Fordham 71, George Mason 65: Quotes from Pecora, Smith, Sengfelder

Fordham head coach Tom Pecora's opening statement:

"Well, it was very similar to the game we played down there a few weeks ago. We were challenged, we knew Eric (Paschall) wasn't going to be 100 percent, (and) that's 18 points a game for us, so our guys had to step up, but I think it was quite fitting that Bryan, (Smith) being a senior, being a few miles from home, being in Brooklyn through and through, Midwood High School and all of those things and being our lone senior, for him to make plays...I told him I loved him so much after he made that crazy turnover. I still ran a play for him after that in the press offense to get the ball, but and then for Christian, (Sengfelder), this is very close to Munich as well! So, there's a couple of good German restaurants, Christian, that you could go to around here, so, you know, once again, we're a young team with seven freshmen, but Bryan Smith...the job Bryan has done throughout the year, whether he's played well or he hasn't, he's always been a steady force. He's been tremendous in practice, great in the locker room, and the job that he has done has really allowed Christian and Eric to mature a lot quicker than some of our freshmen have in the past, because they've had great leaders, Bryan Smith and Ryan Canty; who's out, but will be back next year as a fifth-year senior. So, you know, it was one of those games where we couldn't get that separation. We talked about playing better defense, but in the second half, they were drilling some shots. You know, we always, one of our game goals is always to win the battle of the boards, and we did by two, and (Shevon) Thompson, he's a beast, I mean, he's really, really difficult to prep for, and we threw three or four different defensive schemes at him, with different people going in and doubling him on the catch, doubling him after the dribble, doubling him big on big, guard on big, so we just kept him off balance, and I think that was a key for us tonight."

Bryan Smith on getting a second Atlantic 10 tournament win in as many years:

"It's satisfying, I mean, we played the same team two years in a row, and to get them both times is a great feeling. I mean, we worked hard to get wins, we had some wins that we shouldn't have, we lost close games, but this is satisfying."

Smith on Christian Sengfelder and whether or not he was capable of a big game:

"Definitely. Chris, he works hard every day, like, that's his demeanor. He's always a hard worker, a good guy, I mean, I knew one of these days, it was going to happen sooner or later."

Christian Sengfelder (27 points) on his 10-of-13 shooting:

"I don't follow it at all when I'm playing. I just want to make baskets, help the team win, and if I shoot 10 out of 13 and we win, I'm happy. If I shoot 5 out of 11 and we win, that's fine too. I'm just trying to help the team win. Everything is great. To win an A-10 game, and then win the first game in the tournament at Barclays Center, it's a great feeling. I'm happy to be here, blessed to be here, I like it."

Sengfelder on feeling additional pressure with Eric Paschall not 100 percent:

"I'm trying to come into games without having pressure at all, like just trying to take the pressure off of me. We played the last two games without Eric and we lost both games, so there was a little bit of   pressure on me, and on the team as well, it kind of compensated. Eric was out, but as I said, we try to get good games without any pressure, any thoughts in my mind, just play the game."

Sengfelder on preparing for VCU:

"Watch film, talk to coaches, I work real closely with them, like Bryan said, after every practice, how I could play them, I talk to Coach Pecora, Coach (Tom) Parrotta, everybody. I don't know, we'll figure it out."

Smith on what he tells freshmen going into tournament games:

"I mean, I tell them that it's much more intense. I mean, the time from the tipoff to when the clock hits 0:00, I mean, that's the difference right there. I tell them it's more intense, that's it."

Smith on playing in Brooklyn:

"It's a great feeling, I mean, I had a lot of friends and family here cheering me on, cheering the team on. I mean, I'm glad I get to win in front of them, especially like 10 minutes away from here, that's where I live."

Pecora on winning an Atlantic 10 tournament game for the second straight year, addressing criticism of a slow rebuild:

"Look, you know, it is what it is. I think that, when you look at Eric being Rookie of the Year and Christian being on the All-Rookie Team, you know, you have bookends at the three and four spots, we have Canty and (Ryan) Rhoomes coming back next year to play the five, Mandell, (Thomas) who's basically been playing the point guard spot for about a month, will have a whole spring and summer under his belt, and fall next year as he prepares, we'll have a senior point guard, and then with Bryan the only one leaving, I think the future's bright, but that's the way I've always looked at things, no matter how this season goes with the team. Very rarely have I come out in a season and said, you know, 'this team's in trouble for next year.' You know, what I complimented them on, and you guys have heard me say this before: We had our 88th practice yesterday, and they had three bad practices all year. So for a group with this many young people to just go out and compete like that every day and not lay an egg, it speaks in volumes. They just never quit. They believe in themselves, they really do, and a lot of it comes from these two guys, (Smith and Sengfelder) from Mandell, Ryan Rhoomes, but I just can't shake Mason! It's like, you know, I've been with them for so many years now, from my years in the CAA and everything we went through in 2006, and then to continue to play them, and it just seems like every year in the A-10 tournament, we'll get them, or we've gotten them, rather. So now, we'll just prepare for VCU and you know, we'll be up watching film and get ready for that when we get back there."

On Christian Sengfelder:

"Yeah, it's awesome, and he just, again: You hear it about a lot of kids, he just keeps getting better and better. We have a hard, physical practice, I come back out 20 minutes later and he's still shooting with one of the coaches. He's just got tremendous, pays attention to detail, his work ethic. We really, I recruited him like a football coach. I watched him on film, and after watching, like, three or four films on him, I sent Tom Parrotta over to Germany, and he called and he's like, he sent back a picture of him standing next to him to show me how big he was, he said; and Tommy's almost 6-6, 'you know, he's big and he's good,' so I said, 'bring him to the Bronx!' So, we were able to get him in on a visit, and it's all worked out, but I'm excited about coaching him. He's a lot of fun to coach."

On preparing for VCU:

"Yeah, I mean, you know, it's interesting. We haven't, and I'm probably jinxing myself here, I mean, we've had some games where we had a lot of turnovers against them, but the key, when we've played tight in close games, is you just can't have live turnovers. You can't turn the ball over in the backcourt, you can't turn the ball over where it's live and they can go the other way. I'm sure they're going to be all fired up, they've been through a little bit of a rough patch, and I know Shaka will have them very well-prepared, but, you know, it's mid-March. We know what we have to do. We know how we have to execute against that kind of pressure, and then we've got to punish them for it. We've got to make some plays on the offensive end after you get by the first wave of pressure."

On how different Fordham is since playing VCU on January 4:

"Much better. When I saw the league schedule come out, I was like, I mean, we opened right out of the gate, a young team in January, it was tough. We played VCU and Dayton the first two home games, and then we got a GW team in there. Our road games were tough, but we're more mature. We're playing with a different point guard now, with Mandell, I think Christian's skill set at the four can be very helpful when attacking teams that press, so hopefully all those things come into play."

On Sengfelder's efficiency:

"Yeah, well, I think, what he did a great job of in the first half, he slipped a few screens, and, you know, he got them off balance with that, got a couple of layups, you know, instead of setting his screens, so by doing that, it really softened them up around the basket, and they were concerned about that, and in turn, he was able to pop and get a couple of good looks. The good thing is, he doesn't force many shots. He doesn't get...I don't remember him, honestly, I don't remember him getting a three-pointer blocked this year, because he's got a great feel, you know, if somebody's going to contest it, he's not going to take it. So, I think his shot selection is exceptional as well."

On Mandell Thomas' steal and layup late in the second half:

"Yeah, I was shocked he didn't make the All-Defensive Team, because obviously, he's not (Briante) Weber, but he was second to him in steals in the conference. He's a real good defender, you know, he has total freedom to do that in the course of what we do, you know, I let him just kind of read the quarterback, so to speak, and see if he can jump the pass and go the other way, so that was a big-time play, you know? At Richmond about three weeks ago, in a tie game with about a minute to go, he tried to jump one, and man, he missed it by that much, and we lose the game by three, but I told him after that, 'you've got free rein.' His instincts are great, and then that was a big play for us, because we were struggling at the offensive end, missing some free throws, and we're the best free throw shooting team in the conference, you know, we're up in the 80 percentiles there, so that hurt us a little bit there."

MAAC Championship Final Call

I'll have several pieces on backlog from the MAAC Tournament over the next couple of days, starting with the one that means the most to me. Here's my final call of the last five seconds as Manhattan successfully defended their MAAC championship with a 79-69 victory over Iona, sending the Jaspers to the NCAA Tournament once again:

Providence 79, Seton Hall 66: Ray Floriani's Photo Essay

Newark, NJ- From their earliest days of competitive basket players are told, ‘you must put two halves together;. A full effort is required. Players are well aware of this, yet there are times they fall short. In those instances, the ‘basketball gods’ deliver a message of their own.

On Wednesday, the Seton Hall Senior Night at the Prudential Center, this was the case. The Hall put together a strong first half, taking momentum and an eight-point lead into the locker room at the break. 

The second half saw a complete reversal of fortunes, not just for Seton Hall, but their Big East opponent Providence as well. The visiting Friars rang up fifty points en route to a 79-66 decision over the Pirates. That is a 21-point swing in 20 minutes. In tempo-free numbers Providence’s efficiency margin (offense minus defense) was -25 at the half. They finished with a +21 for the game.

Numbers aside, the game was clearly about having the lead, and as Seton Hall Coach Kevin Willard said, ‘failing to sustain’. Providence got the message from their mentor Ed Cooley. While the Friars did not have a half to remember at the start, they finished strong enough to exit the Prudential Center with a victory.

Cooley would be in agreement with Willard or any other coach roaming the sidelines, you must put two halves together. On this night, one outstanding one was good for a Providence road win.

Tyler Harris of Providence is all concentration on the foul line:

The halftime entertainment, a band who will perform at the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mulberry Street in Newark:

Big East Champion Seton Hall's coaching staff. From left: Director of player development Nick DiPillo, director of basketball operations Marissa Flagg, assistant coach Lauren DeFalco, and head coach Tony Bozzella:

The Sapphire dance team as Flag Man Anthony Marotta goes through his routine:

Sterling Gibbs of Seton Hall applies backcourt pressure:

Official Mike Roberts, who worked with Roger Ayers and Gary Prager on a solid crew:

Ed Cooley of Providence meets the media:

Providence 79, Seton Hall 66: Ray Floriani's Tempo-Free Analysis

Seton Hall's cheer squad poses after the game at center court. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

Newark, NJ - Once again, Seton hall was dealt a cruel lesson: The game is 40 minutes. The Pirates came out strong, only to falter after intermission. Providence scored 50 second-half points to defeat Seton Hall 79-66 on Senior Night. The pace and efficiency:

Possessions: Seton Hall 65, Providence 64

Offensive Efficiency: Providence 123, Seton Hall 102

Four Factors:

EFG: Seton Hall 56, Providence 49

FT Rate: Providence 65, Seton Hall 25 

OREB Pct.: Providence 40, Seton Hall 13

TO Rate: Providence 14, Seton Hall 17

What Providence did well: Play a great second half (see ‘tale of two halves’). The Friars’ rebounding and ability to attack the basket resulted in an outstanding FT rate. 

What Seton Hall did well: Shoot the ball well. The Pirates ended with a 56% eFG mark. Included was a 10-of-23 showing (44%) from long range. Unfortunately, for the Pirates, most of the offense and good shooting (50% from three and 54% overall) occurred in the first half before cooling off. 

Leading scorers and OE:

Providence: Ben Bentil 21 points, OE 1.667, LaDontae Henton, 23 points, OE .471.

Seton Hall: Isaiah Whitehead 13 points, OE .500, Brandon Mobley 13 points, OE .385.

Rebounding was a crucial difference. Providence was dominant in OREB percentage, securing 12 offensive boards to the four of Seton Hall. In addition, the Friars enjoyed an outstanding 20-0 difference in second chance points. The leading rebounder for Seton Hall was Angel Delgado with seven, one on the offensive end. 

A tale of two halves: At the break, Seton Hall enjoyed a 119-91 advantage in efficiency and on the scoreboard, 37-29. The final twenty minutes saw a complete reversal of fortunes, as the Friars posted a 156 efficiency to the 91 of Seton Hall. Bentil led all rebounders with 10. His seven offensive boards largely explains his ‘off the charts’ OE. Both teams had favorable TO rates. Providence put those forced errors to good use, outscoring Seton Hall 18-10 in points off turnovers.

That ‘tale of two halves’ epitomized Kris Dunn of the Friars. In the first half, he was 0-for-5 from the field, zero points, one assist and a turnover. The sophomore guard finished with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and a game-high eight assists against two turnovers. An OE of a decidedly subpar .167 in the first half ended at an outstanding .700 for the evening.

Providence is 21-9 (11-6 in the Big East). Seton Hall dropped to 16-13 (6-11 in conference).

Final Thoughts

“I told Kris Dunn at halftime stop thinking, just play. As a team that second half might have been our best half of basketball this season.” – Providence coach Ed Cooley

“We could not sustain. We had a strong second half against Creighton (a Seton Hall victory the past Saturday) and the first half tonight. We still haven’t learned to put two halves together,” – Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard

A PSA for everyone before the MAAC Tournament

If you have been paying attention to the content churned out by this site, you will notice a significant dropoff in the coverage of certain schools compared to what I have done in years past. Trust me when I say this, it is nothing personal, and you have a right to know why that is, and where I have been.

In the almost six years in which I have built this site from a spur-of-the-moment creation into a reputable college basketball media outlet, those of you who know me well know that my first love is the broadcast side of the media, having been a play-by-play announcer since 2007, calling pretty much any sport and any game I can get my hands on while waiting ever so patiently for a bigger break and an opportunity.

Sometimes, opportunity knocks in places you would never expect, and as a result of circumstances that are less than desirable for anyone involved; which leads me to my next point, but first, let me give a little background if I may.

In the middle, Manhattan play-by-play announcer Christian Heimall doing what he does best, on the call as the Jaspers hosted Iona three weeks ago. On Christian's right, that would be me. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Restivo via Big Apple Buckets)

Since I started covering Manhattan College in 2012, I have become something of a regular presence at Draddy Gymnasium, and as a result, have gotten to know and become close to some great people over the years in Riverdale, one of whom is Christian Heimall.

Christian and I met on November 21, 2012, shortly before Manhattan hosted his alma mater, Hofstra, in an early-season affair that was one of the first games I covered that season for this site. I had actually seen Christian a few days prior when he called a women's basketball game at my alma mater, St. John's, but had yet to introduce myself. That mistake was remedied prior to the Hofstra game, as Christian and I exchanged a few war stories during our brief, but detailed, careers in the industry, even mentioning the common connection we shared in Ralph Bednarczyk; who was not only instrumental in jump starting Christian's career at WRHU, but also for helping me get my start as a professional when opening the door for me to call St. John's baseball while I was still looking for a job in 2010, two years after my graduation.

Long story short, Christian and I hit it off right away, and nearly three years later, I consider him not only one of my closest friends in the industry, but also like a younger brother of sorts (I turn 29 in August, he turns 26 in April) in an unforgiving business where nearly everyone is out for themselves. I never once thought anything would keep someone as talented and as enthusiastic as Christian away from the headset, (except maybe a better opportunity) but fate, as it always seems to do when you least expect it, intervened.

Prior to Manhattan's game against Rutgers in the Holiday Festival on December 14 at Madison Square Garden, Christian had informed me that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma the previous week. You never want to see anyone you know, much less someone close to you (AND younger than you, for that matter) go through something like this, and my first reaction was one of complete shock that I still feel even long after hearing of it. I wish this was all just a bad dream, but sadly, life doesn't work that way. The good news is that by his doctors detecting it early and ensuring a 95 percent survival rate, Christian is most likely going to beat this thing and be back in the broadcast booth on a permanent basis sooner rather than later. However, the bad news is that he has been very limited in his availability as he undergoes treatment to, as he so eloquently put it, #BootStompCancer.

I apologize for having digressed as long as I have, but this is where my absence from the site comes in. As Christian has been undergoing his medical treatments, I have been blessed, honored, and privileged to fill in for my good friend as the voice of Manhattan men's and women's basketball over the past two months. The circumstances are something neither myself, Christian, or anyone in the Manhattan athletic office would ever wish upon any of our worst enemies, but nonetheless, the show must indeed go on.

With that said, I will once again be on the call for the Jaspers at this weekend's MAAC Tournament in Albany while Christian continues toward a full and speedy recovery. As a result, this site will not be posting any MAAC Tournament-related articles, previews, or anything of that sort, as I will be using the weekend to prepare for the biggest opportunity of my eight-year career to date. Therefore, I close by offering my sincerest apologies for the lack of content as of late, and hope that you can all understand just why that has been the way it has.

And to my friend and brother in arms Christian Heimall, a fellow NASCAR fan like myself, I say this, knowing he will recognize and appreciate this analogy:

It's my honor to be the Cole Trickle to your Rowdy Burns this weekend, brother. I just hope I can win our equivalent of the Daytona 500 the way you did last year. 

Get well soon, my friend.

FDU 84, Sacred Heart 75: Ray Floriani's Photo Essay

Teaneck, NJ- In many conferences, everyone is in the postseason extravaganza. In some, you qualify. The Northeast Conference takes the top eight of their ten members. No postseason guarantee, you earn your way in. On Monday evening, the Sacred Heart and FDU women were finishing their regular season schedule. Both are qualified for that field of eight, which provided some interesting dynamics.

Less than a week ago, FDU dropped a one-point decision at Sacred Heart. Naturally, there was incentive to even the score. Going into the tournament with a victory was another motivation for both teams. Getting the victory and finishing on a high note to use as momentum for the ‘second season’ gave us a scenario much greater than two teams just playing out the regular campaign. 

The result saw an 84-75 victory by FDU, a wide-open, entertaining affair with six double-digit scorers, three from each side. In the final analysis with so many stepping to the fore, taking their turns, the game was essentially property of the Knights thanks to their marquee player. 

Any good team needs support personnel to perform duties as rebound, set screens, defend etc. Coaches also like to have that player who, as Al McGuire said, “gets his (in this case her) picture on the cover of the press guide.” FDU had her in center Erika Livermore, a 31 point scorer adding 18 rebounds. Livermore has a sixth sense for the ball in traffic. She logged 34 minutes and was a major catalyst in the FDU victory.

On this night, we were treated to more than another regular season-ending game. We were also beneficiaries of a great performance as a bonus.

A video review by officials Joe Barrise, Michael Schmidt and John Fitzpatrick:

FDU's Amanda Andrades walking the ball up the floor to initiate the offense:

Sacred Heart's Katie Shepard looks at the score during a free throw break:

Legendary FDU public address announcer Burt Shoobs, working his 847th consecutive game as the voice of the Knights, both men and women. That figure Burt tells is about half the games the FDU men have played in their history:

FDU coach Pete Cinella does not appear pleased with what transpired:

Sacred Heart huddles with coach Jessica Mannetti during a late game timeout:

Erika Livermore of FDU, a 31-point, 18-rebound performer, attempting to inbound versus pressure in the waning minutes:

FDU 84, Sacred Heart 75: Ray Floriani's Tempo-Free Analysis

FDU and Sacred Heart in the postgame handshake line. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

Teaneck, NJ - They are both playoff bound in the Northeast Conference women’s tournament. On Monday night, the two teams closed the conference regular season. FDU defeated Sacred Heart 84-75 at the Rothman Center. The pace and possessions:

Pace: FDU 73 possessions, Sacred Heart 72

Offensive Efficiency: FDU 115, Sacred Heart 104

Four Factors: 

eFG: FDU 58, Sacred Heart 44

FT Rate: FDU 30, Sacred Heart 22

OREB Pct.: Sacred Heart 41, FDU 36

TO Rate: Sacred Heart 15, FDU 21

What Sacred Heart did well: Rebound. The raw numbers showed the Pioneers deadlocked with FDU at 40 rebounds each. The offensive rebounding percentage told otherwise. The Pioneers grabbed 20 offensive boards for a 41% OREB percentage. Getting those offensive boards extends the possession and can render advantageous second shot opportunities. 

What FDU did well: Run an efficient offense. The Knights' efficiency of 115 was outstanding, and largely due to the gaudy 58% eFG percentage. They shot 8-of-17 (47%) from beyond the arc. The TO rate was above acceptable but here was an example of excellent shooting atoning for transgressions of turning the ball over.  

Leading scorers and OE: 

Sacred Heart: Hannah Kimmel 18 points OE .400.

FDU: Erika Livermore 31 points, OE .857.

Livermore led the way with 18 rebounds (eight on the offensive end). Kimmel paced Sacred Heart with 12 rebounds (four offensive).

Both clubs had three players in double figures while FDU, thanks to Livermore’s work inside, enjoyed a 34-30 advantage on points in the paint. Despite the turnovers committed by FDU, they were even at 14 in points off turnovers.

Neither team was timid about shooting the three, and both shot it well. Sacred Heart was 10-of-23 (44%) while the Knights, as noted previously, checked in at 47%.

A tale of two halves: FDU led at the break 42-39, but those turnovers…they committed 11 on 37 possessions for a 30% TO rate the first half. The final twenty minutes was much better, four turnovers in 36 possessions, giving an excellent 11% TO rate after intermission. 

FDU avenged a one-point loss at Sacred Heart on February 25. Sacred Heart finishes the regular season 16-12 (11-7 NEC). FDU ended up 10-19 (7-11 NEC).

Sacred Heart hosts St. Francis Brooklyn while FDU travels to Robert Morris in the NEC quarterfinal on Sunday.

Final Thoughts

“We have to be at our best every time out. We have to stay mentally tough. It’s a case of playing with emotion not playing emotionally.” – Sacred Heart coach Jessica Mannetti

“This was our most offensively efficient game of the season. Our field goal percentage was great, and we cut down on our turnovers the second half. “ – FDU coach Pete Cinella

Fordham 54, Davidson 46: Ray Floriani's Photo Essay

Bronx, NY - The senior days are always filled with emotion, no doubt. We bid the seniors farewell with well wishes for the future. The emotion comes with the territory. Sunday at Rose Hill, Fordham women celebrated their Senior day. Celebration is the proper term to use in this case. As much as the fans and alumni are sad to see the departing seniors played their last game at Rose Hill, the celebration centers on their accomplishments.

That final contest was a regular season-ending meeting with Davidson. The visiting Wildcats came in struggling in the midst of a lengthy losing streak. They fell behind by double figures early, battled back and took a mid-second-half lead.

Fordham regrouped and a few key plays courtesy of a senior, Emily Tapio, allowed the Rams to regain the lead and seal the 54-46 verdict. The regular season had ended at 19-10 overall with an impressive 11-5 mark in the Atlantic Ten. Next up, the conference postseason tournament, of which Fordham is defending champion.

It is not uncommon for a senior day to take on another theme or subplot of its own. That being the case, the emphasis on Senior Day on this snowy afternoon centered on celebration. The senior members were part of a complete reversal of fortunes for women’s basketball on Rose Hill. They arrived with Coach Stephanie Gaitley. They bought into their mentor’s vision, worked hard and over the past three seasons, have a WNIT, Atlantic Ten title and NCAA appearance to show for it.

At a postgame reception before alumni and friends, the four senior players spoke to those gathered. Their tone was not of sadness, but the joys of their team accomplishments. A celebration. They also reminded everyone there was the conference tournament and most likely more. Their legacy at the Jesuit school firmly intact, and still another chapter forthcoming.

Pregame, Fordham administrative assistant Katelyn Linney goes over a few details with women's basketball sports information director Chris Strauch:

The seniors, their families, and coach Stephanie Gaitley during Senior Day festivities:

Emily Tapio thinks shot, then looks to pass:

Tiffany Ruffin sets up the Ram offense:

Davidson coach Michelle Savage studying the action:

Fordham's Hannah Missry gets a break during a free throw:

Basketball ballet, as Emily Tapio closes out to defend a Davidson attempt:

During a visit to the basketball offices, yours truly with the 2014 Atlantic Ten championship trophy:

The four seniors greet alumni and friends at the postgame reception. From left to right: Taryn Durant, Emily Tapio, Tiffany Ruffin and Liz Milner:

Fordham 54, Davidson 46: Ray Floriani's Tempo-Free Analysis

The Fordham dance team in action. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

Bronx, NY – Senior Day at Rose Hill. The Fordham women capped off a successful season defeating Davidson 54-46 in the final regular season Atlantic Ten Conference meeting for both teams. The pace and possessions:

Pace: Davidson 66 possessions, Fordham 61

Offensive Efficiency: Fordham 89, Davidson 70

Four Factors:

eFG: Fordham 47, Davidson 35

FT Rate: Fordham 42, Davidson 12

OREB Pct.: Fordham 35, Davidson 24

TO Rate: Davidson 21, Fordham 26

What Davidson did well: Put together a better second half. At the end of the first half, the Wildcats showed a 66 offensive efficiency. They were a bit better in the final twenty minutes, checking in at 74. Shooting wise was an improvement. A 27% first half improved to 39% the second. Not great, but enough to get back in as the defense was forcing Fordham into a 26% TO rate.

What Fordham did well: Avoid fouling. The Rams committed only 16 fouls and sent Davidson to the line for seven attempts the whole game. By contrast, Davidson attempted more threes (11) than free throws. Fordham's defense was also of note, holding the Wildcats to a 70 offensive efficiency. 

Leading scorers and OE: 

Davidson: Dakota Dukes 13 points, OE .429, Alex Long 13 points, .667.

Fordham: Emily Tapio 12 points, OE .539

Fordham had a higher turnover rate than Davidson while outscoring the visitors 13-12 in points off turnovers.

Davidson led 22-16 in points in the paint, a number of them coming off screen and roll sets they ran very well in the second half.

Tapio (12) and Samantha Clark (10) led Fordham in rebounds. Davidson leading scorer Hannah Early (14.5 ppg) was held to four points on 2-of-13 shooting. The junior forward did pace Davidson with 10 rebounds.

Tapio had five turnovers, but her offensive boards total matched that figure. Alex Long (6-of-10) was the only player on either side to shoot better than 50% for the game.

Fordham improved to 19-10 (11-5 in conference). Davidson is 5-24 (1-15). The Wildcats have dropped 10 straight, their last win coming January 18 at Saint Louis.

Fordham will play Friday at 2 p.m. in the Atlantic Ten Tournament. 

Final Thoughts

“This was good for us. This is what we have seen all year and exactly what we will see in the conference tournament. Everyone is competitive.” – Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley

“We need some defensive work going into the tournament, especially defending pick-and-rolls.” – Fordham senior forward Emily Tapio 

Bond between Masiello and his players stronger than ever as Manhattan readies for MAAC title defense

One year after winning MAAC championship, Steve Masiello and his Manhattan players are drawn even closer together as Jaspers prepare to defend their conference crown this weekend in Albany. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Fuhrmann of the Manhattan College Quadrangle)

At this time twelve months ago, Manhattan College was in the process of knocking down the final hurdle on their road to the NCAA Tournament, winning the program's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship since 2004. The Jaspers had become the media darling of the metropolitan area after becoming New York's sole representative in the field of 68, and the blue-collar spirit of head coach Steve Masiello and his players made Manhattan easy to root for, regardless of the underdog status they held.

But with great highs come great adversity, which Masiello himself stated in the midst of his team's road to destiny always reveals who a person is and what they are made of. "When you could survive when you're supposed to go down," the coach said after a win over Marist in January of last season, "you're going to live a long time."

To say Manhattan has been through adversity this season would be a major understatement. From the various injuries that befell the Jaspers during a 2-7 start against a rigorous nonconference schedule, to what the team has experienced off the court, both individually and as a group, the program has gone through the emotional gauntlet several times over. Normally, such a roller coaster would be enough to weaken a mere mortal. Yet, here are the Jaspers, having taken their lumps through a 16-13 regular season, battle-hardened, but not fractured as they make the trip up Interstate 87 to the Times Union Center in Albany to defend their MAAC title, a band of brothers that has grieved and coped together.

"I think our brotherhood makes us even better players," junior forward Ashton Pankey said in the wake of Manhattan's emotionally charged victory over Quinnipiac to close out the regular season, winning the final home game of the season on senior day at Draddy Gymnasium. "We're all so close, you know, we go through struggles together and we fight together."

That brotherhood, a relationship where Masiello is equal parts hard-working coach and caring older brother of sorts, a demeanor that anyone who spends enough time around the team can attest to, contributed to the "T.O.E.," or "team over everything" rally cry that Manhattan carried with them into the NCAA Tournament, and even into a tumultuous offseason as well.

"I can't put it into words," an emotional Masiello said when asked just how much his senior class meant not only to the program, but to him personally. "With everything I've been through, from my degree situation, these guys are the reason I'm back. They never left my side."

"It's tough to explain," he continued, "because the highs are easy. But when you've got guys like this during the lows, it's special. They believed in me when no one else did."

Ask any one of his players why they stood by their embattled coach, and every one would look their interrogator square in the eyes and state without equivocation that Masiello would do the same for them. Far too often in sports, the relationships and team dynamics between player and coach can be taken for granted, especially when media criticism and the win-now expectations of fan bases come into play. But in the Jaspers, there is a mutual admiration between Masiello and his players to where each would run through a brick wall for the other, a staunch testament to the team-oriented mindset and close-knit nature of a group that has had their backs against the wall, and embraces whatever challenges are laid out in front of them, both on and off the court, before, during and after the next step in their championship defense begins Saturday night.

"We've all been through it," senior forward Emmy Andujar, the Jaspers' charismatic leading scorer, admitted. "It's just crazy, but we just stuck together and that's what made us stronger. That's what really made us stronger."

"Things like that just bring us closer together," said senior point guard RaShawn Stores. "A lot of you don't see the shirts we have. It's always something. Last year, we had T.O.E., team over everything. This year, it's '22 Strong.' We're all we've got. We all know that at the end of the day, when we get on that bus, it's all of us on that bus, 22 strong. When one man goes down, we never leave a soldier behind. That's the key thing."

Meet Jean Marie Romanella, the force behind the Seton Hall cheerleaders

Jean Marie Romanella instructs Seton Hall cheer squad after a game against Villanova. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

BY RAY FLORIANI

SENIOR ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTOR

South Orange, NJ ­- The first meeting remains vivid. Writing for Hoopville, (which I still do and enjoy) the end of my game stories allowed for a few lines titled ’on the baseline.’ A chance to mention the hard-working spirit groups. About a decade ago, Seton Hall had just defeated Notre Dame in a thriller at Continental Airlines Arena. Seton Hall's cheerleaders smiled as they filed past the crowd. One in particular stood out, extremely thrilled with the victory. I asked for an interview, which she granted.

Between taking deep breaths of the thrill of this narrow win over the Irish, Jean Marie Romanella, a very excited Seton Hall cheerleader, told of wanting to cheer for a Big East school when she watched conference games during her high school days in California. She was set on cheering in the conference, and investigated schools. Her dad is a St. John’s alum, but she fell in love with Seton Hall.

Early in the season, in November, I met up with Jean Marie at a Pirate contest to show a photo essay with one of the cheerleaders featured. She was coaching the cheer squad, and gave me her name on greeting. She looked as if I met her before and her name also sounded so familiar. Later that evening, the details of our initial meeting all came back to memory. A decade later, Jean Marie was back at her alma mater as the new cheerleading coach.

She initially coached recreation cheerleaders in South Orange during her undergraduate days. Later, it was on to coaching high school cheerleaders before the Seton Hall position opened and she got the job. Naturally, she is thrilled with ’coming home’. On this level however, she found there is so much to deal with. “When I cheered, even at Seton Hall, I had no idea how much goes on behind the scenes,” she said. We spoke at halftime of the women’s game on Senior Day. “In high school, there are issues regarding regulations and you answer to an AD, you have that with competitive cheer associations and report to a director, but here on this level, you have a supervisor to report to, who reports to someone else and so on. You have NCAA regulations to comply with as well as Big East regulations. There is so much you have to deal with.” Not a complaint on her part, just a matter-of-fact assessment regarding the demands of the job.

Romanella is just out of Seton Hall a decade. She looks even younger than her already youthful years. That look of youth is not a problem relating to her cheerleaders as a leader. “At first, it was a little of an issue,” she admitted. “But like anything, once your group knows your experience and knowledge, the age does not make a difference. They respect you know what you are doing.”

Jean Marie in the middle row, center, with her squad, again after the Villanova game. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

***

A cheerleading coach, not just at Seton Hall, is a part-time job with virtually full-time commitment. Romanella resides in Jersey City, teaches second grade in East Brunswick, then commutes to South Orange. Practices are generally three times a week, two to three hours each. In her group are 27 cheerleaders, three males and twenty four females. On game day, she is on hand early to make sure everyone is present, needs anything and is essentially ready. After the squad stretches, there are meetings before taking the floor. At the half is a chance to relax with another brief meeting, postgame, a wrap-up with the squad. Games at the Prudential Center mean getting everyone organized and on the bus for the commute back to campus. Beside all that is dealt with, you have the team dynamics. “You have so many different personalities on a squad,” she said. “You must deal with the members on a personal and professional level.”

As a coach, she not only instructs and encourages. The job extends beyond that. At times, she is a teacher, counselor, advisor, you name it. “You deal with it all,” she said. “You sometimes have the girls come to you with boyfriend issues, academic issues, all things college students have to deal with. In my position I am at times, a big sister to them.”

The average fan has little idea regarding the demands of cheerleaders. During timeouts, they can see the routines, grace and beauty of the squad. Behind the scenes, the girls’ attractive uniforms give way to sweats and work out apparel. There practices are a demanding endeavor. Cheerleaders incorporate stamina, flexibility and strength to best perform those routines or ‘stunts’. Many hours of practice, in and out of season, are needed. There are dangers as squad members, in practice or games, can fall and wind up with sprains, broken bones or concussions. Cheerleading is a sport. Critics say an activity. Those critics are not fully aware of the demands, It is a sport! Some states have even gone the route of incorporating cheer competitions among schools as a varsity sport.

At times, meeting some of the cheerleaders before games, I mention having known Jean Marie during her undergrad days. The response is highlighted with a simple and unanimous, “she’s awesome....she is so sweet...she is the best.”

In more specific terms, Haley, a senior from Bayonne, New Jersey, praised her coach. “She’s the best,” Haley said. “During my four years, I’ve had several coaches and she is by far the best, knowledgeable and great to work with.” Romanella has a pleasant engaging smile, but when the time calls for it, she can be tough. “She can be a disciplinarian,” Haley said. “If we are not performing or working hard in practice, we will hear it.”

Dominique, a senior from Queens, New York and co­-captain as is Haley, noted, “she is the best. She works very hard, is dedicated, and is always there for us.” Both young ladies chimed in adding, “and she is doing all this while planning a wedding.”

Romanella loves cheerleading. She enjoys Big East basketball, but is truly passionate about cheering. Her advice to younger and lower level cheerleaders contemplating cheer in college or making the high school varsity is simple. “Get to a gymnastic gym,” she said. “Get a partner to work on gymnastic routines with. Learn tumbling. These are things you have to know and work on to get to a higher level.”

A college coach, Jean Marie still is involved through cheer groups with those coming up the ranks. She simply exudes passion and enthusiasm for cheerleading. Jean Marie did so as a cheerleader wearing the ‘Pirate Blue’ and as a coach. She has passed that passion to her squad, a squad that is blessed to call her ‘coach.’

Manhattan 69, Quinnipiac 65: 5 Observations

Ashton Pankey enjoyed yet another solid game, with 17 points and 8 rebounds in Manhattan's win over Quinnipiac. (Photo courtesy of Manhattan College Athletics)

For the last time in the regular season, our traditional handful of observations and nuggets of note in Manhattan's 69-65 victory over Quinnipiac, which guarantees the Jaspers the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament, which begins Thursday in Albany:

• Defense wins championships.

The age-old cliche was harped upon by each of the Manhattan seniors in the postgame press conference, particularly RaShawn Stores, who extolled the virtues of former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to his teammates (for further details, click here for our game story) throughout the season. The mindset employed by the surefire future Pro Football Hall of Famer was not lost on the Jaspers, who used the basketball equivalent of a goal line stand in the final seconds to hold Quinnipiac off. "We're leaving a foundation for the younger guys," Stores emphatically declared. "We let them know defense wins games. That's the culture Coach Mas taught us in our first year here."

• Ashton Pankey just might be Manhattan's most valuable player of late.

With all due respect to Emmy Andujar, who stands a very good chance of being selected as a first team all-MAAC honoree when the conference awards are announced Monday, his teammate and frontcourt partner has meant just as much, maybe more in some aspects, to the Jaspers' late-season surge. With 17 points on Sunday, Pankey went into double figures for the thirteenth consecutive game, and fifteenth in his last sixteen contests. Andujar and Shane Richards will almost certainly get their share of offensive opportunities, but when Pankey; whom Steve Masiello has referred to on numerous occasions as the best back-to-the-basket forward in the MAAC, is consistent and firing on all cylinders, Manhattan has an anchor in the middle that will guide them through a potentially tough matchup or two in Albany.

• Speaking of all-conference honors...

The one player who showed how deserving he was of any accolades that come his way was Ousmane Drame. Slowed by an apparent ankle injury in the first half, on top of playing through a torn meniscus that he has still not fully recovered from, Drame still found a way to nearly end up with a triple-double, ending his afternoon with a 12-point, 9-rebound, 7-block effort that also included three steals. Despite the health scare, head coach Tom Moore insists he should be ready to go for Quinnipiac's first round matchup with Marist Thursday night, the final game on the slate at the Times Union Center.

• Manhattan's defense didn't capitalize on every mistake, but...

The Jaspers forced Quinnipiac into an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, something that Tom Moore was visibly distressed by when we spoke to him after the game. "I didn't think we played particularly crisp," Moore admitted, "but I thought we played with a lot of heart, a lot of toughness. They can make you look bad at times through their style of play. The first couple of minutes of the second half were not great for us. We can't have 19 turnovers against these guys, they're going to force a ton of them. Typically, what they do well is when you turn it over, it gives them a run-out, a 2-on-1 or something, and they had a few of those."

• Sunday's win may have been the most emotional since last year's MAAC Championship.

And with good reason, considering the seniors that were honored before the game formed the very first recruiting class for Steve Masiello as a head coach, a point he has driven home throughout the year when talking about how his players have believed in him, and shared his vision that the Jaspers would rise up to rejoin the MAAC's elite despite a 2-7 start. "When you have guys like this," Masiello proudly stated, "you never worry about where you're going to end up. When you've got great people and great talent, you're going to be in good shape. When you have quality people, you're destined for greatness."

Jaspers handle Quinnipiac on senior day, clinch No. 3 seed in MAAC Tournament

Honored in pregame ceremony, Manhattan's senior class accounted for one final home win, defeating Quinnipiac 69-65 in last tuneup before MAAC Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Manhattan College Athletics)

In his pregame address to the members of his senior class, Steve Masiello spoke from the heart, telling the group of players who served as his first batch of recruits upon his arrival at Manhattan how much they meant to him personally, and that he loved them more than they could imagine.

Feeding off the emotion and the inspiring remarks, the outgoing group of Jaspers did their leader proud, valiantly standing tall on defense in the final seconds as Manhattan (16-13, 13-7 MAAC) provided a final memory to last for the ages, holding off Quinnipiac (15-14, 9-11) by the final of 69-65 at Draddy Gymnasium.

"Great win, not because we beat Quinnipiac, but just for these guys," Masiello said after the victory, which assured the Jaspers of the No. 3 seed as they begin the next step in their MAAC championship defense. "It's very fitting we won on a defensive stop, as their careers should end."

Through the opening minutes, a last-second stand looked as though it would not be necessary, as Manhattan opened the game on a 9-2 run, outrebounding the tenacious Bobcats 8-4 at the first media timeout, with Emmy Andujar accounting for five of the eight boards on an afternoon where the senior forward would lead the Jaspers with 18 points. But Quinnipiac would fight back, going on a 10-2 run shortly thereafter to rip the lead away for a moment, and ultimately playing Manhattan tight through the remainder of the opening stanza, which ended with the Bobcats trailing 37-34 entering the locker room.

Manhattan came out of the intermission in the role of the aggressor, ripping off an 11-4 spurt to take a ten-point lead at 48-38, but Quinnipiac would bring their deficit back to four markers several minutes later. A three-pointer from Zaid Hearst, whose 22 points led all scorers, with 4:40 remaining cut the Jasper lead to two, at 61-59, but a 7-3 run from Manhattan pushed the edge back to six. James Ford's three with 1:14 to play made the game a one-possession affair once again, and following a Manhattan miss, the Bobcats had the ball with one last chance to tie, but Evan Conti's triple attempt fell short.

"We were actually trying to run Evan off a couple of screens up top," a dejected Tom Moore said of Quinnipiac's final possession, "and get Z(aid) off a pin-down coming off, but they switch everything really aggressively, and their defense is predicated on playing out at 30 feet anyway. They're the best team, in my opinion, in this league, of playing you hard above the three-point line, so you're playing into their wheelhouse when you have to get a three with ten seconds to go. Evan tried to create something, but it didn't work out."

Shane Richards scooped up Conti's errant heave, drew a foul on the rebound, and drained one of two free throws to seal the final margin of victory, but at the end of the day, the defensive mindset that was instilled in Manhattan's upperclassmen was reinforced once more, perhaps never more strongly.

"Defense is big," point guard RaShawn Stores, who was honored along with Andujar, Donovan Kates and Ashton Pankey; who Masiello said would possibly apply for a sixth year of eligibility at the conclusion of the season, said. "That's one of our main goals," Stores continued. That's every day. Offense is going to come. Defense is what wins games and wins championships. Through the year, we always talk about the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis. That wins games. Ray Lewis won championships because he played hard, and that's the key. That's bigger than everything on senior night. We're leaving a foundation for the younger guys, we let them know defense wins games. That's the culture that Coach Mas taught us in our first year here."

Isaiah Williams' return gives Iona renewed options and familiarity entering MAAC Tournament

With Isaiah Williams back in Iona's rotation, Gaels are able to not only get extra production, but also return to press defense many critics tend to forget about. (Photo courtesy of Brian Beyrer via Iona College Athletics)

For everyone involved in Iona's victory over their longtime adversary Manhattan, the 79-75 outcome Friday night signified the latest example of just how formidable the Gaels can be.

Another member of the roster saw things a different way, for good reason.

"I was happy, excited to help my team," Isaiah Williams said after seeing the floor for the first time since January 13, sidelined for twelve games due to a broken bone in his foot that required surgery to insert a screw into the fifth metatarsal. "I can't really describe it. I was just happy to be on the court again."

Williams, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds in his first 32 minutes following an injury from which he admittedly has not fully recovered, was not the only one expressing jubilation in a comeback that, at least around New Rochelle, could be considered overdue.

"In my opinion, I think David (Laury) and him are the better players on the team," A.J. English; arguably the most valuable component of the Iona roster from a box score perspective, remarked of Williams. "I'm just thankful that he's back on the court. We missed him a lot."

As anyone who has watched Williams can attest, the junior from Newark can beat an opponent in many ways, be it his lethal three-point shot that has connected at a 46 percent clip, putting the ball on the floor and taking efficient shots, or even by serving as a facilitator by spacing the floor for the likes of English, Laury, and Schadrac Casimir to contribute to the efforts on the scoreboard. But what many others do not see, and a lot of it is due to the nature of the offensive attack when the ball is in the Gaels' hands, is just how much he helps the defensive efforts, no matter how much every detractor of the wide-open, entertaining style of basketball Iona employs makes it a point to ignore them.

"We've always pressed here," head coach Tim Cluess reassured after a victory in which Iona played a defensive style that some thought mirrored the pressure defense Steve Masiello has installed at Iona's rival, Manhattan, but one that resembled the look of Cluess' teams featuring Mike Glover, Momo Jones and Scott Machado. "When Isaiah got hurt, we stopped doing it, out of lack of depth. Tonight, we just picked our spots and started reintroducing it a little bit. It's a fun style of play for our guys, and I think it gets you going on both ends of the court."

Williams' defensive ability; he averages over one blocked shot and nearly two steals per game for the Gaels, is a facet of game planning that is nearly impossible to account for given how he can both play and defend multiple positions, a true X-factor of sorts because he creates true mismatches, something a certain opposing head coach knows all too well in his experiences of trying to stop him.

"It's a tough problem," Steve Masiello assessed when asked whether the return of Williams would make Iona even more dangerous than they currently are as a postseason team. "I don't know what you do," he added, "and that's why Tim's a much better coach than I am, because he'll figure it out. There's too many options to have. It's like Baskin-Robbins."