-10 all-time against the Great Danes.
Up next
NJIT travels to Bryant Thursday at 7 p.m.
