By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Saturday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball schedule featured six District 2 graduates playing 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 (20-8 overall, 10-4 SoCon) defeated visiting Mercer (12-15 overall, 8-6 SoCon), 82-76
Individual statistics
Started, played 40 minutes; 10/14 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 4/5 FT, 25 points; 2 offensive, 8 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 6 assists; 3 turnovers.
Notes
Wofford held off a late push by Mercer to claim the Southern Conference (SoCon) regular-season championship. The conference title is not just the first in program history; it is the first for any women’s team sport at Wofford. …This is the first 20-win season for the Terriers in their Division I era, and ties for the second-most victories all-time in program history behind the 23 in 1992-93. … Rose’s 25 points mark her ninth game of the season scoring 20 or more points. She scored double-digits for the 15th consecutive game to tie for the second-longest streak in program history. She is one away from tying the record set earlier this season by Jackie Carman. … The 10 rebounds by Rose give her the fifth double-double of the season and eighth of her career.
Up next
Wofford enters the SoCon Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will play the yet-to-be-determined No. 8 seed Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
CECELIA COLLINS, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot sophomore guard from Scranton Prep
Saturday’s result
Bucknell (12-16 overall, 8-9 Patriot League) lost at Lafayette (9-18 overall, 6-11 Patriot League), 69-61
Individual statistics
Started, played 30 minutes; 5/12 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 11 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 3 assists; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Notes
Collins was one of four Bison to score in double figures, but Bucknell could not overcome a poor shooting night against Lafayette. … With the loss, the Bison are eliminated from the chance of a top-four seed in the Patriot League Tournament. … Lafayette opened the fourth quarter by extending the lead to eight points before Bucknell cut it to two on baskets by Isabella King, Emma Shaffer, and Emma Theodorsson. Trailing, 62-56, Bucknell mounted one last comeback effort when a Collins 3-pointer cut the deficit to 62-59. Lafayette made key free throws down the stretch to secure the win. … Collins leads the Bison in scoring at 13.9 points per game.
Up next
Bucknell hosts American Wednesday in the final game of the regular season.
BECKY BURKE, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WOMEN
Head coach from Abington Heights
Saturday’s result
Buffalo (10-15 overall, 5-11 MAC) won at Bowling Green (24-4 overall, 13-3 MAC), 84-66
Notes
The University at Buffalo dominated from start to finish and led wire-to-wire to snap a six-game losing streak. … The Bulls shot 69.8 percent (30-for-43) from the floor and 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from 3-point range, both Division I era program records. … “I am so proud and so thankful for those players in that locker room and their ability to handle every adversity thrown their way this year.” Burke said in a recap posted on the university’s athletic website. “Their fight, their heart has not resulted in wins lately, but this is a special group that has been through so much and they earned this win.”
Up next
Buffalo hosts Akron Wednesday.
BOBBY PLANUTIS, PURDUE FORT WAYNE MEN
6-foot-8 graduate student forward from Hazleton Area
Saturday’s result
Purdue Fort Wayne (17-14 overall, 9-11 Horizon League) won at Green Bay (3-28 overall, 2-18 Horizon League), 78-61
Individual statistics
Started, played 27 minutes; 4/8 FG, 4/8 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 14 points; 1 offensive, 5 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 3 assists.
Notes
Purdue Fort Wayne never trailed and led by as many as 26 points in the regular-season finale. … The Mastodons shot 50.9 percent (29-for-57) while limiting Green Bay to 36.8 percent (21-for-57). … Purdue Fort Wayne enters the Horizon League Tournament as the No. 9 seed.
Up next
Purdue Fort Wayne travels to No. 8 Detroit Mercy Tuesday in the opening round of the Barbasol Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship.
LEO O’BOYLE, LAFAYETTE COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-7 senior forward from Scranton Prep
Saturday’s result
Lafayette (9-22 overall, 7-11 Patriot League) lost at Bucknell (12-19 overall, 5-13 Patriot League), 75-65
Individual statistics
Started, played 27 minutes; 3/7 FG, 3/5 on 3-pointers, 9 points; 1 assist; 3 turnovers.
Notes
O’Boyle fueled a late 11-2 first half run by making two 3-pointers to cut the Bucknell lead to one, 29-28, with 5:24 remaining in the half. … The second half was back and forth, seeing several lead changes until the final minutes of the contest. O’Boyle made a jump shot to give Lafayette a 48-47 lead. The Bison then went on a 16-4 scoring run to take over. … O’Boyle leads the Leopards in scoring at 11.3 points per game and has connected on 40.1 percent (65-of-162) of his shots from behind the arc.
seeding.
Up next
Lafayette opens Patriot League Tournament play Thursday as the No. 6 seed playing at rival and third seed Lehigh.
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) (7-21 overall, 4-11 America East) lost at UAlbany (8-22 overall, 3-12 America East), 82-68
Individual statistics
Came off the bench, played 23 minutes; 3/4 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 1/1 FT, 7 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 block; 1 steal.
Notes
NJIT’s game with UAlbany was back-and-forth early as the lead changed 15 times and saw seven ties in the first half. UAlbany ended the first half on a 13-0 run to lead 44-32 at the break. The Great Danes took the momentum into the second half and went ahead by a game-high 20 points with just over 15 minutes remaining. … NJIT wraps up its regular season on Tuesday. The Highlanders can clinch a spot in the America East Playoffs with a win or a UAlbany loss at Vermont.
Up next
NJIT travels to New Hampshire Tuesday.
