FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to Fitzgerald Gymnasium to open the week, the Queens College women's basketball team hosted the College of Staten Island Dolphins in a must-win East Coast Conference matchup Thursday evening.
Three Knights scored in double figures, led by junior forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.), who recorded her 18th double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 15 points, while rookie guard
Eva Gitto (Albany, N.Y.) chipped in 13.
In a contest that featured 15 lead changes and seven ties, Queens trailed by five with 18 seconds remaining but responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Gitto and rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) to cut the deficit to one with 11 seconds left. After the Dolphins missed at the free-throw line, Ukaegbu's potential game-winner with one second remaining narrowly missed, as the Knights fell 58-55 in a heartbreaking ECC loss.
GAME RECAP
The opening minutes of the first quarter were tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets.
Trailing 11-9 at the 4:29 mark, a tip-in from Ukaegbu sparked a 7-0 run that gave Queens a 16-11 advantage with 1:49 left in the frame.
Over the final 1:33 of the quarter, the teams combined for 14 points, but a buzzer-beating layup by Awaka sent the Knights into the second quarter ahead 23-18.
A slow start to the second quarter allowed Staten Island to go on a 6-0 run, taking a 24-23 lead at the 7:05 mark.
Ukaegbu answered with four straight points to regain a 27-24 edge for Queens with 5:28 remaining. However, the Dolphins closed the half on a 9-5 run to take a slim 33-32 lead into the break.
Staten Island opened the third quarter with a 7-4 run to build a 40-36 advantage at the 6:03 mark.
The Knights responded by holding the Dolphins scoreless for the remainder of the period, as Awaka and junior guard
Shellby McGill (Bronx, N.Y.) combined for six points to give Queens a 42-40 lead heading into the final quarter.
Despite shooting struggles in the fourth, the Knights refused to let the Dolphins pull away.
Trailing 53-46 with 1:14 remaining and their postseason hopes on the line, Queens mounted a late push.
A Ukaegbu layup cut the deficit to five at the 0:54 mark before the Knights were forced to foul.
After a steal by Ukaegbu on the inbound, she converted 1-of-2 at the free-throw line.
The Dolphins went 1-of-2 on their next trip, setting up a Queens timeout. Out of the break, Gitto drilled a three-pointer to make it 54-52 with 14 seconds left.
Staten Island responded by converting two free throws to extend the lead to 56-52 with 13 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout, Hodzic connected from deep with 11 seconds left to pull Queens within one, 56-55.
The Knights again sent the Dolphins to the line, but the visitors were unable to convert both attempts, giving Queens one final opportunity.
Ukaegbu's last-second attempt, however, fell just short, officially eliminating the Knights from postseason contention.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Awaka led the offense with her 18th double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and one block.
- Ukaegbu posted a near double-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks.
- Gitto added 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Junior forward Chyna Bryant (Bronx, N.Y.) contributed four points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights close out the regular season on the road Saturday, February 28, traveling to Washington, D.C., to face the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds in ECC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X Main Account (@QCKnights), Queens College WBB (QCKnightsWBB), and Instagram (qcknightsny), women's basketball (qcknightswbb).
