Panthers Claw Their Way To Runner-Up Spot

In their second straight trip to the Division III National Junior College Association's Women's Basketball Championships in Corning, NY, the Panthers captured second place, losing in the final the Fergus Falls Community College (Minnesota), 61-58.

The Panthers, the first CUNY or Region XV team to ever reach the final, ends their historic season with a 25-4 mark and the National runner-up trophy. BMCC advanced to the NJCAA's Elite Eight' by winning the Regional Tournament two weeks ago at Sullivan CC.

In the first of three games on consecutive nights, the panthers easily beat nearby Passaic Community College, 70-44, behind three players in double figures. Third team All-American guard Jhimere Putman (Rahway, NJ) scored a game-high 17 points, second team All-American forward Antoinette Daniels (Queens, NY) added 15 points and 12 rebounds, while 2001 CUNYAC Player of the Year Shelby Hamp (Brooklyn, NY) had 16 points in the quarterfinals.

The next night BMCC opened up a 22-point second half lead over Ridgewater College (Minnesota), only to win 68-65 to get a berth in the finals. In the semifinal game, Putman, who is the only two-time CUNYAC Tournament MVP, had her best outing with 25 points and three steals. Daniels was also dominant with 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

"Despite being sick all day, Shelby gutted it out," said BMCC head coach Rodney Carr. "She made a couple of key defensive stops in the final minute creating hard shots for Ridgewater."

While the Panthers beat the #2 and #3 seeded-teams in succession, Fergus Falls had an easier road in the Championships beating the #5 and #8 ranked teams by an average margin of 26.5 points before facing the up tempo squad from lower Manhattan.

"Playing our third game in a row wore us down a bit," exclaimed Carr, whose career record at BMCC is now 139-44. "Even though everyone slept most of the day on Saturday, it would have been nice to have a break."

A tight game the whole way, BMCC trailed most of the contest before grabbing their last lead at 55-54 with 2:59 remaining. With 0:34 showing on the clock, BMCC tied the score for the final time on a Zareena Stephens lay up to make it 58-58. But on the ensuing inbounds pass, Putman fouled Spartan guard Julie Hemker, who make one-of-two free throws. After a missed shot by Putman, Hemker went back to the line and hit both attempts with ten seconds left to make it 61-58.

"It was such a wonderful experience, " concluded Carr, CUNYAC's four-time women's Tournament Champion. "First we have to congratulate Fergus, they played a great game and won their school's first title."

"You know the expression 'leave it all on the court', well Shelby Hamp couldn't even walk at the end of the game. She had to be carried off the court. What more can you ask for. It was a great game and Jhimere and Antoinette were fantastic throughout the season and the Tournament. I hope they get named to the first-team, along with Shelby, when the All-American selections come out."

By Gregg Cohen