TEANECK, N.J. – The game was to be the season finale for the Wagner women. Entering this game with a 2-15 record in the Northeast Conference, they were eliminated from the conference playoffs, while FDU was hoping to secure the number eight seed. In the end FDU triumphed 59-54 at Stratis Arena on Monday.
Points of emphasis:
- As it played out, both teams ended their season. FDU needed to win, which they did. They also needed Robert Morris to defeat Bryant. For a while it appeared things were going according to script. Then Bryant forced overtime and the Bulldogs secured a 61-56 come-from-behind win in the extra session.
- The pace was not exactly walk it up the floor. The game had 79 possessions, a fast tempo. The efficiencies were another story. Wagner checked in at 68 while FDU was a 75 on offensive efficiency. That 75 will not win a lot of games, but it will when your opposition is under 70 and checks in with a 29 percent turnover rate.
- The FDU turnover rate was 23 percent. The teams combined for 60% eFG shooting with Wagner at 36% and FDU hitting 24%. The difference, beside Wagner turnovers, was inside. FDU out-rebounded Wagner 55-44, including 23-11 on the offensive end of the floor. Sophomore forward Erika Livermore proved to be more than Wagner could handle inside. Livermore finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds (seven of them on the offensive end).
- Lisa Cermignano in her first year at Wagner finished up 3-28 overall. Job one has been changing attitudes, which she feels is being accomplished. “In the past kids would give up in December,” she said. “This year, our record doesn’t show but these kids never gave up. They played hard until the end.” Cermignano has recruited a promising class of five players for next year. Among this year’s group freshman guard Jordyn Peck, with 19 points on the night, was impressive. Peck handled the point but is more of a two guard, which she will likely move to next season. Pete Cinella’s Knights finished up 7-11 in conference and 12-17 on the season.
- A milestone. Burt Shoobs, the FDU PA announcer was working his 794th consecutive game, without missing, at the school. Shoobs started back in 1982 when the Knights played in a small gym on the Rutherford campus, now the home of Felician College. The amazing thing, Shoobs does not drive and even in near blizzard conditions never missed an FDU home basketball assignment.
