Pre-game interview with Coach Eric Eric Harrison
Bronx, NY - The reigning CUNYAC Champions, the Lehman Lightning (17-8:14-2) will be back in the CUNYAC Semi-Finals Tuesday night at City College's Nat Holman Gymnasium. The #2 seed Lightning will battle the #3 Dolphins of the College of Staten Island (20-6:13-3) at 8:00 at CCNY.
Lehman and CSI split the two regular season contests this season. Ten days ago the teams met in the Sports & Recreation Center on the Staten Island campus. Lehman prevailed 79-75. Double Doubles by
Marika Gordon and
Krystal Pearson paced the Lightning. Gordon scored 16 points while grabbing 14 rebounds. Pearson tallied 13 points and secured 15 rebounds.
Amely Del Rosario netted a team high 19 points while Martz Czaplak came off the bench and added 13 points in helping secure the victory. Lehman dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint as the team shot 45.4% in the second half to hold on to their advantage. They also got 19 points off their bench and scored more second chance points despite being outrebounded by Staten Island, 55-49. Defensively, the team held Staten Island to just 32.9% from the field. The Lehman defense forced 21 turnovers, and converted on 18 points off those Dolphin mistakes.
In early December the teams me in the APEX with CSI coming out on top 85-75 despite 27 points by Del Rosario and 26 by
Lynda Fields. Pearson added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Christina Pasaturo led the Dolphins with 24 points and Samantha Flecker added 20 points.
Pasaturo was named regular season CUNYAC MVP while Del Rosario, Fields and Pearson were recognized as CUNYAC All-Stars.
"We are a much different and improved team from the time we played them in December to when we played them 10 days ago," commented Lehman head coach
Eric Harrison. Harrison the winningest coach in CUNYAC history is in his 19 year at the helm of the Lightning women's squad.
Lehman won the CUNYAC tournament last year by defeating Brooklyn College in overtime earning a trip to the NCAA play-offs. Lehman looks to take the crown again and garner another trip to the Big Dance. "This is what we play for. Participating in March Madness is a goal we hope to achieve," continued Harrison.
The winner of the Lehman/CSI game will take on the winner of the Brooklyn/CCNY on Friday at 6:00 PM for the title and a trip to the Big Dance.
Lehman has appeared in the NCAA Tournament on two occasions. The previous times, the Lightning bowed out in the first round.
For fans unable to make the trip to CCNY and cheer on the Lightning they can follow all of the action on live via live stats.
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