PURCHASE, N.Y. – It's déjà vu all over again, as for the second consecutive season the Manhattanville women's basketball team will own the top-seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament and will host fourth-seed Misericordia University in the semifinals at Kennedy Gym on Wednesday, February 23 at 7 p.m.
Manhattanville (17-8, 10-4 Freedom) finished the regular season in a three-way tie for first place with DeSales (17-8, 10-4 Freedom) and King's (Pa.) (16-9, 10-4 Freedom), but the Valiants earned the top seed and the date with Misericordia (15-10, 9-5 Freedom) due to point-differential tiebreakers. DeSales will host King's in the other semifinal on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The Valiants hope to be on the same path again this season, as just one year ago the Valiants took the final game of the season against Misericordia and then proceeded to defeat the Cougars in the semis en route to the conference finals. The Valiants took all three meetings last year and took 1-of-2 this season, with Misericordia winning on their home court in mid-January.
The Valiants claimed the top-seed by winning on the final day of the season after beginning the day in a four-way tie for the overall top seed with all four qualifying teams. The Valiants used a 20-point victory, 75-55, over the Cougars to take the regular-season crown for the second consecutive time in second-year head coach Lauren Thomer's tenure.
Manhattanville finishes the season as the top scoring offense in the conference averaging 71.2 points per Freedom game, while Misericordia finishes the season as the top scoring defense allowing a conference low 52.4 points per contest. Both the Valiants and the Cougars bring a different type of style to the court, which allows each their own success.
Manhattanville finished the season as one of the hottest teams in the conference at home as the Valiants are winners of their final nine games at Kennedy Gym this season have dropped only two home conference games in the past three seasons. Misericordia on the other hand, enters the tournament after dropping their last three road games and five of seven on the season.
Scoring for both squads has come from two different types of players. For the Valiants a majority of their scoring has come from their backcourt, led by senior Simona Gordon (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) averaging 14.6 points per game and a team-high 70 steals. Gordon also led her team connecting on 137 field goals and finished second on the team from the outside hitting 28 three pointers. Gordon became the latest Valiant to break the 1,000-point plateau earlier in the year, as she broke the milestone at home versus FDU-Florham. Gordon, a two-time conference Player of the Week this season, concluded the season with her final recognition after averaging 18.5 points in the final two games of the season.
For Misericordia, the frontcourt is the dominant part of their offense as Christine Marks leads her team averaging 18.4 points per contest along with 9.3 rebounds. Another two-time conference Player of the Week honoree, Marks had a career night in the first meeting between the Valiants and the Cougars this year, as she scored 30 points in an 82-67 win. The Cougars also have threats in the backcourt with Jesse Robinson and Tyann McDaniel contributing for seventh-year head coach Tom Griffith. Robinson averages 13.4 points per game after having a career night against DeSales in early February by scoring 27 points. McDaniel runs the point for her squad and came in third place just a full point behind Robinson at 12.4 per game.
Manhattanville on the other hand, also counters with junior Courtney Turner (Staten Island, N.Y./Ralph McKee) and sophomore Taylor Wilson (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) as both average 11 points per game. Turner is second on the team in field goals made with 102 is a versatile player that can make shots and be a part of the pressure defense. Wilson is the leader in three-point baskets with 40 and finished the season with 15 games in double figures, including a career-high 24 points in the victory over nationally-ranked Bowdoin in the second game of the year.
Running the Valiant offense is senior Carey Hickey (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry), who is just one assist away from 500 on her career after averaging 6.9 dishes per contest and 8.0 assist per conference game. Her 173 assists rank her second in Division III this year. The Valiant frontcourt had stepped up this season at times with junior Kelli Hyjek (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) topping the forwards in scoring at 7.9 per game and sophomore Jennifer McSharar (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) at 5.8 per game.
Tickets for the game are $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, $2.00 for non-Manhattanville students, and free for children under 6 years old. All Manhattanville students will be paid for by the Athletic Department with a valid school ID. For those that can't make it to Purchase, the contest will be seen live on GoValiants.TV beginning 15 minutes prior to the tip along with live stats on GoValiants.com.
