Terriers living up to preseason hype

SFC Brooklyn Sits Atop NEC Standings With Five-Game Run

January 7, 2015 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Junior Amdy Fall has spearheaded a stifling St. Francis defense, helping Remsen Street’s Terriers win a season-high five in a row. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

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After losing their first five games, the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers are suddenly living up to their preseason ranking as the team to beat in the Northeast Conference.

Junior forward Amdy Fall had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots Tuesday afternoon at Remsen Street’s Pope Center as the Terriers shut down Bryant, 63-47, en route to their season-high fifth straight victory, including a perfect 2-0 start in NEC play.

“It feels good,” said Fall, who recorded his second double-double of the season. “I’d rather block a shot than score to be honest with you. You get momentum that way, get the crowd going, and get on offense.”

Defense has certainly been the key to SFC’s resurgence.

The Terriers (8-7) have yielded just 56.8 points per contest during their winning streak, and have emerged victorious in all but two of 10 contests since their slow start to the campaign.

Last Saturday night in Fairfield, Conn., the Terriers appeared well on their way to defeat against Sacred Heart before rallying from an 18-point deficit to pull out a wild 73-71 win on the strength of senior point guard Brent Jones’ acrobatic layup with less than 30 seconds to play.

“We knew we had to play 35 seconds of each possession and just chip away,” SFC coach Glenn Braica said. “And we just kind of hung around. We weren’t even scoring on some possessions but we weren’t letting the lead go back to 15, we kept it at nine, seven, and that gave us a chance. We hung in there and just kept fighting.”

Senior forward Jalen Cannon, the early frontrunner for NEC Player of the Year honors, recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds against Sacred Heart for his sixth consecutive double-double.

Though Cannon managed just eight points and eight boards against Bryant on Tuesday, he remains the driving force on a team determined to reach the Downtown school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Junior forward Tyreek Jewell poured in 15 points against Bryant and Jones finished with 13 points and six assists to become just the second player in school history to reach 500 career points and assists.

The Terriers will try to continue their run Thursday night when they visit Fairleigh Dickinson.

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The NEC hasn’t been nearly as kind to LIU-Brooklyn, which dropped to 0-2 in conference play with its third consecutive loss overall, a 65-62 setback to visiting Fairleigh Dickinson Monday night at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

Senior Gerrell Martin scored 23 points and sophomore Joel Hernandez added 15 off the bench for the Blackbirds (4-9), who rallied back from a 13-point deficit before faltering down the stretch.

LIU will try to avoid a fourth straight home loss Thursday night in Downtown Brooklyn against visiting Sacred Heart.

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After having their season-high 10-game winning streak snapped at the College of Staten Island on Saturday, Brooklyn College returned to its previous form with a 75-63 victory against CUNYAC rival York College Tuesday night at the West Quad Center.

Junior Lorenzo Williams put up game highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds and fellow third-year standout Egzon Gjonbalaj added 19 points as the Bulldogs improved to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in conference action.

BC will try to improve on its impressive 6-1 non-conference record and perfect 4-0 home mark Thursday night when it hosts borough rival St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn).

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Reigning CUNYAC Player of the Week Megan Campbell scored 20 points and Nicole Francomano dished out 11 assists as the BC women cruised to their sixth straight win, 75-54, over York at the West Squad Center earlier Tuesday.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-3, 6-0 CUNYAC) will face their biggest test of the season Thursday night when they host FDU-Florham, which is currently ranked No. 1 overall among Division III women’s teams.

The Devils, who are the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, bring a 45-game win streak to the West Quad Center.

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The LIU-Brooklyn women posted their first NEC win of the season Monday night against visiting Fairleigh Dickinson, rolling to an 81-71 triumph behind junior Sophie Bhasin’s 27 points.

Sophomore Shanovia Dove added a career-best 16 points for the Blackbirds (4-9, 1-1 NEC), who will travel across the Verrazano to face Wanger Saturday afternoon.

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The women of SFC are having a tough follow-up to last year’s 19-win season.

The Terriers’ season-high losing streak reached seven Monday afternoon at the Pope as SFC dropped a 65-53 decision to NEC-leading Bryant.

Junior guard Leah Fechko scored 15 points and senior Jaymee Veney added 14 for the Terriers (3-11, 0-2), who will try to end their skid Saturday against Mount St. Mary’s.