Women's Basketball 1/30/2015 12:26:00 AM By Andrew Capitelli (BMCC Sports Information)

BMCC Women’s and #6 Men’s Basketball Earn Impressive Doubleheader Sweep of Suffolk

Kristen Merrell (23 points) and Jericho Cherisma (18 points) powered the Panthers to victory

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Follow BMCC Athletics
Facebook
Twitter

NEW YORK, NY| The Borough of Manhattan Community College women's and #6 men's basketball teams both defeated their Suffolk County Community College counterparts in an NJCAA Region XV doubleheader on Thursday night in Manhattan. The women (5-11, 2-5 CUNYAC) won 62-56, while the men (18-3, 7-0 CUNYAC) claimed a 77-67 victory.

The women fell behind 13-2 five minutes into their game, but answered with a 14-2 run to earn their first lead of the evening at 8:57. Suffolk would pull back ahead at 4:32 (21-20) and eventually carry a 28-26 advantage into halftime.

At 15:45 of the second BMCC would reclaim a one-point edge and at 11:03 the Lady Panthers began to pull away. With the score 41-38, BMCC would tally 10 of the next 13 points to extend their lead to 10 points with 5:54 remaining. Suffolk brought the game back to within three points (59-56) with 46 seconds remaining, but BMCC would hold the guests off and earn a 62-56 victory.

Freshman Kristen Merrell led BMCC with 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals to earn her 12^th double-double of the season. The Staten Island native has recorded a double-double in nine straight games and is averaging 21.6 points- and 10.9-rebounds-per-game.

Guard Ashley Duplan contributed 17 points, six rebounds and four steals, and forward Stephanie Pena had a strong game off the bench, scoring six points and collecting seven rebounds.

Suffolk outscored BMCC in the paint 26-20, but the Lady panthers made up for it outscoring the Sharks 25-17 off turnovers. BMCC also held slim advantages in second-chance points (15-13) and bench points (8-6).

After surrendering the first five points of their game, the #6 men climbed to a 14-10 lead at 14:00. Suffolk, finding their groove halfway through the first half, took a 22-16 lead at 9:27 and continued to maintain their advantage until a Justin Manon buzzer-beating three-pointer tied the game 31 just before halftime.

Suffolk would take a 34-32 lead at 18:25 of the second frame, but it would be the last advantage they would hold for the remainder of the game. BMCC pulled ahead 45-37 at 11:27 and would not allow the Sharks to come within less than four points. The Panthers held leads as large as 14 points before claiming the 10-point, 77-67 win.

Sixth man Jericho Cherisma scored a season- and career-best 18 points, grabbed five boards and blocked two shots off the bench to lead BMCC. Guard Elijah Bryant shot 4-7 from three, scored 17 and was credited with six steals.

Point guard Joseph Ojo had a strong showing, scoring 13 points and collecting nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. Akeem Williams and Kenneth Coar tormented the Sharks in the paint, potting 11 points, nine rebounds and six blocks; and eight points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, respectively.

Overall the Panthers outshot the guests 40-22 in the paint, although the Sharks outscored the Panthers off turnovers 22-18. BMCC's 14 points on the break also outpaced Suffolk's four.

Up next the women and men will face CUNYAC rival Hostos Community College on Saturday, January 31 at home. The women will play at 12:00 PM and the men at 2:00 PM.

As always, check back on BMCCAthletics.com for the latest news and developments surrounding the BMCC Panthers. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @BMCCAthletics for up-to-the-minute stories and in-game updates.

Print Friendly Version