Lady Knights Defend Home Court
by Ray Floriani
TEANECK, N.J. – FDU coach Peter Cinella faced a challenge. St. Francis (NY) was invading the Rothman Center with an unblemished 3-0 conference record. To make matters even more perplexing, the Lady Terriers had a 6-7 center in Katja Bavendam. A year ago Bavendam, a senior center, did quite a job inside against the smaller FDU front court. So the task at hand for the Lady Knights was a tough one.
After four minutes FDU led 7-2. The game never got any closer as the Lady Knights romped 65-29 on Saturday. Cinella stopped Bavendam with a masterful game plan. He made sure she was fronted and had a player behind her. Offensively FDU pushed the ball virtually every possession. The faster pace in transition took a physical toll and left the St. Francis center less effective . She finished with 4 points (1 of 6 from the field) and 11 rebounds but did not even get a shot off until 4:20 remained in the firsts half. Post defense aside, Cinella was thrilled with the overall team effort.
“Starting with and since the St. Bonaventure game (December 20th) we have held every opponent to fifteen or under points in one half,” Cinella said. “Tonight we did it both halves.” The Lady Knights stormed out to a 33-15 lead after the initial 20 minutes. The second half was much the same.
While St. Francis couldn’t get anything going and shot an icy 24 percent (11 of 45) from the field, FDU put three players in double figures and consistently attacked the inside. Forwards Jennifer Walkling and Christy Altamirano did the most damage with 12 and 11 points respectively. FDU was paced by freshman guard Jasmyra Saunders with a game high 17 points. While Cinella was pleased with Saunders’ offensive output, he beamed while noting the stat sheet revealed her seven rebounds and seven steals. It shows again that defense-first mentality.
Defense has been the priority for Cinella in his first year at the Northeast Conference school. The defensive end is doing the job. Offensively FDU got off to a slow start this season, but that part of the game is getting in tune as conference play heats up. While the men’s side of the NEC is wide open and has been for several years, the women are experiencing more parity.
“There are a few teams that could win it all,” Cinella said of the NEC women’s race. “Look, St. Francis came in here undefeated and was playing well. On our behalf we just have to keep improving every game.”
Your standard newspaper box score would be cruelly unkind to Mercedes Walker. Her line was 0-3 from the field, 0 free throws, 0 points. But the 6-3 FDU senior had a simply outstanding game. Walker pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds and blocked 3 shots in 26 minutes. Virtually every defensive possession her assignment was to front Bavendam and she did it to near perfection.
“Her (Walker) assignment was simply to rebound and play defense,” Cinella said. “She did an outstanding job against a very good post player.”
FDU won the battle of the boards 47-33 and had a 16-7 edge on the offensive glass.
St. Francis was paced by guard Tiffany Hill’s 14 points.
Amazing stat: FDU shot no free throws and St. Francis committed only four personal fouls the entire game.
FDU is 6-9 and 2-2 in the NEC while St. Francis (NY) 6-10 and 3-1 in conference.
Former Rutgers and WNBA star Sue Wicks is an assistant to St. Francis head coach Brenda Milano.
