New York, New York - Freshmen Amanda Araujo (Bronx, New York) and Demaris Andrews (Bayonne, New Jersey) both put up 20-point scoring efforts powering the BMCC women's basketball team to their first victory of the season 49-42 over CUNYAC opponent Queensborough C.C. on Tuesday night at BMCC Gymnasium. The Panthers improve to 1-3 (1-0 CUNYAC) while the Tigers fall to 1-3 (0-1 CUNYAC).
Araujo led the Panther's offensive attack dropping a career-high 22 points, 15 coming in the first half, and four three-pointers. Andrews registered her team-leading third 20-point game of the season and a second double-double with 21 points, 11 coming in the third quarter, and a game-high 21 rebounds.
Andrews is the third Panther player in the last three seasons to join the 20-point, and 20-rebound club in a single game since Lauren Malcolm and Shyasia Preston did it back during the 2019-20 season against Rockland Community College. Andrews also continued her dominant night, leading the Panthers defensively with six steals and handing out a team-high five assists.
The Panthers controlled the boards 48-46 in the contest.
The conference opener for both teams was a back-and-forth battle that featured 11 lead changes and nine ties. The Panthers held a 9-7 lead after one-quarter of play as both teams mustered up a total of six field goals in the period. The second quarter saw four different lead changes and two ties. First, MaryGrace Fernando tied it at nine at 9:37, then Araujo put the Panthers back in front with a three-pointer to make it 12-9 at 9:24 before the Tigers scored the following five points to lead 14-12 on a Yisrael layup at 7:50.
After Araujo nailed a three-pointer at 6:30 to give BMCC back the lead 15-14, Queensborough C.C. grabbed the following three points before Alicia Tomby (Berbice, Guyana) drilled a jumper at 4:46 to tie it for a second time at 17. After a Fernando jumper gave the Tigers their biggest lead of the game five, 22-17 at 3:57, the Panthers closed on a 6-2 run with an Andrews three-pointer cutting the deficit to one, 24-23, with 51 seconds remaining going into halftime.
The third quarter provided the same seesaw narrative as the first half with five different lead changes and two ties, with the Panthers finally grabbing control with Andrews scoring the final four points of the quarter with a pair of free throws at 2:13 and a layin with 51 seconds remaining to make it 34-31 after three. The Panthers grabbed control of the game in the final quarter of action, opening with a 9-1 run getting the lead to double digits for the first time on the night at 10, 43-33 at 6:38 on a Tomby jumper. Then BMCC increased it to its largest of the night, 12, 47-35 on an Andrews layup at 3:17. Queensborough C.C. kept it close with a 7-2 run down the stretch, but BMCC was able to hold them off for the 49-42 win.
Queensborough Community College had two players finish the evening in double figures, led by freshman Suriyah Gilyard who posted a team-high 14 points and grabbed a team-best three steals defensively. Classmate Diamond Yisrael had a double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds and 11 points while dishing out a team-best two assists.
The Panthers will look for back-to-back victories against Region 15 opponent and nationally ranked No. 14 Monroe-Bronx Express this Thursday, November 17, at 5 p.m. at BMCC Gymnasium. For more information, visit the BMCC Women's Basketball Schedule Page.
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The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).
