Big Play Ends NYU-Poly's Postseason Run

BROOKLYN, NY -  Thursday night's Skyline Conference women's basketball semi-final game between NYU-Poly and Farmingdale had everything a playoff game could offer and then some. The two squads battled tooth and nail for the entire first half, with neither team having more than a four point lead. That set up a second half that created the best playoff atmosphere Jacobs Gymnasium has seen in years.

With 50 seconds to go and holding a 54-51 lead, Farmingdale's Jalicia Connell hit a huge three-point shot that proved the game-deciding shot as the Lady Rams held on to a 61-58 win. The Lady Rams will move on to the Skyline Championships and will play Mount Saint Mary on Saturday at the Mount. NYU-Poly will wait to see if and who they will play in the ECAC Tournament

After a three by junior Margaux PIckell (Howell, NJ) with 10 ticks left, NYU-Poly had a chance to tie the game when Farmingdale's  Nikita Green missed a pair of free throws, but only to have NYU-Poly turn the ball over after the rebound. But, again Green missed both free throws and this time junior Megan Bosi (New Milford, NJ) pulled down the rebound, but NYU-Poly could not get the final three-point shot off in time.

Ironically, just six days ago, these two teams battled to a 48-47 score favoring the Lady Jays - a game also won on a big shot in the final seconds.

Both senior Kristin Leitheuser (Pleasant Valley, NY) and Pickell recorded a double-double. The junior tallied a game-high 20 points and 11 boards, while the senior chalked up 13 points and 16 rebounds. Freshmen Tabitha Larsen (Ramsey, NJ), who connected on several key three-point shots throughout the game, shared a game-high 20 points. She was 4-for-10 from behind the arc.

Connell finished with a team-high 15 points while Green added 14 for the Lady Rams, who committed just 11 turnovers to NYU-Poly's 23. The Lady Jays again struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 43% (10-for-23). Farmingdale shot 55% from the charity stripe, but was out-rebounded 50-42.

NYU-Poly falls to 19-7 (14-4 Skyline), while Farmingdale improves tro 20-7 (14-14 Skyline).