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#4/7 Women's Basketball Survives SUNY New Paltz Behind McEntee's Record Night

12/01/07

Junior forward Jessica McEntee tallied game highs of 38 points and 19 rebounds while going 20-for-21 at the charity stripe, setting three records while helping the nationally ranked New York University women's basketball team stave off a pesky SUNY New Paltz for a 87-82 non-conference victory Saturday night at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.

McEntee set a Coles Sports Center mark for points in a game, while her 20 free throws established Coles and NYU single-game records. Her 38 points were the third most ever produced by a Violet, surpassing her previous career high of 36 established in a 69-67 victory at Emory University on Feb. 18, 2007.

All told, NYU (5-0), ranked #4 in the USA Today/ESPN Division III Top-25 Coaches' Poll and #7 by D3hoops.com, hit a school- and Coles Sports Center-record 41 free throws (on 52 attempts, 78.8%) to surpass their previous standard set when they converted 37 charity-stripe tries against Alfred University on Nov. 18, 2006.

In addition, the Violets benefited from the Coles Sports Center-mark of 35 fouls whistled against the Hawks (2-3), who saw three players foul out.

However, this night was all about McEntee, who continued to flash the form that made her a 2007 All-American by three different organizations (D3hoops.com, Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Women's DIII News).

McEntee tallied a first-half double-double, finishing the first 20 minutes with 15 points (9-for-10 at the line) and 10 rebounds, as NYU shook off a sluggish start to seize a 45-29 lead at the break.

SUNY New Paltz, though, responded in the second half, pulling within five points a few times down the stretch. McEntee kept NYU afloat, though, going 11-for-11 from the foul line while netting 23 second-half points.

In addition to setting career bests and school records, McEntee produced her fifth career 30-point game and tied for her second most rebounds in a game.

"Jess started out slow, but as usual we rely on her for so much, that in the last 16 minutes of the game she carried us on her back," NYU head coach Janice Quinn said. "I thought she did a great job dealing with the double and triple teams she faced in the second half. Jess will always be the hardest worker out there."

NYU needed all of McEntee's contributions in overcoming an 8-0 deficit to start the game and the Hawks' charge down the stretch. SUNY New Paltz put four players in double digits, led by senior guard Amber Sohns' 21 points. Freshman forward Artie Williams finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, sophomore guard Nicole Sarcone had 14 points and six assists, and sophomore forward Carly Minehan ended with 11 points and six assists.

The Violets put three other players besides McEntee into double digits. The point-guard tandem of sophomore Jen Hum-Traverso and freshman Chelsea Blake each recorded career bests of 13 points, while senior guard Chelsea Trout tallied all 11 of her points as NYU used a big run late in the first half to take a 16-point halftime advantage.

NYU owned just a 44-43 edge on the glass and shot 42.0% (21-for-50) from the field. SUNY New Paltz shot 36.8% (28-for-76).

NYU returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 4, when it travels to face SUNY Oswego at 7 p.m. in Oswego, NY.