KEUKA PARK, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's basketball team has won the 2019 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship! The Wildcats played #3 Gallaudet for the Championship on Sunday, earning a 68-60 win. The Championship win gives them three in the last four seasons. The game itself was tightly contested, with the Wildcats earning the edge thanks to some great three point shooting and early offense.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Wildcats took an early lead on the Bison, jumping out to an eight point lead in the first quarter. The Bison held a slim advantage on the scoreboard in the second and third quarter, but their push for the lead came up short. A big reason that the Wildcats were able to hold of the charging Bison was the permitter shooting from Kiersten Leos (Camden, N.Y.) who knocked down a career high eight three point shots in the game, scoring a season high 29 points. The Wildcat bench also played a big part in the win. Rylie Smith (St. Johnsville, N.Y.) and Jaida Washington (Elmira, N.Y.) played big minutes, combining for 25 points.
NOTABLES:
- Kiersten Leos had one of the best games of her career on the biggest stage. The junior had a season high 29 points, shooting 53% from the field and knocked down a career high eight three pointers. Leos was named the NEAC Championship Tournament MVP. In the three game tournament, Leos scored 59 points, knocked down 16 three pointers, and had 22 rebounds.
- Jaida Washington played another solid game, giving the Wildcats a stopping presence in the paint. The junior recorded another three blocks, giving her 13 in the NEAC Post Season. Washington was just a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. The 13 point performance was the best of the season for Washington.
- Rylie Smith scored 12 points in 24 minutes for the Wildcats. The senior shot 50% from the field and knocked down a pair of three pointers.
- Taylor Aybar (Woodside, N.Y.) scored eight points for the Wildcats and had a game high seven assists. The junior also had seven rebounds and a team high five steals.
- The Bison had a tough shooting day from three point range, hitting just two of 16 shots from beyond the arc.
- Kendall Hudson scores a team high 22 points, had seven rebounds, and five assists for Gallaudet.
- Sabina Shysh had a double-double for Gallaudet. She had 1- points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
- Emelia Beldon rounded out the notable scorers for the Bison. She had 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will compete in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. The Wildcats will have to wait to find out their seeding in the tournament. The NCAA's selection show will take place on Monday, February 25th at 2:30 PM. The details of the Wildcats drawing will be announced here when details become available.
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SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and over 300 corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.