Posted: Mar 03, 2007
| # 1 New Haven 86, # 4 STAC 71 |
| The top-seeded University of New Haven
Chargers (24-5) outscored a tough St. Thomas Aquinas (15-14) Lady
Spartans squad 25-7 over the final eight minutes of the game to
post an 86-71 victory in the first East Coast Conference Women's
Basketball Semifinal on Saturday afternoon. UNH now moves onto to
the ECC final at 12 noon Sunday. The winner of that game will
receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship
Tournament. Trailing 64-61 with 8:00 to play, New Haven opened its game-winning spurt with a 11-0 run that was keyed at the start by two assists and a stick-back basket by Conference Player of the Year, senior Ashley Hilton that gave the team a 72-64 lead which they never relinquished. Hilton finished the contest with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Briiana Rende led all New Haven scorers with 20 points, as she hit four-of-six-field goals; including three-of-four three point shots, and nine-of-ten free throws. Tristan Jackson (18 points) and Jennifer Shoemaker (11 points) were also in double figure scoring for the Chargers. Takiayh Ingram and Kayla White led St. Thomas Aquinas in scoring, as they each netted 17 points. They were joined in double figures by Erika Ostrove with 14 points. Both teams shot the ball well in the contest, as New Haven went 30-of-60 from the field (5.0%) and STAC hit 44.1 % of its field goals (26-59). |