By Manuel Polanco
Nearing the end of their seasons, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams notched great wins throughout the CUNYAC championship. The men’s basketball team would progress to the CUNYAC semifinals. The women’s basketball team would be victorious in the semifinals and advance to the CUNYAC final.
Men’s Basketball
Tuesday, Feb. 18, the men’s basketball team took to the road to face off against Cuny College of New York (CCNY).
Coming into this game on a two-game winning streak, the Bulldogs hoped to make it three. Notable player, senior David McFadden, played 39 minutes this game and ended his night with 17 points and three three-pointers made. The game would be tied 31-31 at the end of the first quarter.
Senior guard Malik Dale had a good night on the court as well, ending the night with 33 minutes and 15 points, three steals, and three three-pointers. Within 32 minutes of play, Stephon McGill had 11 points and five free throws made, along with four assists. Jaden Cassanova had nine points, two free throws made, and made one three-pointer within 20 minutes.
The Bulldogs would go on a 7-0 run late in the second quarter to narrowly beat CCNY and as a collective shot 8-14 from the field goal. Their top-notch defense in this game limited CCNY to just 3-12 from the field goal. In their last game of the season, the Bulldogs won a gauntlet of a game 68-66 and clinched their ticket to the next CUNYAC game.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, the Bulldogs continued their winning streak in a home game against CCNY. The Bulldogs started on a 5-0 run, which influenced the rest of their game immensely, as they outscored CCNY 13-4. CCNY closed the gap in the first half, taking a close 38-34 lead. Bulldog Casanova would score 11 points right off the bench, fueling momentum for the team, as the Bulldogs celebrated a 55-53 victory.
The Bulldogs are set to move on to the CUNYAC Semifinals against Baruch College on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team’s victory against the CCNY Beavers helped garner a three-game winning streak going into the playoffs. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Bulldogs won 82-37.
Starting off the game with a 14-0 offensive run, the Bulldogs were aggressive out the gate, and by the end of the first quarter they led 28-6. Dior Dorsey had a great game with 20 points, six steals, six rebounds, two assists, one free throw made, and one three-pointer made within 16 minutes of playtime.
Junior Anna Kitch had a memorable game with a double-double, and her stats were 10 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist, one block, and one steal. The Bulldog led in each quarter except the fourth, during which CCNY would go on to score 14 consecutive points. The Bulldogs would go on many runs this game as well, including a 20 consecutive point run where their defense helped create more opportunities for the scoring players.
Senior Aleah Rafat had 11 points with three free throws made in 20 minutes of gametime. Senior Mary Dolgin ended her night with 12 points, two free throws made in 18 minutes of play. This strong win was good momentum going into the playoffs.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, the team played a home game against Medgar Evers College. Medgar Evers scored the first bucket of the game, but the Bulldogs rebounded with a 12-0 run, led by Kitch with a pair of three-pointers. Dolgin aided in extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 24-8. The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 37-18 lead under their belt. The Bulldogs were victorious in the game, scoring 66-34 against Medgar Evers.
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, the women’s basketball played against Baruch College in the semifinal game of the championship. The Bulldogs won by a landslide of 62-48, and will be advancing to the final game of the CUNYAC championship at Hunter College.