Mar. 6, 2011

Box Score

Eastern College Athletic Conference champions.

A series of words that will forever be linked to the 2010-11 Lehman Lightning women's basketball team after its heart-stopping 63-60 victory over visiting St. John Fisher College in the ECAC Division III Metro Championship game on Sunday afternoon.

The win is the first-ever ECAC women's basketball title for Lehman, who finished the season 20-11, and comes after a run to the City University of New York Athletic Conference title game as well.

Mirroring Lehman's first two games of the tournament, overtime wins over Farmingdale State and Brooklyn College, Sunday's game also came right down to the wire.

Trailing 60-56 following two free throws by St. John Fisher's Meghan Soja, Lehman cut its deficit to two on a basket by Louvinia Hayes. On the Lightning's next possession, Hayes drove to the basket and kicked out to a wide open Paula Robinson, who buried the team's biggest three-pointer of the season from the top of the key to give Lehman a 61-60 lead with 1:59 remaining. Robinson's clutch three came just two games after her equally huge three-pointer against Farmingdale State, a shot that put the Lightning ahead in overtime during the quarterfinal round of the tournament.

“That was a big one,” said Lehman head coach Eric Harrison when stating the obvious regarding Robinson's game-changing three-pointer.

Plenty of time remained, however, for the Cardinals' Colleen Maloney, the team's high scorer on the day with 19 points, to get two more cracks at retaking the lead. The first came with 46 seconds to play as the senior's short jumper in the lane rolled around the rim and out. Maloney got another quality look from straight on with under 10 seconds to play, only to have her shot hit the front rim. The rebound fell to Hayes who was then fouled and converted both free throws for the final 63-60 margin.

“She had a wide open look at the end,” said Harrison of Maloney's final shot attempt. “But it was one of those where our defense was really working on her. I think we wore her down a little bit. Lou-Lou Hayes did a great job of shutting her down.”

Whether the credit is given to Hayes or the Lightning's overall team defensive effort, Maloney was certainly slowed down the stretch. During the first nine minutes of the second half, Maloney scored 15 points – 13 in a row for St. John Fisher at one point – as the Cardinals built their biggest lead of the game at 50-41. She was ultimately held scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Following Maloney's free throw, the Lightning went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 50 as Hayes canned a three-pointer, Chris Mary Martinez knocked in a triple from the left side and Amanda De La Cruz converted on a driving layup. Martinez also connected on an important three-pointer, her only other basket of the game, during the Lightning's 10-1 run that closed the first half and put Lehman ahead 31-30 at the break.

“Chris Mary Martinez hit a couple real big shots,” said Harrison. “Both her and Paula are players we don't expect big shots from, but who both came up real big for us in the end.”

Aside from the obvious elation of winning the tournament, the victory also holds added significance for Harrison as it is his 200th career coaching win. Lehman's head man attains the milestone in his 13th year with the team.

“It's a nice way to get it,” said Harrison. “I didn't want to be stuck at 199 over a whole summer. It was good to get that win, especially to wrap up the school's first ECAC championship. Even better, I was able to win it with this group.”

The Lightning's win also signals the end of the line for Hayes, who poured in 28 points in her final contest at the Bronx school and was named the game's most valuable player. Having played just one season with Lehman, Hayes made a stellar impression on the local basketball fans and the CUNY conference as she led the league in scoring and the Lightning in timely baskets. Her presence on the team will be sorely missed.

“It was good to have her,” said Harrison of his departing star. “She is a real tough player and a real good leader. Hopefully, a lot of our players pick up on her leadership and they fill in the void going into next year.”

Speaking of next year's team, it will have big shoes to fill – those of the 2011 ECAC Division III Metro champions.