Quantcast

Queens women hold on to top Southampton, 44-39

By Dylan Butler

It was the first time Queens defeated the Lady Colonials since Jan. 5, 1994 – a span of 13 games. The win also avenged the Lady Knights 55-51 loss at Southampton Nov. 29.

“We haven't beaten them, and they're a better team,” said Queens College head coach Jerry Ingenito. “They were preseason picked to finish third, we were picked to finish sixth. It was a solid effort. The kids were into it. We were talking about getting a win against a quality opponent.”

While Queens (2-3, 2-0) did struggle from the field, shooting 40 percent, and turned the ball over 26 times, there were many positive things that indicate the Lady Knights may be turning the corner in the NYCAC.

There was the defense, which held Southampton (5-2, 2-1) to 32.6 percent from the field and forced 21 Lady Colonials turnovers. The Queens College starting five, led by Elena Rakova and Erin Dollard, combined for 14 of the team's 16 steals. Dollard leads the league in steals, averaging 3.8 per game.

“We knew we had to defend,” Ingenito said. “We had to combat their press by playing defense and not letting them score.”

And then there was the toughness of the Lady Knights. Every time Southampton made a run, Queens held on and then made one of their own.

The Lady Colonials rallied to tie the score at 18 late in the first half, but Queens scored the final five points of the half to take a 23-18 lead into the break. A three-pointer by Jamie Podjed from the left baseline tied the score at 25, but the Lady Knights went on an 8-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws by Rakova to go ahead, 33-25, with 15:29 left in the game.

Kerri Rueb tied the score again at 33 on a bucket from the left blocks, but the Lady Knights again reeled off six straight points, four by Rakova, who finished with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, to go back ahead, 39-33, with 7:02 left in the second half.

“We learned a lot from the first game,” said Rakova, who recorded her third straight double-double. “They pressured us in the first game, but we knew their style and in tonight's game we adjusted. We just had to execute and take care of the ball. In the last game we broke down in the end. Tonight we played 40 minutes.”

Southampton cut the Queens lead to two, 41-39, with 2:58 remaining, but the Lady Knights again finished the half strong, scoring the final three points of the half, including two huge free throws by freshman Erin Dollard with 21.7 seconds left, to extend the Lady Knights lead to 43-39.

“We finished the first half and we finished the game,” Ingenito said. “We were more consistent tonight. We answered the bell a lot.”

Another highlight was the play of Erin Dollard. With three starters, April Gross, Anica Gant and Jill Kraft, still out of the lineup with injuries, the Elmhurst native out of Grover Cleveland was forced yet again to run the point, playing out of position. She finished with 13 points, including the game-clinching free throws at the end, in addition to four steals and three assists in 40 minutes.

“I like to be on the line at the end,” Dollard said. “I think I'm a pretty good foul shooter. After the first one though, I was a lot more relaxed. It was a good feeling. That was a really big win.”

After a game at New York Tech scheduled for Wednesday, the Lady Knights head to Bridgeport, Conn. to take on the University of Bridgeport Saturday at 6 p.m.