Women's Basketball Clinches GSAC Title

Lincroft, NJ- The women's basketball team defeated Atlantic Cape Community College, 68-35. The team celebrated the sophomores by recognizing their accomplishments prior to tip-off.

Sophomore guard Marina Lukianov led the blues with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Teammate freshman forward Marya Trapp double-doubled with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Kimberly McNelis added 11 points to the win.

With this victory, the Blues clinched the GSAC title. The team is next in action on Thursday, February 13th at Passaic County Community College.

Article is courtesy of Mike Ready, a journalist for the Jersey Sporting News and Middletown Patch, who covers Brookdale Community College athletics.

LINCROFT – Playing without injured starters Sam Carlson and Lauren Bowler, the Jersey Blues (25-2, 17-0) overcame a dreadful first half to defeat the Buccaneers 68-35 Tuesday night at Collins Arena.

Up 25-19 at the intermission, Brookdale outscored Atlantic Cape 43-6 in the second half on their way to their 25th straight win, after opening the season with two non-conference losses.

The Blues, ranked No.4 in NJCAA DIII play, have one regular season game remaining against Passaic Community College (10-12, 9-8) this Saturday at Passaic. With a win, Bookdale will finish the season undefeated in Region XIX play for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Brookdale bolted out of the gate at the start of the second half and immediately went on a 16-2 run to go up by 20 points, 41-21, nine minutes into the second half.  Sophomore guard Marina Lukianov (Howell H.S.) scored five of the first seven points and freshman Marya Trapp (Red Bank Regional) had eight of the Blues 16 points in the run.  

Following a Buccaneer basket the Blues kept the heat on and outscored Atlantic Cape 15-0 the next 4:30 of the half to go up by 35 points and put the game away. Trapp and Lukianov each had four points during the stretch.

Lukianov led all scorers with 18 points, 13 in the second half, hauled down five rebounds and had four steals. Trapp registered her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 boards. She also blocked four shots in another dominating performance from inside the paint.

Sophomore point guard Jazmin Palma (North Bergen H.S.) led the Blues with six assists and netted eight points while grabbing three rebounds.

Freshman guard Kimberly McNelis (Keansburg H.S.) chipped in with 11 points, including two second- half 3-pointers, while sophomore guard Nadya Szaniszlo (Keasnburg H.S.), getting the start Tuesday, added four points and pulled down nine rebounds. Freshman center/forward Jasma Stanback (Keansburg H.S.) grabbed eight boards and blocked one shot.

The Blues expect to have both Bowler (concussion) and Carlson (back) available for the playoffs.

Brookdale hosts the semifinals and finals of the NJCAA Region XIX Tournament Thursday, February 27, and Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Collins Arena on the Brookdale campus.

By: Mike Ready

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