We went to do a clinic at the Colegio 24 de Mayo (Junior College). They had cheerleaders put on a performance for us and played music. It was great that our student-athletes had an opportunity to participate in front of 300 hundred people. We started off introducing our players and staff to the fans. Right from there we went into our warm-up (running, stretching, lay-ups and taps). After the warm-up, we worked on three person weave, five person weave, some ball-handling drills and some post moves (drop step baseline, and drop step middle). We included some of the student-athletes from the junior college team. At this point we proceeded to go into more fundamentals of a motion offense (pass and pick away with the guards, and cross screens for the post players, pick and rolls, and give and go). Watching these junior college players listen to us and accomplish what we are teaching them was quite a sight. Next up was Morganna Green (Hostos CC) putting on her rendition of ESPN highlights. Morganna drove to the basket and in the air did a 360 turn and shot the ball while still in the air. That drove the crowd wild. Morganna continued to razzle the fans with her ball handling skills. The crowd chanted, Morganna, Morganna, Morganna. We took recess and the junior college had a 10 minute practice and then a 5 minute scrimmage. Following the scrimmage, every member of CUNY was presented with a rose and a basketball doll. Adding to this wonderful occasion, they brought out cake and ice cream to all of us. This was by far the most memorable clinic, said Morganna Green, I really felt like I was a famous athlete on tour the way they requested our autographs and the way they shouted my name. Thanks for this experience! Following the clinic and the presentation, we began practice for our game against Pinchincha.
Off to a town called Piluqui where our team distributed food, drinks, pencils and t-shirts to children in need. Nearly 50 families came out to receive chicken and rice from our star-studded student-athletes. This part of the day brought tears to our player's eyes as they distributed the food. Shatasia
Little (Lehman College) said, We take a lot for granted back home, why do people
suffer like this? Rannie Miles (Medgar Evers College) and Nichola Hall (New York City Technical College) held one of the babies in their arms, showing off that motherly love. Jessenia Marrero and Diane Ramirez (both of Baruch College) helped with the translations and giving out the food to the children. Jenny Deida (York College) and Jennifer Ithier (Hunter College) were just admiring how these families valued the food and appreciated what we did. Freddy De Jesus stated, He will thank God every night that his daughter is healthy and has a roof over her head and food in her mouth.
Giving our student-athletes the opportunity to grow as one and to understand that there is more to life than basketball is the message we tried to send today, said Hunter College Head Coach Jackee Meadow. The families huddled and thank us from the bottom of their hearts. This will truly be a memorable experience, said Jessica Proscia (Hunter College). As we boarded our vans for lunch you can still see the tears in many of their eyes and the caring nature that we bring.
Lunch was at Tony Romas, which was a surprise they have one in Ecuador. Our team ordered burgers, salads, chicken fingers, steak, mozzarella sticks, water and milk shakes. This was one for the record, as we were playing a game in 3 hours. It was delicious, said Kandyce Gunning (Queensborough CC).
Preparation was the key for tonights game. This afternoon we went over our press breaker and it helped tonight. Pinchincha pressed us right from the start. Coach Bostic and Coach Meadow strategized against it, telling our girls don't dribble through the press, pass to the middle and hit the opposite. Down 46-36 at the end of the 3rd quarter, the level of intensity rose to the occasion. CUNY wins 60-56 outscoring Pichincha 24-10 in the final quarter (ten minutes). CUNY was lead by Jessenia Marrero (Baruch College) with 15 points, hitting two three-pointers and a two pointer in a 1:42 span to tie the game up at 48. Rannie Miles (six points, 5 rebounds) came off the bench with six consecutive points to pull CUNY away from Pichincha (54-50). Shatasia Little (11 points, 4 rebounds) hit the last two baskets to seal the victory. Jenny Deida finished with 12 points, 3 steals and 3 offensive rebounds. CUNY evens up its record at 2 wins and 2 losses for the 2004 Goodwill tour to Quito, Ecuador. Well done tonight by everyone, as tonights win was a collective effort by all.
