Lightning Hold Off Cougars For Quarter-final Win

New York, NY- The third-seeded Lehman College Lightning held off the sixth-seeded Medgar Evers College Cougars 58-45 in the third quarterfinal of the 2007 CUNY Athletic Conference / Con Edison Women’s basketball Championship. The Cougars presented a stiff challenge for most of the contest before the Lightning pulled away down the stretch for the 13-point victory.

Lehman built an eight-point lead in the early stages of the game, going up 23-15, on a three-pointer by sophomore forward Sally Nnamani (Warwick, NY / Warwick), the CUNYAC Player of the Year, at the 5:39 mark. Medgar Evers then battled back to take a 24-23 advantage on a jumper by senior forward Thelma Herbert (Brooklyn, NY / Environmental Studies) and a trio of shots by sophomore guard Quandra Rodgers (Nashville, AR / Nashville), a First Team CUNYAC All-Star, with 2:39 remaining in the half. Lehman closed out the half with a jumper from senior guard Katherine Santiago (New York, NY / Norman Thomas), a Second Team CUNYAC All-Star, and a pair of lay-ups by sophomore forward Monique Sampson (Bronx, NY / Cathedral) to take a 29-24 lead into the break.

The Cougars opened the second half with a 10-2 run, capped by a jumper from sophomore forward Nisha Haire (Brooklyn, NY / Thomas Jefferson), to take a 34-31 lead. Nnamani then nailed a long three-pointer from the corner to restore a 35-34 advantage to the Lightning at the 15:22 mark. Rodgers proceeded to answer on the other end by nailing a pair of free throws for a 36-35 lead.

After a series of scrambles for the ball, Santiago came away with possession at hit a lay-up in the lane to put Lehman on top for good, 37-36, with 11:31 to go. Another three-pointer by Nnamani seemed to give put the Lightning in control with a 40-36 lead a minute later. Medgar Evers continued to battle, however, and went on to cut the deficit to as few as two points several times. Lehman was finally able to pull away after a Rodgers jumper cut the margin to 46-43 with 4:27 remaining. The Lightning scored 10 unanswered points over the next four minutes and netted 12 of the last 14 points in the game.

Nnamani finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and five blocks to lead Lehman. Santiago added 15 points, seven rebounds, and eight steals while Sampson tallied 14 points, 15 rebounds, and five steals. Junior guard Tiara Carroll (Bronx, NY / Monsignor Scanlan) contributed eight assists, seven rebounds, and seven steals. The Lightning grabbed 25 steals as a team.

Rodgers scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds while sophomore forward Shauntelle Nelson (Queens, NY / August Martin) recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Cougars. Haire contributed eight points and 17 rebounds while senior guard Tiffany Deputy (Brooklyn, NY / Thomas Jefferson) hauled in 12 rebounds and made five blocks.

Lehman (17-9) advances to face John Jay College in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 20, at 7:30 PM on the campus of City College of New York. Medgar Evers finishes the season with an 11-15 record.