Day three started with Breakfast at the Marriott. What a deal, everything from fresh fruit to a bowl of cereal, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, cheese, and freshly squeezed juice, you name it they got it. Jahlaani Costello (Kingsborough CC) stated, This is the most food I have ever eaten in the morning. In New York everyone is in a rush so there really isn't much time to eat.
The team started to get ready to go to the gym for practice. Upon arriving at the gym, the dusty floor was no longer dusty. They really got the gym ready for us today. The team seemed a bit sluggish during its workout. Coach Bostic (Hostos CC) reminded our players that we put too much time and hard work to let it go now. Reviewing the plays and lots of shooting was on today's practice plan. It's tough to tell at this point whether or not we are ready for tonight's game against La Universidad de Catolica.
For lunch the team ordered sandwiches and went back to the hotel to relax until it was time to depart to our game. Not to mention Coach Jackee Meadow (Hunter College) arrived. Upon her arrival, the coaches met with the staff and went over the day's events. The pre-game meeting was short and sweet as game time was slowly approaching. The team boards the vans to Catholic University.
As we arrive to the university the team is anxious for game one. The coliseum in which we played was very well taken care of. The men's team was just finishing up practice as the players went to the locker room. Catolica came on to the floor wearing their home gold jerseys and CUNY looked sharp wearing their road blue uniforms. Coach Meadow and coach Bostic prepared the team for competition, as Freddy, Zak, and Rob were getting the rules differences in order.
Game Time 6:15pm, CUNY starts their trip 1-0, CUNY 61- Catolica 59
We started this game off a little sluggish, not playing defense and missing shots with open looks. Catolica came out playing fundamentally sound basketball setting good screens, getting wide open looks at the basket and shooting the lights out of the gym.
Down 16-13 after the first quarter, Shatasia Little ( Lehman College) gave a huge spark off the bench, shooting 3-3 from the floor and 3-3 from the line (finished with 13 points). CUNY took its first lead 22-21 with 4:36 remaining in the first half. This was a lead that we would keep throughout halftime (33-30). We would take our biggest lead 40-36 at the 5:22 mark in the 3rd quarter. Catolica fought hard and went on a 12-4 run to take the lead 58-53 with 4:30 remaining. That is when the Goodwill team put the clamps on Catolica's shooters.
Michelle Wallace (John Jay) was fouled and went to the line for two shots. She shot an air ball on the first and drained the second to tie the game at 59-59 with 1:14 remaining in the game. Our next to possessions were not pretty, Jessica Proscia (Hunter College) turned the ball over with :45 seconds remaining and we were called for a phantom back court violation with :27 seconds. Now for the winner!.. Diane Ramirez (Baruch College) drives the lane one on three and misses the lay up but gets her own rebound to lay it in for the win. Leading the way for CUNY was Jessenia Marrero (Baruch College) with 16 points. Michelle Wallace (John Jay) had a double-double with 10 points 12 rebounds.
