This winter all of the Centenary Women's Home Basketball Games will be broadcast live on the web, in conjunction with Penn Atlantic Broadcasting.

To listen and watch simply click on the logo above and follow the prompts for the specific contest you are interested in.

In addition to all conference contests, selected non-conference games will also be available. To access the Penn Atlantic broadcast, click on the logo above.

Click Here For The Online Broadcasts Of Centenary Women's Basketball Home Games
                             

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (February 6, 2010) – The Centenary women’s basketball team (12-9, 9-4 CSAC) went past the century mark for the third time this season and picked up a key Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) win in the process, defeating Baptist Bible (4-15, 2-10 CSAC), 108-59, Saturday in Clarks Summit, Pa. With the victory, the Lady Cyclones maintained their spot as the fifth-seed in the playoff standings, trailing Marywood (9-4 CSAC).

Centenary shot a season-high 49.4 percent from the field (40-of-81), its highest field goal percentage since connecting on 53.8 percent (35-of-65) against Keystone on Dec. 4, 2008. The Lady Cyclones clamped down defensively, holding BBC to just 19 field goals in 59 attempts (32.2 percent), including just one three pointer. CC scored 39 points off 40 BBC turnovers.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) led five players in double-figures with 25 points on nine-of-19 shooting, including five-of-five from the free throw line. She also recorded three rebounds, three steals and one assist. Freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) shot five-of-eight from the field, including three-of-six from downtown, en route to 15 points.

Junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) matched her season-high with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting, last set against Misericordia on Nov. 30. Senior Nikki VanTassel (Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) scored 13 points, a season-best for her, and her highest offensive output since finishing with the same amount at Marywood on Feb. 16, 2009. She also grabbed five rebounds.

Sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) finished with 11 points and a career-high eight steals, along with three rebounds, two assists and one block. Fellow classmate Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) filled the stat line with eight points, five steals, four assists, four rebounds and one block. Marlie Kneifel led Baptist Bible with 14 points.

BBC took an early 12-7 lead, six minutes into the game. But a 14-0 Centenary run, including six by Murphy, gave the road team a 21-12 lead and the Lady Cyclones did not look back. CC closed out the opening period with a 45-16 streak to take a 52-28 edge into the half, and then opened the second stanza with a 14-2 run while on the way to the 49-point victory.

Centenary returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 11, with a home game against Keystone at 6:00 p.m., as part of a double-header with the men’s team, who play the Giants at 8:00 p.m.

Boxscore

SCRANTON, Pa. (February 4, 2010) – Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) recorded her fifth double-double of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Marywood came away with the big Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) victory, 69-58, Thursday in Scranton, Pa. With the loss, Centenary (11-9, 8-4 CSAC) remains in fifth-place in the conference standings while the Pacers (14-5, 8-2 CSAC) take over the third seed.

The Lady Cyclones were hurt by poor shooting, as they completed only 35.1 percent of their shots (20-of-57), 10.0 percent of their three pointers (one-of-10) and 47.2 percent (17-of-36) of their free throws. The one three pointer made marks a season low for Centenary. Marywood shot 44.8 percent from the floor (26-of-58), including 56.0 percent (14-of-25) in the second half.

Distasio finished the game with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) shot 10-of-16 from the foul line en route to a team-high 15 points while also recording four steals, three rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) finished with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals.

An early 8-5 lead for Marywood evaporated in a 9-0 Centenary run that led to a six-point edge for the Lady Cyclones. But a 7-0 streak gave the Pacers the lead, which they built to five points, 29-24, at the half. Marywood stretched its lead to as many as 16 points in the second half before holding on to win by 11.

Centenary returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 6, with a game at Baptist Bible at 1:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (February 4, 2010) – Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America District 2 Third Team, the organization announced Thursday.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have completed one full calendar year at his or her institution and reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

Vasta has an impressive 3.94 GPA while majoring in Mathematics and Elementary Education. On the court, the sophomore has started every game and leads the team in scoring (18.6), assists (4.0) and steals (3.5). She is ninth in the country in the latest NCAA statistical rankings in field goal percentage, shooting 60.6 percent from the floor (143-of-236).

Vasta and the rest of the Lady Cyclones return to action on Thursday, Feb. 4, with a road game at Marywood at 6:00 p.m. Centenary defeated MU, 82-76, on Jan. 25 to take over first-place in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) North Division. The Pacers have since climbed back on top, but CC can overtake them with a victory tonight.

2009-10 Women's Basketball Academic All-American Teams

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. (February 1, 2010) – Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) scored a game and career-high 32 points, but it was not enough as the Centenary women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker, losing to Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Gwynedd-Mercy in double overtime, 89-82, Monday in Gwynedd Valley, Pa.

With the loss, the Lady Cyclones (11-8, 8-3 CSAC) fall to fifth-place in the CSAC standings while GMC (13-5, 9-1 CSAC) maintains its position as the second seed.

Vasta also set a career-high by playing all 50 minutes. The sophomore shot 14-of-22 from the floor, setting personal-bests in both field goals and attempts. She also connected on one-of-two from downtown and three-of-four from the free throw line while recording five steals, three rebounds and one assist.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) tallied 20 points, two steals, two blocks and two assists and sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. After playing a career-high 37 minutes in the Cyclones’ loss to Cabrini on Saturday, sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) eclipsed that mark by competing for 44 minutes against the Griffins. GMC’s Jackie Dooley hit all 12 of her free throws and finished with 20 points to lead the home team.

Centenary held a 40-30 lead at the half, but the Griffins fought back to take a 67-65 lead with 36 seconds remaining in regulation. With nine seconds remaining, Ally hit a jumper to send the game into overtime. In the first extra session, Centenary pulled ahead by three, 75-72, on a Vasta jumper. But GMC’s Kate Wisniewski tied the contest with a three pointer, and after misses by Ally and freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center), the game went to a second overtime.

In the final period, Centenary’s Katy DeGraw (Tyler Hill, Pa./Honesdale) hit two free throws to give the road squad a 77-75 lead. But GMC went on a 12-2 run to take an 87-79 lead and then held on to win by seven.

Centenary returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 4, with a road contest at Marywood. The Cyclones defeated the Pacers, 82-76, at home on Jan. 25.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 30, 2010) – Three players scored in double figures but it was not enough as the Centenary women’s basketball team fell to Colonial States Athletic Conference foe (CSAC) Cabrini, 68-64, Saturday in Hackettstown, N.J. With the loss, the Cavaliers (11-7, 8-2 CSAC) move into third-place in the conference standings while the Lady Cyclones (11-7, 8-2 CSAC) fall to fourth-place.

Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) and senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) each finished with 15 points apiece to lead the Cyclones. DiStasio picked up her fourth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) played a career-high 37 minutes off the bench and contributed 11 points on four-of-six shooting while fellow classmate Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) filled the stat line with eight points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. Alyssa Brady led Cabrini with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Cabrini shot 41.0 percent (25-of-61) while Centenary connected on 39.7 percent (25-of-63). CC hit five three pointers to the Cavaliers’ four, but Cabrini shot 14-of-25 from the free throw line while the Lady Cyclones hit nine-of-12 from the charity stripe. Cabrini outrebounded CC, 43-40, and finished with 12 turnovers to the Cyclones’ 17.

It was an evenly matched game from the get-go. Both teams shot 46.9 percent in the first half (15-of-32) as Cabrini went into the locker room with a 38-37 halftime lead. In the second half, Centenary pulled ahead by seven with 6:20 to go on a layup by Rosa. Cabrini was not finished, however, as the Cavaliers went eight-for-eight from the free throw line while going on a 12-0 run to take a 67-62 edge with 31 seconds remaining.

Two free throws by DiStasio cut the lead to 67-64 with 21 seconds to go, but off the inbounds Cabrini was able to move the ball around for 16 seconds until Centenary finally fouled with just five tics remaining. Dianna DiAmico hit one-of-two from the line and the Cavaliers came away with the four-point victory.

Centenary returns to action on Monday, Feb. 1, with a road game against Gwynedd-Mercy at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 28, 2010) – The Centenary women’s basketball team (11-6) scored a season-high 61 points in the first half en route to a 107-37 win over PSU-Hazleton (2-11), Thursday in Hackettstown, N.J. The Lady Cyclones’ 70-point margin of victory over the Lady Lions is their highest since defeating the College of New Rochelle by 75 points on Jan. 18, 2006.

Centenary recorded a season-high 33 steals and forced 45 PSU turnovers. The Lady Cyclones shot a season-best 48.2 percent (40-of-83) in the win while holding Hazleton to 31.6 percent (12-of-38). CC tied its season-high with 11 three pointers, previously set three times, most recently at Rosemont on Dec. 7.

Four Lady Cyclones scored in double-figures, led by sophomore Hannah Ally’s (Philipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) career-high tying 19 points. Ally also set career-bests with seven steals and six assists. Fellow classmate Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) shot eight-of-11 en route to 17 points while also tallying six steals and two assists. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) contributed 12 points, six steals, two rebounds and one assist and freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) finished with 11 points, four assists and one rebound. Fourteen Centenary players saw action in the victory. Alyssa Meyers was the only Lion in double-figures, finishing with 18 points.

CC started the game with a 13-0 run before PSU scored its first basket. The Lady Cyclones build their lead to 32-3 before Hazleton scored its second basket. Centenary held a 61-17 lead at the half before going on to win by 70 points.

Centenary returns to action on Saturday with a home game against Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Cabrini at 1:00 p.m., as part of a double-header with the men’s team. The College will induct its first-ever Hall of Fame Class between the two games, at approximately 3:00 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 3:30 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 25, 2010) – The Centenary women’s basketball team took over first-place in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) North Division with an 82-76 win over Marywood, Monday in Hackettstown, N.J. With the victory, CC improves to 8-1 in the conference, 10-6 overall, while MU suffers its first CSAC loss and drops to 11-4, 5-1.

Centenary outrebounded Marywood 48-39, including a mark of 20-15 on the offensive glass. The Lady Cyclones limited MU to five-of-17 from the three point line (29.4 percent) while hitting eight-of-21 themselves (38.1 percent).

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) posted a game and season-high 28 points on nine-of-19 shooting, including eight-of-nine from the free throw line. The 28 points marks her highest scoring output since scoring 31 against Cedar Crest on Feb. 14, 2009. Freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) finished one point shy of her career-high, tallying 21 points on seven-of-14 shooting, including five-of-10 from downtown.

Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) shot seven-of-12 from the floor en route to 17 points while also tallying seven rebounds, six assists and two steals while junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds. Marywood was led by Mariah Schaeffer, who scored 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting, and Amanda Lass, who tallied a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

In the first half, Centenary used an 11-0 run to take an early 15-7 advantage. The Lady Cyclones build the edge to as many as 13, at 39-26, before a late Marywood run cut the lead to seven, 41-34, at the half.

In the second half, however, MU came out strong, scoring the period’s first seven points to knot the contest at 41. After CC built a six-point lead, Marywood came back again to tie the game, this time at 51. Schaeffer gave the Pacers a two-point lead on their following possession before a huge three pointer by Taylor gave the advantage right back to the Lady Cyclones. The two teams traded baskets until, tied at 60, Taylor hit another three that gave CC a lead it would not relinquish. Camuso hit two free throws for a 65-60 advantage and the home team went on to win by six.

Centenary returns to action on Thursday with a home non-conference game against PSU-Hazleton at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore

LA PLUME, Pa. (January 21, 2010) – Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) scored a career-high 31 points to lead Centenary to an 88-78 overtime win at Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Keystone, Thursday in La Plume, Pa. The Lady Cyclones (8-6, 6-1 CSAC) outscored the Giants (3-11, 1-6 CSAC) 11-1 in the overtime period to earn the 10-point victory.

In the overtime session, the Lady Cyclones shot four-of-five while holding KC to zero-of-nine from the floor. For the game, Centenary shot 27-of-40 from the free throw line, tying its season-high in attempts, previously set against Vassar on Nov. 15. Keystone made only 13 free throws on 26 attempts. CC connected on 28-of-74 from the floor (37.8 percent) while the Giants shot 31-of-76 (40.8 percent).

Vasta also set a career-high by playing all 45 minutes of the contest and tied her personal-best with 13 field goals, last set at Marywood on Feb. 16, 2009. She finished 13-of-19 from the floor while recording five steals, two rebounds, two assists and one block. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) tallied a game-high 17 rebounds along with seven points, two blocks and two steals while senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) filled the stat line with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) shot four-of-six and finished with 10 points, sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) recorded 11 points, five rebounds and two assists and freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) finished with 13 points while shooting three-of-four from downtown and four-of-four from the free throw line.

Keystone held a four-point lead, 32-28, with 2:53 remaining in the first half. But a three-point play by Murphy cut the lead to one, 32-31. After a layup from KC’s Ellen Fallon, Vasta scored three consecutive layups, sandwiched around two Jazmine Harris free throws, to give CC a 37-36 lead. With 10 seconds remaining in the period, Murphy hit a three pointer off a Vasta assist to give the road team a 40-36 halftime edge.

In the second half, Centenary built its lead to 11, 63-52, with 13:11 remaining. But a 14-4 run for the Giants cut the lead to one, at 67-66, with 5:31 to go. Keystone eventually tied the game and regulation ended with the score knotted at 77. Vasta scored six of Centenary’s 11 points in the extra session as the Cyclones earned the 88-78 victory.

CC returns to action on Saturday with a road match at Philadelphia Biblical at 2:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 21, 2010) – Centenary women’s basketball remains the highest-scoring team in Division III, according to the latest NCAA statistical rankings. The Lady Cyclones score an average of 87.8 points per game, 9.6 points more than the second-place team.

Centenary is second in the country in turnover margin (11.25), ninth in steals (14.8) and 23rd in three pointers per contest (6.9). Individually, two Cyclones are in the top 100 in scoring as sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) is 29th and senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) is 73rd, averaging 18.9 and 16.6, respectively. Vasta is also 11th in field goal percentage (60.0 percent), 14th in assist-turnover ratio (2.04), 29th in steals (3.7) and 35th in assists (4.6). Camuso is 59th in three point field goal percentage (31.0) and 81st in free throw percentage (82.2). Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) is 66th in rebounding, grabbing 10.1 boards per game.

In the latest Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) statistical rankings, CC is first in scoring, steals, turnover margin, three pointers and free throw percentage (71.2), second in offensive rebounds (18.4), third in defensive rebounds (28.6), rebounding offense (47.0) and assists (14.5) and fourth in scoring margin (9.2) and assist/turnover ratio (0.8).

Individually in the CSAC rankings, Vasta and Camuso are third and sixth in scoring, respectively, while DiStasio is third in offensive rebounds and fourth in overall rebounding. Vasta is also first in field goal percentage, first in assist/turnover ratio, second in steals, third in assists and third in minutes played. Camuso is first in free throw percentage, third in steals (2.8) and third in three pointers (2.4). Other Cyclones ranked among the statistical leaders in the CSAC are sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont), who is third in free throw percentage (83.9).

Centenary returns to CSAC action on Thursday with a match at Keystone at 6:00 p.m.

EWING, N.J. (January 18, 2010) – Senior guard Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) finished with team-highs of 20 points and seven rebounds, but it was not enough as preseason No. 21 TCNJ (10-7) earned a 78-67 win over the Lady Cyclones (7-6), Monday in Ewing, N.J.

Centenary shot 25-of-32 from the free throw line (78.1 percent) compared to just seven-of-14 (50.0 percent) for TCNJ. But the Cyclones were done in by poor shooting, as they connected on only 19-of-60 from the floor (31.7 percent), including just six-of-25 (24.0 percent) in the second half. CC tied its season-low with just four three pointers on the night, in 20 attempts.

Sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) tallied 10 points on four-of-eight shooting for CC while recording four rebounds and three steals. Kelsey Kutch came off the bench to score a game-high 26 points for the Lions.

Centenary used a 9-0 run in the first half, including five points from Ally, to take a 27-22 lead with 8:29 remaining. But TCNJ battled back as Jamie Cresbaugh scored on a put back with 36 seconds remaining in the period to take a halftime lead of 40-38. The Lions held a 27-15 advantage in rebounding in the first half.

In the second period, Camuso hit a three pointer to put the road team ahead by a score of 42-40 and then hit another to give Centenary a 48-47 advantage. However, that would be the Cyclones’ last lead of the game as TCNJ went on a 12-3 run to take a 59-51 lead before holding on to win, 78-67.

Centenary returns to Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action on Thursday, Jan. 21, with a road game against Keystone at 6:00 p.m., as part of a double-header with the men’s team, who will play the Giants at 8:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 18, 2010) – Centenary women’s basketball sophomore guard Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) was named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced on Monday. It marks the second consecutive week that Vasta received the award and the third overall this season. For her efforts, Vasta was also named Cyclone of the Week.

Vasta averaged 21.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals as the Lady Cyclones went 2-1 in three conference games last week. She posted a .600 field goal percentage in the three contests (27-of-45) while shooting 11-of-14 from the free throw line. In Centenary's 92-84 win over Cedar Crest, she finished with 26 points on 12-of-18 from the floor, along with six rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. She then posted a game-high 27 points in CC's 93-91 loss to Neumann, shooting 11-of-16 while recording four assists, four steals and two rebounds.

Vasta continues to lead the CSAC in field goal percentage, shooting .600 (87-of-145) on the season. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, she stands in 13th-place in that category.

The Lady Cyclones return to action on Monday with a non-conference game at preseason No. 21 TCNJ at 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 18 CSAC Weekly Awards 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 16, 2010) – In a battle of unbeaten Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) teams, Neumann (9-4, 4-0 CSAC) came away with a 93-91 victory over Centenary (7-5, 4-1 CSAC), Saturday in Hackettstown, N.J.

CC was led by sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton), who shot 11-of-16 en route to a game-high 27 points, but her game-tying jumper in the final seconds hit the back rim, giving NU the win. Vasta also tallied four assists, four steals and two rebounds in the loss. Fellow classmate Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) finished with 19 points, making six of her seven free throws, while also chipping in five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) tallied 16 points and five rebounds and junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) finished with eight points and a game-high tying 15 rebounds. Brittany Whetts led NU with 25 points and 15 rebounds.

Centenary built a 14-point lead in the first half before Neumann bounced back to take a 47-45 lead at the half. The Lady Cyclones bounced back in the second half, rebuilding their lead to as many as seven, but in the end Neumann was too strong. In the final seconds, NU guard Krista DiRomualdo made one free throw but missed the second. Camuso came away with the rebound and drove the ball down into Centenary’s lane before dishing it to Vasta. Vasta had an open look at the basket but her shot hit the back rim.

Centenary returns to action on Monday, Jan. 18, at preseason No. 21 TCNJ at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 14, 2010) – Sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) scored a career-high 18 points to lead four players in double-figures as Centenary (7-4, 4-0 CSAC) routed Baptist Bible (2-9, 0-4 CSAC), 107-68, Thursday in Hackettstown, N.J. Rosa surpassed her previous career-high of 14, set during Centenary’s 108-50 win over the College of New Rochelle on Dec. 15.

Centenary won its third consecutive game and for the sixth time in its last seven contests. CC held BBC to 36.9 percent from the field (24-of-65) and recorded 21 steals while forcing 33 Defenders turnovers. The Lady Cyclones scored 53 points in the first half and 54 in the second and outrebounded BBC, 65-41. Fifteen players saw action in the win.

Rosa shot six-of-nine from the field, marking a new personal-best in field goals, while hitting her only three-point attempt and all five of her free throws. The sophomore converted two three-point plays and one four-point play en route to her 18 points. Sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) set a career-high with seven field goals while finishing with a season-best 16 points, her highest scoring output since recording 18 against Baptist Bible on Jan. 17, 2009. She also tallied five rebounds, three steals and one assist.

Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) finished with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals while freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) contributed 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Katy DeGraw (Tyler Hill, Pa./Honesdale) led the team with a game-high 11 rebounds while junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) tallied eight points and six rebounds in just 11 minutes of action.

An early lead for Centenary was wiped out as Baptist Bible came back to tie the game at 13 with 12:09 remaining in the first period. But CC closed out the stanza on a 40-23 run to go into the locker room with a 53-36 halftime lead.

In the second half, leading 79-56, Centenary held BBC without a field goal for six minutes and 43 seconds while building its advantage to 98-61. From there the Lady Cyclones used their reserves to finish the game and win by 39.

CC returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 16, with a home game against Neumann at 1:00 p.m. The contest is part of “Take A Kid To The Game” Day as the men’s team will take on NU as well, at 3:00 p.m. The athletics department will have free giveaways at the game and fans will have the opportunity to meet with members of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Admission is $3.00 for adults and free for children ages 14 and under. Admission is also free for anyone with valid Centenary identification.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 11, 2010) – Freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) scored a career-high 22 points to lead five Cyclones in double-figures as Centenary (6-4, 3-0 CSAC) defeated Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Cedar Crest (6-5, 0-2 CSAC), 92-84, Monday in Hackettstown, N.J.

Taylor shot five-of-12 from the floor, marking a career-high in field goals, and set season-bests in both free throws (nine) and free throw attempts (12). She also tied her season-high with five rebounds. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) continued her hot streak, finishing with a team-high 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting. She also recorded six rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks while playing all 40 minutes.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) tallied 11 points and five rebounds and senior Nikki VanTassell (Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) came off the bench to score 10 points and grab nine rebounds in just 11 minutes of action. Lakeema Jones led all scorers with 32 points on 14-of-18 shooting, including four-of-eight from downtown, and Liz Sunderhaus finished with 12 points and a game-high 22 rebounds in the loss.

Centenary built an early 14-4 lead before Cedar Crest fought back to take a 25-24 lead with 9:31 remaining in the first period. After the Lady Cyclones built a four-point lead, 44-40, with 1:59 to go in the stanza, a 5-0 run by the Falcons, capped by a three-pointer from Jones with 15 seconds left, gave the road team a one-point advantage at halftime.

Cedar Crest kept up its offensive attack in the second half, building a 60-55 lead with 13:15 to go. But over the next five minutes, Centenary used a 16-0 run to take a commanding 71-60 lead, then held off the Falcons to win by eight.

The Lady Cyclones return to action on Thursday, with a home CSAC match against Baptist Bible at 7:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 11, 2010) – Centenary sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) was named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced Monday. Vasta averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 steals while shooting .652 (15-of-23) while leading the Lady Cyclones to a 1-1 week.

Vasta recorded 12 points, five assists and two steals as Centenary fell at Delaware Valley, 95-69, on Jan. 4. In the Lady Cyclones’ 84-69 win over Eastern on Jan. 6, the sophomore finished with her first career double-double, tallying 21 points and a career-high 10 assists. She also swiped seven steals and grabbed six rebounds in the win.

Centenary returns to action on Monday, Jan. 11, with a CSAC match against Cedar Crest at 6:00 p.m. The game is part of a home double-header with the men’s team, who will face Rosemont at 8:00 p.m.

Jan. 11, 2010 CSAC Weekly Awards 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 6, 2010) – A pair of Cyclones each recorded their first career double-doubles as Centenary (5-4) defeated Eastern (4-4), 84-69, Wednesday in Hackettstown, N.J. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) tallied 21 points and 10 assists, both game-highs, while freshman Katy DeGraw (Tyler Hill, Pa./Honesdale) finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

For Vasta, her 10 assists marks a career-high. The sophomore shot 10-of-16 from the floor and also contributed six rebounds and seven steals in the victory. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) tallied 16 points, five rebounds, three steals, one block and one assist and junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) finished with 15 points on seven-of-14 shooting, along with six rebounds, three steals and one assist.

Centenary shot 39.5 percent from the floor (32-of-81) while allowing Eastern to connect on 47.3 percent (26-of-55). But the Lady Cyclones forced 29 Eagles turnovers, a season-high for EU, and out-rebounded their opponent 49-38, including 23-10 on the offensive glass. Centenary helped itself at the free throw line, shooting 15-of-20 (75.0 percent), while Eastern connected on only 11-of-21 from the charity stripe (52.4 percent).

After a jumper by EU’s Whitney McCloud cut Centenary’s lead to 11-10 with 12:11 remaining in the first period, the Lady Cyclones held the Eagles without a field goal for 7:18 while going on a 21-2 tear to take a commanding 20-point advantage. A late EU run cut the lead to 11 points, 40-29, at the half.

Centenary opened the second half with a three pointer by Camuso on a Vasta assist to build the lead back to 14. The Lady Cyclones had an answer for every Eastern run, including a four-point play by sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) with 6:20 remaining to give the home team a 19-point lead. CC then held on to win by 15.

The Lady Cyclones return to action on Monday, Jan. 11, with a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) match against Cedar Crest at 6:00 p.m. The game is part of a double-header with the men’s team, who will face Rosemont at 8:00 p.m.

Boxscore

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (January 4, 2010) – The Centenary women’s basketball (4-4) team was unable to hold a 44-43 halftime lead, eventually falling, 95-69, to Delaware Valley (8-4), Monday in Doylestown, Pa. Three Cyclones finished in double figures, led by 20 points from senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea).

Camuso shot eight-of-18 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds in the loss. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) continued her hot shooting, connecting on five-of-seven from the floor and finishing with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) picked up her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Brittney Zimmerman finished with 21 points to lead Delaware Valley.

Centenary returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 6, against non-conference opponent Eastern, as part of a double-header with the men’s team. The Lady Cyclones will tip off at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men against King’s (Pa.) at 8:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 21, 2009) – Centenary sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) has been named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) weekly Honor Roll, the league announced Monday. Vasta led the Lady Cyclones to a 108-50 road-win over the College of New Rochelle on Dec. 15. For her efforts, she was also named Cyclone of the Week.

The award marks the second consecutive week that Vasta earned Cyclone of the Week honors. In the Lady Cyclones’ 58-point victory over CNR, the sophomore finished with a game-high 21 points as well as six steals, three rebounds and two assists. She shot 10-of-15 from the floor to increase her CSAC-leading field goal percentage to .584 (45-of-77).

The Lady Cyclones return to action after the New Year with a road match at Delaware Valley on Monday, Jan. 4, at 6:00 p.m.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 21, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team is among the leaders in Division III and the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) in the latest statistical rankings.

Centenary leads the nation in scoring, averaging 83.8 points per contest. The Lady Cyclones are also second in turnover margin (13.2), sixth in free throw percentage (77.5), 14th in three point field goals per game (7.7) and 38th in turnovers per game (16.7). In the CSAC statistical rankings, Centenary is ranked No. 1 in five statistical categories: scoring (first), scoring margin (first), free throw percentage (first), steals (first), turnover margin (first) and three pointers per game (first), and is among the top five in four other categories: assist/turnover ratio (second), offensive rebounds (tied-second), assists (third) and defensive rebound percentage (fifth).

Individually, senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) is 48th in the nation in scoring with an average of 18.8 points per game. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) is close behind her, ranked 61st in the country with an average of 18.4 points per contest. The two are tied for 69th in the country in steals per game, recording 3.2 each match. Camuso is also 41st in three point field goals per game (2.7) and 47th in free throw percentage (88.5), while Vasta is 40th in field goal percentage (56.5) and 70th in assist-turnover ratio (1.6). Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) is 24th in the country in rebounds (11.8).

In CSAC individual rankings, the trio combine to rank among the top five in 11 categories. Camuso is fourth in scoring, first in free throw percentage, third in steals, third in three pointers per game and fifth in minutes played. Vasta is fifth in scoring, first in field goal percentage, fourth in assists, fifth in free throw percentage, second in steals and third in assist/turnover ratio. DiStasio is tied for third in rebounding, third in free throw percentage, third in offensive rebounds and fifth in defensive rebounds.

The Lady Cyclones return to action after the New Year with a road contest at Delaware Valley on Jan. 4 at 6:00 p.m. 

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (December 15, 2009) – Sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) set career-highs with 15 points and seven assists and three other Cyclones finished in double figures as the Centenary women’s basketball team defeated the College of New Rochelle, 108-50, Tuesday in New Rochelle, N.Y. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) led the way with a game-high 21 points as 14 CC players saw action in the blowout victory.

Centenary recorded 28 steals, its highest single-game total since tallying 39 against the College of New Rochelle on Jan. 18, 2007. The Lady Cyclones outrebounded CNR 52-29 and shot 46.8 percent from the floor (44-of-94), including a mark of 56.4 percent in the second half (22-of-39). The Lady Cyclones outscored their opponent 56-21 in the first period thanks to a defense that held New Rochelle to a 31.6 field goal percentage (6-of-19).

Rosa shot five-of-eight from the floor and three-of-four from downtown, setting career-bests in both field goals and three pointers. Vasta continued her hot shooting, making 10-of-15 from the floor while swiping six steals. She leads the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) in field goal percentage, connecting at a .584 (45-of-77) clip.

Sophomores Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg,N.J./Phillipsburg) and Colleen Collins (Colmar, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) each finished with 14 points for Centenary. Ally also led the team with seven rebounds, including five offensive, and recorded four steals. Collins shot four-of-seven from three point distance and hit both her free throws. Freshman Morgan McIntire (Hagerstown, Md./Heritage Christian Academy) scored a career-high nine points on four-of-seven shooting. Elizabeth Johnston led CNR with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting.

Centenary returns to action after the New Year, with a road contest at Delaware Valley on Jan. 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (December 14, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team (3-3) returns to action with a non-conference road contest at the College of New Rochelle (1-9), Tuesday in New Rochelle, N.Y. The Lady Cyclones have won two consecutive games and three of their last four while CNR has dropped its last nine contests.

Centenary is coming off a 99-70 road-win over Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Rosemont on Dec. 7. Three players scored in double-digits, led by sophomore Jen Vasta’s (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) 25. Vasta shot eight-of-10 from the floor, including one-of-one from downtown, and hit all eight of her free throws. She also recorded six assists, two steals and two rebounds.

After winnings its first game of the year, New Rochelle has lost its last nine by an average of 37.8 points. The Blue Angels last played on Saturday, Dec. 12, falling at Purchase by a score of 59-17.

The Lady Cyclones will break for the holidays after Tuesday’s contest and return to action on Monday, Jan. 4, with a road game against Delaware Valley at 6:00 p.m. 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 14, 2009) – Centenary sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) has been named the Cyclone of the Week. Vasta led the Lady Cyclones to a 99-70 road-win over Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Rosemont on Dec. 7.

Vasta finished with a game-high 25 points as well as six assists, two rebounds and two steals in Centenary’s 29-point victory. She shot eight-of-10 from the floor, including one-of-one from downtown, and hit all eight of her free throws. Vasta is averaging 18.0 points per game this season, second on the team.

The Lady Cyclones return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 15, with a road contest against non-conference foe the College of New Rochelle at 6:00 p.m.

ROSEMONT, Pa. (December 7, 2009) – Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) scored a game-high 25 points to lead three Cyclones in double-figures as Centenary defeated Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Rosemont, 99-70, Monday in Rosemont, Pa. CC (4-2, 2-0 CSAC) has won three of its last four contests while RC (3-5, 0-3 CSAC) dropped its third consecutive game.

Vasta shot eight-of-10 from the floor, including one-of-one from downtown, and hit all eight of her free throws. She also recorded six assists, two rebounds and two steals. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) shot eight-of-15 from the floor, including six-of-nine from downtown, en route to 22 points. She also tallied four steals and three assists. Freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and two assists and junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Ashley Montecchio led Rosemont with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Centenary outscored the Ravens 57-37 in the second half to pull away for the victory. CC held Rosemont to 38.6 percent shooting (27-of-70) for the game and forced 44 turnovers, the most for an opponent since Jan. 18, 2007, when Centenary forced turned the College of New Rochelle over 50 times. The Lady Cyclones’ bench outscored RC’s by a score of 35-11.

The Lady Cyclones opened the game with a steal by Camuso and two free throws from Vasta. CC built its lead to 12-4 before a 12-2 Rosemont run gave it a two-point lead, 16-14, with 11:59 remaining in the first half. The two teams traded baskets until Rosemont took its last lead of the game, 33-32, on a free throw by Montecchio. Centenary then closed the half with a 10-0 run to take a 42-33 lead.

In the second half, however, RC battled back to tie the game at 53 with 12:18 remaining. But Centenary took control with a 35-11 run over the next nine minutes to take a commanding 21-point lead and went on to win by 29.

Centenary returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 15, with a road contest against non-conference foe College of New Rochelle at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 7, 2009) – Centenary junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) was named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced Monday. DiStasio finished with 15 points and a career-high tying 21 rebounds in Centenary’s come-from-behind 90-69 win over Immaculata on Dec. 3. For her efforts, she has also been named Cyclone of the Week. 

In the Lady Cyclones’ 21-point victory, DiStasio shot five-of-11 from the floor, including one-of-one from downtown. She hit four-of-six from the free throw line and also recorded three steals. It was her second double-double of the season. Her 21 rebounds ties her career-best, previously set at Hazleton on Dec. 9, 2008.

DiStasio and the rest of the Lady Cyclones return to action on Monday with a road contest at Rosemont at 6:00p.m. Fans can watch the live broadcast of the game online by clicking here.

Dec. 6 CSAC Weekly Awards

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 3, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team erased an early 10-point deficit to win going away, 90-69 over visiting Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Immaculata, Thursday in Hackettstown, N.J. In front of a Centenary record crowd of 407 fans as part of the ‘Pack the House Challenge,” the Lady Cyclones (2-3, 1-0 CSAC) saw five players score in double-figures in the comeback victory over the Mighty Macs (3-2, 0-2 CSAC).

Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and matching her career-high with 21 rebounds, previously set at Hazleton on Dec. 9, 2008. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) led Centenary with 20 points, hitting all nine of her free throws, while sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) shot seven-of-10 from the floor and five-of-six from the charity stripe to finish with 19 points.

Sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg,N.J./Phillipsburg) and freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) each scored 13 for the Lady Cyclones. Leah Kuczynski tallied a double-double for the Mighty Macs with 17 points and 17 rebounds.

Centenary limited Immaculata to just 31.9 percent shooting from the floor (23-of-72), including 29.7 percent in the second half (11-of-37). Despite shooting only 10-of-42 (23.8 percent) in the first half, the Lady Cyclones bounced back in the second period with a 44.4 shooting percentage (20-of-45). Centenary also helped itself at the free throw line, shooting 26-of-33 (78.8 percent) for the game.

With the score knotted at 10 in the first half, Immaculata went on a 12-2 run to take a 10-point lead, 22-12, with 8:06 remaining. But the Lady Cyclones closed out the first half on a 26-12 run to go into halftime with a 38-34 advantage. In the second half, Centenary continued to pour it on, using a 24-8 run to take a 20-point lead at 62-42 with 11:08 remaining in the contest. From there, Centenary used a balanced offense and defense to withstand a late Immaculata comeback attempt and win by 21.

Centenary returns to action on Monday, Dec. 7, with a road game at Rosemont at 6:00 p.m.

Boxscore 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 18, 2009) – The Centenary men’s and women’s basketball teams are working together with the ‘Pack the House Challenge,’ Thursday, Dec. 3, starting at 6:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come to the Cyclones’ double-header against Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Immaculata as the teams want to set an all-time attendance record for a home basketball game. The women’s game begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men at 8:00 p.m.

Fans are asked to wear white to the games to make the Folkner Family Gym a tough place to play for Immaculata. The first 500 to arrive will receive a Centenary basketball Rally Towel. Two lucky fans will get a chance to win 100 dollars with a half-court shot, one at each game’s halftime. The Centenary dance team will perform at each halftime and fans will have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Cyclone mascot.

Admission is three dollars for adults, one dollar for children and free for anyone with valid Centenary ID.

'Pack The House' Flyer

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (December 2, 2009) – The Centenary men’s and women’s basketball teams will each host Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Immaculata on Thursday, Dec. 3, in Hackettstown, N.J. The women’s game will start at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men at 8:00 p.m. The double-header is part of ‘Pack the House,’ as the school hopes to set a record for attendance. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.

The first 500 fans will receive a Centenary rally towel and at halftime of each game there will be a chance for a lucky fan to win 100 dollars by making a half court shot. Fans can also get their picture taken with Centenary’s mascot, Cyclone. Admission is three dollars for adults, one dollar for children and free to those with valid Centenary ID.

For the Lady Cyclones (1-3), the game marks their conference opener. They are coming off a 67-55 loss at Misericordia on Monday. Junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) led the way with 14 points, including three three-pointers. Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) and sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) each tallied 10 points apiece.

Camuso leads the team in scoring, with 17.3 points per contest. Vasta is contributing 16.0 points and a team-high 3.0 assists per game. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) is averaging a double-double with 10.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Immaculata (3-1, 0-1 CSAC) fell in its conference opener, 80-66, at Marywood on Monday. Chelsea McTigue scored 18 points while Leah Kuczynski, Rachel Denis and Kelly Brown all added 11 points apiece. McTigue leads the Mighty Macs with 20.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Last year, Centenary won at Immaculata, 72-68. Camuso tallied 26 points while shooting seven-of-17 from the floor and 11-of-15 from the free throw line. Vasta chipped in 22 points on eight-of-11 shooting and recorded six steals.

After Thursday’s contest, the women's team next plays on Monday, Dec. 7, at Rosemont at 6:00 p.m.

DALLAS, Pa. (November 30, 2009) – Three players scored in double figures but it was not enough as the Centenary women’s basketball team (1-3) fell at Misericordia (3-2), 67-55, Monday in Dallas, Pa. Junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) led the way with 14 points, including three three-pointers.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) and sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) each tallied 10 points apiece. Camuso tied with sophomore Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) for the team lead in assists, with three, and also tied with fellow classmate Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) for the team lead in rebounds, with six. Vasta led Centenary with four steals.

The Lady Cyclones were held to a shooting percentage of 29.2 (19-of-65), including 25.7 (nine-of-25) in the second half. Misericordia shot 44.7 percent from the floor in the game (21-of-47). Christine Marks led the way for the Cougars with 25 points and 14 rebounds on eight-of-18 shooting from the floor and nine-of-nine from the charity stripe.

Misericordia jumped out early and did not look back. Marks scored the game’s first seven points and the Cougars built a 10-point advantage, 37-27, at the half. The Lady Cyclones fared better in the second period, but were still outscored by a 30-28 margin, and the Cougars went on to win by 12.

Centenary returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 3, with a home match against Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Immaculata at 6:00 p.m. The game is part of the Pack the House Challenge with the men’s team, as Centenary hopes to set program records for attendance. The men will play at 8:00 p.m., following the women’s game. Admission is free for those with valid Centenary ID. 

Boxscore

NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 21, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team (1-2) won its first game of the season, 83-73 over Lasell College (0-3), Saturday in New York, N.Y., as part of the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) led the way with a team-high 26 points on seven-of-eight shooting, including 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

Senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) tallied 18 points, six rebounds and six steals and freshman Brittany Taylor (Valley Center, Kan./Valley Center) poured in a career-high 11 points on four-of-four shooting, including three-of-three from downtown. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) led the team in rebounding, with 11.

Centenary led, 43-39, at the half, before Lasell battled back to take a 51-50 lead with 13:59 remaining in the contest. The two teams went back-and-forth until the 7:41 mark, when tied at 61, the Lady Cyclones scored the next five points to start a 13-4 run, taking the lead for good. They would go on to win by 10.

Centenary returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24, with a game at the College of New Rochelle at 6:00 p.m.

NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 20, 2009) – Senior guard Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) scored a game-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Centenary women’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Ohio Wesleyan, 91-87 in overtime, as part of the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament on the campus of Hunter College in New York, N.Y. The Lady Cyclones will face Lasell at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, while Ohio Wesleyan will take on Hunter at 1:00 p.m.

The game featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes. Freshman Katy DeGraw (Tyler Hill, Pa./Honesdale) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds for Centenary, while junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) posted a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) contributed 13 points, six assists and two steals and fellow classmate Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg,N.J./Phillipsburg) shot four-of-six from the floor and five-of-six from the free throw line en route to 14 points. Tyler Cordell recorded 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead OWU.

Ohio Wesleyan took a 19-10 lead early in the first half before a 10-0 Cyclones run gave them a 20-19 advantage at the 10:53 mark. The rest of the period was a back-and-forth affair until Vasta hit a three-pointer with 1:12 remaining and Camuso nailed a shot from downtown with 32 seconds to go, giving Centenary a 44-41 halftime lead.

In the second half, however, OWU hit back-to-back three pointers to take a 47-46 lead. The back-and-forth affair continued, and Ohio Wesleyan took an 82-80 lead with 1:13 remaining as Tyler Cordell made one-of-two from the charity stripe. After a steal by the Bishops’ Pam Quigney, Rachel Seibel missed a three-pointer and Ally grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

Trailing by two with 39 seconds to play, the sophomore calmly drained both free throws to tie the game at 82. Ally then recorded a steal with 23 seconds to play, giving Centenary a chance to win at the buzzer. But DiStasio’s jumper with five seconds remaining was blocked by Seibel, and the game went to overtime.

In the extra session, the two teams battled to an 85-85 tie with 3:55 remaining. Four free throws by OWU gave it an 89-85 lead, and the Bishops held on to win, 91-87. In overtime, Centenary shot one-of-eight from the floor and Ohio Wesleyan connected on only one-of-four field goals, but OWU shot seven-of-12 from the free throw line to win by four.

Boxscore

NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 20, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team (0-1) returns to action with the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20-21, on the campus of Hunter College in New York, N.Y. The Lady Cyclones will face Ohio Wesleyan on Friday at 5:00 p.m., before taking on either Hunter or Lasell on Saturday.

The Lady Cyclones lost in their season opener, 95-89 at Vassar on Nov. 15. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) scored a team and career-high 18 points while matching her career-best by hitting all eight of her free throws. Four other Centenary players finished in double-digits as senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) had 16 points, sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) tallied 15, sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg,N.J./Phillipsburg) recorded 13 and junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) netted 10. Ally also led the team in rebounding, with eight.

Friday’s game is the season opener for Ohio Wesleyan. Last season, the Battling Bishops won the North Coast Athletic Conference to earn a berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they lost to Illinois Wesleyan in the first round. OWU returns its top three scorers from 2008-09 in Pam Quigney (15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds per game), Tyler Cordell (14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds per game) and Kayla Gordon (13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game).

After Friday’s contest, the Lady Cyclones will face either Hunter (0-1) or Lasell (0-1) on Saturday at either 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.

Live stats of each game will be provided here.

The scores, links to stats and stories will be posted on the tournament page. 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 17, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team was picked to win the North Division of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), the league announced Monday. The Lady Cyclones received 100 points, the fourth-most overall, after a vote by the conference coaches.

Gwynedd-Mercy was selected to win the conference as the top three point earners all came from the South Division. GMC finished with 135 points, Neumann was second with 126 and Cabrini took third with 121. Marywood was chosen to finish second in the North Division with 93 points.

Centenary won the North Division last season with a conference mark of 12-4, a program-best. The Lady Cyclones fell in the opening round of the CSAC Tournament to Cedar Crest before earning their first-ever invitation to the ECAC Tournament, where they lost at Manhattanville, 79-71. Both of Centenary’s All-CSAC performers return, as senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) was named First Team and sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) earned Second team honors.

Centenary is 0-1 on the year with a loss on the road to Vassar, 95-89. The Lady Cyclones return to action on Friday, Nov. 20, against Ohio Wesleyan as part of the Hunter College Tournament. CC opens its CSAC slate on Thursday, Dec. 3, with a home game against Immaculata.

CSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (November 15, 2009) – Five players scored in double-figures, but it wasn’t enough as the Centenary women’s basketball team (0-1) opened its season with a 95-89 loss at Vassar (1-0), Sunday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Junior Marissa DiStasio (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) shot five-of-six while hitting all eight of her free throws en route to a team-high 18 points to lead the Lady Cyclones.

Centenary scored 57 points in the first half on 15-of-35 (42.9) shooting and held an eight-point lead at halftime. But in the second half, the Lady Cyclones only managed to score 32 points, shooting  30.3 percent from the floor (10-of-33). Vassar shot 48.6 percent in the first half (17-of-35) and 48.3 percent in the second period (14-of-29) in the come-from-behind victory.

For the Lady Cyclones, senior Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) scored 16 points and sophomore Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) tallied 15 points, six steals and four assists. Sophomore Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg,N.J./Phillipsburg) shot four-of-eight and finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds while junior Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) finished with 10 points.

Centenary held a 14 point deficit at one point in the first half, and went into the locker room up by eight. But Vassar reeled off seven unanswered points to quickly draw within one as sophomore Kristyn Tempora powered in a layup just over two minutes into the second half. The Cyclones countered as Camuso scored at the other end, but consecutive baskets by senior Emily Haeuser and Tempora gave the Brewers a 60-59 lead with 15:45 to play, Vassar’s first lead in nearly 13 minutes.

Neither team led by more than six until the final 80 second of the game. The Brewers whittled down a 78-73 Centenary lead to tie the game at 80 with 6:11 to play after Haeuser drew a foul in the lane and drained both her free throw shots. Two free throws from freshman Tori Chaltain gave Vassar a two-point lead, but the Cyclones quickly regained the edge following a long three-pointer from Murphy. On the other end, sophomore Brittany Parks made a nice move in the lane to score a lay-up, and give Vassar an 84-83 lead with 5:11 to play.

The Brewers protected and built on that narrow advantage and would not trail again as Haeuser, Parks, Tempora and junior Carolyn Crampton all converted clutch shots in the closing minutes to give Vassar the season-opening win.

Centenary returns to action on Friday, Nov. 20, with a game against Ohio Wesleyan as part of the Hunter College Tournament.

Boxscore

After a banner year in 2008-09, Centenary women’s basketball is hungry for more. Last year, the team finished 17-9, including 12-4 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), marking program-records for regular season and conference victories. Capping off the season was the program’s first-ever berth to the ECAC Tournament, where they fell at Manhattanville in the first round, 79-71.

“I am pleased with how we played last season, especially considering that we had a very freshman-heavy squad,” said fifth-year head coach Lorie Khalil. “We have to continue to grow as a basketball team and get better every day. Last season was a good foundation for us to accomplish our main goal of getting to the NCAA tournament.”

Everyone returns from the 2008-09 highest-scoring team in the nation, including senior Kristen Camuso, who was named First Team All-CSAC and Second Team All-ECAC. She finished as the 2009 Division III statistical champion in three-point field goals made per game, averaging 3.7 per contest. She led the CSAC and ranked fourth in the country with 21.8 points per game and was just as solid defensively, ranking second in the conference and 33rd nationally with 3.3 steals per contest. Point guard Jen Vasta, a Second Team All-CSAC honoree, also is back for the Lady Cyclones. As a freshman, she started 22 games and finished first in the conference and 13th in the country in steals, with 3.7 each game, as well as first in the CSAC and 62nd in the country with 4.5 per match.

“We are deeper than ever at the guard position,” said Khalil. “Camuso and Vasta are back, as is Leah Murphy, who really blossomed into a more explosive player towards the end of last season. Sophomore Hannah Ally is an extremely versatile player and will be looked upon to give us a spark this year.  Also returning for us is a trio of sophomores in Jasmine Rosa, who is 5-1 but extremely feisty and tenacious, and Colleen Collins, who is a three-point sharpshooter.”

Both of Centenary’s starting forwards return in senior Nicole Van Tassel and junior Marissa DiStasio. DiStasio finished 19th in the country and fourth in the CSAC in rebounds, averaging 11.5 per contest. Van Tassel was 14th in the conference with 7.6 boards per game. The two gave the team solid scoring inside, averaging 15.5 points combined. They will be looked to for defense, rebounding and an inside attack to go along with the Lady Cyclones’ potent outside shooting.

“We return four student-athletes who could play as either forwards or centers,” said Khalil. “Van Tassel and DiStasio are back, as are a pair of 6-2 sophomores in Bridget McCann and Chelsea Shaw.  Those two played significant minutes last season as freshmen and will use that valuable experience this year.”

Khalil also brought in an impressive freshman class, with seven players joining the team. Brittany Taylor, who comes to Hackettstown from Valley Center, Kan., will be looked to provide an immediate impact. She was All-State Honorable Mention and Co-MVP of her league. Morgan McIntire, who scored more than 2,000 points during her career at the Heritage Academy in Hagerstown, Md., was the Mason Dixon Christian Conference Player of the Year her final season. She was named MVP of the McDonald’s Roundball Classic in 2009 after scoring 21 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead the American squad to a 57-52 win over the National Squad.
 
“This is the most anticipated and talented freshmen class that I have seen in my six years here at Centenary,” said Khalil. “We expect to see all of them contribute right away. Besides Taylor and McIntire, we have an All-Conference, 1,000-point scorer in Katy DeGraw from Honesdale, Pa. The freshman class is rounded out by All-Conference guard Danielle Trucksess from Collingswood High School, Jackson Memorial’s Kellie Rose, 5-10 forward Heather Russell, who comes to us from Wallkill Valley High School, and Kelly O’Dell, who is also a member of the Centenary women’s soccer team.”
 
The Lady Cyclones are an experienced group, with seven sophomores, two juniors and two seniors. Last year, all the student-athletes saw game action; that experience will be vital in 2009-10. Khalil named her two seniors, Camuso and Van Tassel, the team captains, but she will be looking towards all her returning players to perform well, on and off the court. She also brought in a new assistant, Joe Kozoh, who has over 20 years of coaching experience.

Centenary also saw success in the classroom, as the team was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The Lady Cyclones finished the school year with a 3.453 GPA, tied with McDaniel College for the 11th-best GPA in Division III.

“I am so proud of this team,” said Khalil after the honor was announced. “The focus it takes to juggle the demands of college basketball and to excel in the classroom is tremendous and this achievement is a testament to their determination. The faculty has been very supportive and we are grateful.”
 
The Lady Cyclones have a rigorous non-conference schedule for 2009-10, to go along with their already tough CSAC slate. The Lady Cyclones open their season on Nov. 15, on the road against Vassar. Next, the team will take part in the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 20 and 21, where they will face Ohio Wesleyan and either Hunter or Lasell. Other non-conference opponents include NJAC member TCNJ, ranked No. 26 in the latest USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division III poll and three Mid-Atlantic Conference teams in Misericordia, Delaware Valley and Eastern. The Lady Cyclones open their conference schedule on Thursday, Dec. 3, with a home match against Immaculata. The squad will try and defend their first-place finish in the CSAC North Division and gain a home playoff game for the second-consecutive year. 
 
“I am extremely excited about this season,” said Khalil. “Our goal is to win a championship. That’s the bottom line. With a year of experience under the returners’ belts, they know what to expect. The freshman class has the potential to be impact players right away for us. The addition of these players will make us deeper than ever before, which is key because of the fast paced way we like to play. Nothing is guaranteed, we know we have to work even harder for everything because our opponents all know what we are capable of doing. In order for us to achieve our goals, it is going to take that much more commitment, determination and team uniformity.”

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (October 4, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team channeled their inner-Julia Childs, serving as the Dinner Guest Chefs of the Family Meal Program at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, Sunday, Oct. 4, in support of David Heard and his family.

“I cannot say enough how impressed and proud I am of them as people to do what they did yesterday and the fashion they did it in,” said head coach Lorie Khalil. “They did an incredible job with everything.  They brought energy and enthusiasm to a place where people are feeling down. They worked together as a team, communicated, laughed, and most importantly touched lives."   

On Sunday at the Ronald McDonald House, the team prepared and served dinners for 25-30 people. First course was a salad, followed by oven baked chicken breast with Italian or Balsamic marinades, roasted seasoned potatoes, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. For dessert, they put together a Nutella chocolate and strawberries dish. The team split themselves up into two groups, each cooking a part of the meal.

Centenary also brought two posters that the team hung in the Ronald McDonald House and in St. Christopher’s Hospital. The girls all wore "Team Heard" shirts to support David Heard and his family. Some members of the team went over to the Oncology unit to deliver the poster and cookies to the nurses and to see David as he got re-admitted back to the hospital for antibody therapy.

“The women's basketball team came to the Ronald McDonald House to cook dinner for the guests, but the night was so much more,” said Susan Heard, David’s mother and Centenary’s Director of Enrollment Operations and Strategic Branding. “David and [his sister] Daisy were so happy to see these women, who they refer to as ‘their girls.’ They were able to play and talk to the girls and give them a tour of a place that is an extension of our home during challenging treatments for David. The team brought joy to our family and also the other children who were at the house.

“A number of the house guests commented on the energy and positive attitude the girls displayed. Seeing the team in their lime green shirts (David's favorite color) with Team Heard on the back and the saying "it's hard to beat a team that never gives up," gave our family a feeling of overwhelming support. I am personally grateful for their interest, compassion and spirit as it relates to David! It makes me proud to work at Centenary and it makes me proud that we have such remarkable student-athletes on our campus. To be willing to give up one of their weekend days to bring joy to Philadelphia underscores the type of students Centenary attracts and is a testament to the family environment the College is known for.”

The team adopted David Heard after he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, which is cancer of the adrenal glands and nervous system. Not only does the team wear green and white bracelets to honor him, he was also a guest-coach during Centenary’s 83-74 home win over Cedar Crest on Feb. 14, 2009. The athletes wore yellow socks during a game to honor David and signed boxing gloves for him to signify his fight against the disease.

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, the world’s first, is a home-away-from-home for families and their seriously ill children who are being treated at area hospitals. What makes the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House special is its caring environment where families find physical and emotional comfort through one another and through volunteers. It is located at 100 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134, and the phone number is 215-291-0907.

One of the many services that the PRMH provides for the families is the Meal Program.  The evening meal is a welcome relief for families as they return from a long and often exhausting day at the hospital. The dinner not only provides the families with a nutritious meal that might otherwise be skipped, but it also creates an opportunity for families to interact with one another, share their stories and learn from people who are in similar situations.

For more information on the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, log on to www.philarmh.org.

“The winning attitude and drive that the Centenary women’s basketball team brings to the court is reflected in their off-court lives,” said Heard. “Their passion and optimism has inspired David to keep on fighting his battle with cancer. Being around quality athletes with their focus on winning kept David motivated through six rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery and two autologous stem-cell transplants. 

“As we continue with an experimental anti-body therapy over the next five months, we will draw strength from watching the women win their games as David wins his battle with neuroblastoma. For our family, the Centenary women’s basketball team has been a continued source of hope – their belief that David will win has bolstered our spirits through some darker moments.”  

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (September 2, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team will be the Dinner Guest Chefs of the Family Meal Program at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, Sunday, Oct. 4, at 6:00pm.

The team will prepare dinners for 25-30 people. The meal will consist of a salad, main entrée, side dishes of starch and vegetable as well as dessert. The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House is located at 100 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134. The phone number is 215-291-0907.
 
“Going to the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia to cook for families that are going through a difficult time, especially David Heard and his family, will make us all realize how precious life is and to treasure each day,” said head coach Lorie Khalil. “David's mom, Susan, has always told me, ‘Every day is a gift, treat it as such.’ While we fight our battles on the basketball court, the kids at St. Christopher’s are fighting for their lives. The fact that our players can go and put smiles on the faces of these families is going to be a great experience.”

The team adopted David Heard after he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer. Not only does the team wear green and white bracelets to honor him, he was also a guest-coach during Centenary’s 83-74 home win over Cedar Crest on Feb. 14, 2009. The athletes wore yellow socks during a game to honor David and signed boxing gloves for him to signify his fight against the disease.

“The girls are a part of his journey as he battles cancer,” said Khalil. “Our day of cooking at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia is just another way of supporting David and his family through this tough time.”

Susan Heard, Centenary’s Director of Enrollment Operations and Strategic Branding and the mother of David, is grateful to the team.

“The winning attitude and drive that the Centenary women’s basketball team brings to the court is reflected in their off-court lives,” she said. “Their passion and optimism has inspired David to keep on fighting his battle with cancer. One of my favorite gifts they gave him was a pair of boxing gloves that the team signed. Sometimes he puts them on and boxes the air and yells how he is a winner! Being around quality athletes with their focus on winning kept David motivated through six rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery and two autologous stem-cell transplants. 

“As we continue with an experimental anti-body therapy over the next five months, we will draw strength from watching the women win their games as David wins his battle with neuroblastoma. For our family, the Centenary women’s basketball team has been a continued source of hope – their belief that David will win has bolstered our spirits through some darker moments.”

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, the world’s first, is a home-away-from-home for families and their seriously ill children who are being treated at area hospitals. What makes the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House special is its caring environment where families find physical and emotional comfort through one another and through volunteers.

One of the many services that the PRMH provides for the families is the Meal Program.  The evening meal is a welcomed relief for families as they return from a long and often exhausting day at the hospital. The dinner not only provides the families with a nutritious meal that might otherwise be skipped, but it also creates an opportunity for families to interact with one another, share their stories and learn from people who are in similar situations.

For more information on the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, log on to www.philarmh.org.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (August 27, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball program has added Joseph Kozoh to its coaching staff, head coach Lorie Khalil announced Thursday. Kozoh comes to the Lady Cyclones after a three year stint at Delaware Valley Regional High School as the head coach of the freshman girl’s basketball team and an assistant on the varsity squad. Moreover, for the past two years he has served as head coach of the Hunterdon United AAU team.

“We are extremely excited to have Joe join the coaching staff,” said Khalil. “With the experience he has, over 20 years of coaching, the knowledge and the passion he brings to the game, he will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Kozoh has over 28 years of coaching experience with players of all ages. Prior to his job at Delaware Valley Regional, he worked for two years as the head coach of the Kingwood Township boy’s basketball team while also serving as Kingwood Township Parks and Recreation basketball camp coordinator and head instructor. Before that, Kozoh served as Manville Recreation girl’s basketball coach for players in grades six through eight.

Kozoh attended East Stroudsburg University from 1977-1982, where he studied Health and Physical Education. He has taken the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Coaches Fundamental Course and the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) Coaching Principles Training. Kozoh is a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Federation of High School Coaches Association, and he is certified in CPR, AED and First Aid training.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (August 3, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, the organization announced. The Lady Cyclones finished the school year with a 3.453 GPA, tied with McDaniel College for the 11th-best GPA in Division III. Maryville University-St. Louis was tops in Division III with a 3.625 GPA.

“I am so proud of this team,” said head coach Lorie Khalil. “The focus it takes to juggle the demands of college basketball and to excel in the classroom is tremendous and this achievement is a testament to their determination. The faculty has been very supportive and we are grateful.”

Centenary matched its success in the classroom with a stellar season on the court, finishing with a record of 17-9. The Lady Cyclones recorded a CSAC record of 12-4, marking the most single-season conference wins in school history, and placed first in the North Division. Centenary earned a berth to the ECAC Tournament for the first time in program history, falling at Manhattanville in the first round.

WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (July 17, 2009) – The Centenary women’s basketball team hosted the Girls Basketball Camp, July 13-17, in the Folkner Family Gymnasium at the John M. Reeves Athletic Center in Hackettstown, N.J. Fifty girls, from third to ninth-grade, took part in various drills and exercises designed to teach the fundamentals of the game of basketball. Counselors included Centenary coaches and student-athletes.

The campers were divided into two groups, the NCAA and the WNBA. The NCAA group was made up of third, fourth and fifth-graders, while the WNBA group comprised sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth-graders. On the final day of camp, teams from both groups competed for their respective championships. UConn won the NCAA Tournament and the WNBA championship was won by the LA Sparks. Centenary sophomore Bridget McCann (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) coached the Sparks.

FLORENCE, Italy (June 5, 2009) – Centenary women’s basketball junior guard Kristen Camuso (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph’s by the Sea) competed with the American International Sports Tours (AIST) select basketball team in Italy, helping lead the team to a 3-1 record. Camuso and the rest of her teammates played four Italian squads from various levels, including an all-star team for the final match.

“Playing in Italy was extremely different then playing in the US,” said Camuso. “They have so many different rules so it took a little while to get used to things, for example there are only 24 seconds on the shot clock, the paint is a different shape and rules for traveling are also different. I got to see and experience things I never thought I'd get to see, and if anyone gets a chance to play overseas as I did I would highly recommend it.”

The Americans dropped their first game by three points to an A1 team from Florence, despite 15 points from Camuso. The nation’s leading three-point maker this past season, Camuso also hit three from downtown in the game. The second match pitted the Americans against a local B2 squad from San Marino. Camuso led the way with 18 points in her team’s 20-point victory.

With only five players available for the third game, and 10 required, five Italian girls joined the squad to play a B1 team. Camuso finished with seven as her team pulled out the victory. The final contest of the trip came against an all-star lineup of the A2 and B1 Italian teams. Camuso was key in the American’s victory, as she scored six points in the final minutes to help her team pull out the two-point win.

With 57 seconds remaining and her squad down by one, Camuso hit two free throws to put her team in the lead. After clamping down defensively, the American team got the ball back with seven seconds to go and one of the players was fouled. She made one-of-two from the line to give the team the two-point win.

“When I wasn't playing basketball I was traveling to all different parts of Italy, including Florence, Milan, Venice, San Marino, Rimini and Lake Como. My favorite places were Lake Como, Florence and San Marino. It was scary at first to play with people I didn't know but they were all really nice and I plan to keep in touch with them.”

Camuso and the rest of the Lady Cyclones finished the season 17-9, reaching the ECAC Tournament for the first time in program history.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (April 9, 2009) – Centenary sophomore guard Leah Murphy (Hamburg, N.Y./Mount Mercy Academy) is the antithesis of Murphy’s Law, which states that “what can go wrong will go wrong.” Murphy is a student, a starter on the women’s basketball team and a budding sports announcer who recently had the opportunity to sit in on a radio broadcast of the New Jersey Nets. For Murphy, everything is going right.

When Centenary Communications Professor and Broadcast Manager Jon Lewis found out that there was an opportunity for a student to sit in on a New Jersey Nets radio broadcast, the first person that came to his mind was Murphy. Not only is she majoring in Communications, but she has also participated in many Cyclones men’s basketball broadcasts on WNTI, serving as color analyst along with play-by-play announcer Harlin Jeffries.

“I have had Leah in many Communications classes, so I am aware of her ability,” said Lewis. “She did the Cyclones men’s basketball games last season and did a great job, and when this opportunity came up she was the first person I thought of. She is a natural, a very good broadcaster and she really knows sports. She has a very strong sports background. I thought this would be a great experience for her.”

Murphy could not have been more excited for the opportunity, and so on Sunday, April 5, she traveled up to East Rutherford, NJ, for the Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers at the Izod Center.

“Watching the Nets radio broadcast was a really good learning experience for me,” said Murphy. “Once I got there, they escorted us to dinner, and then they took us to the radio booth where I met play by play announcer Chris Carrino and color analyst Tim Capstraw. They were both really nice and very helpful. They gave me headphones so that I could listen to the broadcast and during every time out I was able to ask them questions. I learned about different equipment and how they work together.”

Because of her own experience broadcasting men’s basketball games, Murphy knows that one of the toughest parts of doing a broadcast is working with your partner.

“When I am doing a game sometimes I will make a motion during the broadcast to let Harlin know that I have something to say, so I asked the Nets announcers if they use signals to let the other person know that they have something to say,” said Murphy. “They told me that they can usually sense when the other person wants to jump in. Their chemistry is really good. They have done about 600 games together, and it takes experience to work together so it was good to see that.”

The chance to watch an NBA radio broadcast did nothing to dissuade Murphy from her career goal of sports broadcasting; in fact it only enhanced her desire to get into the field after she graduates in 2011.

“I would definitely like to pursue this as a career,” said Murphy. “I would love to work as a sideline reporter, for either television or radio. Right now I think I would rather do television but I enjoy doing radio broadcasts as well.”

But for now, Murphy has enough on her plate with being a Centenary student, a starter on the women’s basketball team and a part-time radio analyst. The Lady Cyclones finished 17-9 this season and reached the ECAC Tournament for the first time ever. For Murphy, there is only one direction the team is going, and that is up.

“We did really, really well this season,” she said. “We made it to the ECAC South tournament, the first time the program has ever done that. We lost to Manhattanville by eight points (79-71), but we could have won. Before this season we did not have targets on our back, no one really knew us coming into the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). Now we have targets on our back and people are looking to play us. Ranked teams want to play us, and that is where we want to be as a program.”