PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University women's basketball team will return to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament in 2017, as the Setters clinched a spot in the postseason tournament with Saturday's 79-52 victory over the University of New Haven at the Goldstein Fitness Center, as well as a bit of help.
HOW THEY GOT IN
- The first step to clinching a playoff spot was the Setters picking up a crucial win in Saturday's contest against New Haven.
- While the Setters were in action, the College of Saint Rose fell to American International College, dropping the Golden Knights a half game behind the Setters with no games left on their schedule.
- Due to NE10 tiebreaker rules, the Setters own the tiebreaker over Saint Rose, and therefore, cannot finish lower than the No. 5 and final seed in the NE10 Championships out of the Southwest Division.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
- Southern Connecticut State University picked up a win at Le Moyne College earlier on Sunday, and the Setters and Owls are now tied for fourth place in the Southwest with matching 7-12 NE10 records.
- The winner of Tuesday's Pace vs. Southern Connecticut matchup will earn the No. 4 seed and the right to host a first round postseason matchup, while the No. 5 seed will hit the road to take on the No. 4 seed out of the Northeast Division.
SENIOR DAY
- As part of Saturday's exciting day, the Setters kicked off the afternoon with their Senior Day ceremony moments before tip-off.
- Pace honored its four seniors,
Aurellia Cammock (Brooklyn, NY/South Shore / Iona College),
Jaclyn Oskam (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central / Quinnipiac University),
Kirsten Dodge (Fabius, NY/Fabius-Pompey) and
Christina Rubin (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic / Iona College), for all of their contributions to the women's basketball program.
- The four seniors were joined by Director of Athletics Mark Brown, coaches, family and friends, and received their senior gifts at center court.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST QUARTER
- The Setters got off to a slow start, allowing the Chargers to jump out to a 6-1 lead by the 7:41 mark.
- Things quickly turned, as the Setters scored the next six points to take the lead.
- The run continued for the Setters, as they closed out the first period on a 21-5 stretch, highlighted by a pair of threes by Oskam, to take a 22-11 lead into the second.
2ND QUARTER
- After pushing the lead to 14 points early on, the Setters saw their advantage fall to nine on a short run for the Chargers.
- Pace then scored the next eight points to go up by 17, and a late three by sophomore
Alexandra Monteleone (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) left the Setters with a 40-22 edge heading into the locker room.
HALFTIME STATS
- Oskam and Rubin each had nine points in the first half after combining for five three-pointers.
- Dodge added five points and matched Oskam for a team-high five boards.
- Khayla Trowell scored seven points to lead New Haven at the half.
THIRD QUARTER
- The Setters saw their lead shrink to 13 in the first few minutes of the second half, but they quickly turned it around thanks in part to a momentum-swinging three-point play by Dodge that put them back up by 16.
- Monteleone took over in the early parts of the third quarter, scoring 12 points just over five minutes into the period, and leading Pace to a 60-39 edge heading into the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The effort level stayed high for the Setters despite the big lead coming into the final frame.
- The Setters went on to outscore their guests, 19-13, in the fourth, claiming a 27-point victory at home to help them earn their spot in the playoffs.
SETTER STATS
- For the fourth time this season, Monteleone matched her career-high with 23 points on the afternoon.
- Dodge finished up with 15 points and nine rebounds, as well as a pair of blocks.
- Rubin made a trio of threes and finished with 12 points, while Oskam put in a solid line of nine points, seven boards and three assists.
- Freshman
Jackie DelliSanti (Commack, NY/Commack) dished out a game-high five assists.
CHARGER LEADERS
- Allieyah Cubbage finished with 14 points, nine boards and three assists to lead New Haven on Saturday.
- Trowell added 10 points and seven rebounds.
RECORDS
- Pace: 13-14 (7-12 NE10)
- New Haven: 7-18 (5-14 NE10)
WHAT'S NEXT?
- The Setters visit Southern Connecticut on Tuesday, Feb. 21, to battle for fourth place in the Southwest Division, and a home game in the first round of the NE10 Championships. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in New Haven, Conn.
For all information regarding Pace University women's basketball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Women's Basketball on Facebook (
Pace Women's BBall), Twitter (
@PaceWBB) and Instagram (
@PaceWBB).
