NEW YORK, NY - The No. 5 seed City College women's basketball team advanced to the City University of New York Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal game with a 65-59 win over No. 8 seed Medgar Evers in first round action at the Nat Holman Gymnasium Thursday evening.
Seniors led the way to victory for the City College women's basketball program Thursday night; Erika Richards scored 24 points and grabbed five steals. Alexis Akridge presence felt on the offensive end, hitting eight of eleven shot in the game as part of her 17 point scoring effort along with six rebounds.
CCNY freshmen Elizabeth Zullo scored 10 points, to got with six assists and three steals. Junior Erica Redwood ended the game with five points, seven rebounds and three steals.
A trey from Sophomore Debra Chan in the opening minute of the game, got the Beavers on the broad first. CCNY's largest lead in the period was by six points. At the end of the first quarter, City College held a slight two point edge over the Cougars, 15-13.
The Cougars quickly tied the game up as the second quarter got under way, a layup from Ny'asia Irby (9:41) tied the game up at 15 points a piece for each team. Midway thought the quarter, Medgar would take a two point lead (23-21), however their lead wouldn't last long. A basket from Erika Richards capped off a 7-4 run to end the quarter.
Heading into the halftime break, City College led Medgar 30-28. Richards had 12 first half points on five-for-10 shooting. Akridge carried CCNY on the boards, gathering five board in the opening twenty minutes.
At the onset of the third quarter, makers from Zullo and Akridge pushed the Beavers lead to four points. Medgar would stay in the game. A free throw from by Cyndi Whyte put the Cougers up by one (41-40) and layup from Whyte extended the lead to three.
A pair of back-to-back shots from Richards gave CCNY back the lead (44-43) and a set of good free throws from Zullo helped the team close out the quarter leading 46-43.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, the closest Medgar Evers would get to the Beavers lead would be three. Erika Richards would net 10 point in the quarter, to help the Beavers pull out a 65-59 victory.
CCNY will travel to No. 4 Hunter College in the CUNYAC Tournament quarterfinals; that game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:00 pm.
