FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Farmingdale State College earned a 67-58 win over Mount Saint Mary College on Sunday in the championship game of the Skyline Conference women's basketball tournament. The Rams captured their first-ever Skyline women's basketball title and earned the conference's bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
Farmingdale State (25-1) ended Mount Saint Mary's 10-year reign as Skyline Conference champion. Prior to the Farmingdale State's championship victory, Mount Saint Mary had been the only school to win the Skyline women's basketball title. The Blue Knights had beaten Mount Saint Mary six straight times in the championship game prior to Sunday.
Farmingdale State fell behind early, trailing 23-14 midway through the first half. A 7-0 run over the next 5:05 pulled the Rams within one point at 23-22. Mount Saint Mary (22-5) answered with six straight points and took a 29-22 advantage into halftime.
Farmingdale trailed 53-50 with 5:33 remaining, until senior guard Kimberly Blakney scored on a layup and converted at the free throw line after being fouled. The Rams forced a turnover on the Blue Knights' next possession and senior guard Juanita Chappel hit one of two free-throws to give Farmingdale its first lead of the game, 54-53.
The Rams trailed 57-56 with less than two minutes to play before senior guard Kamaya Miller hit a jumper to regain the lead. A missed shot by the Blue Knights followed by a Blakney free throw, gave the Rams a 59-57 edge with 1:37 left on the clock.
With an opportunity to pull even, Mount Saint Mary was unable to convert on a pair of free throws on its next possession. Farmingdale increased the lead to four, 61-57, as Monah hit a long bank shot with two seconds remaining on the shot-clock and 48 seconds left in regulation. The Rams converted at the line over the final 30 seconds, earning the 67-58 win and the programs first-ever Skyline Conference title.
Blakney, who was named the Championship MVP, led Farmingdale with 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. Miller scored 11 points, had 11 rebounds and four steals, while Chappel pitched in with 11 points. Senior guard Tiffara Steward scored 10, shooting 4-for-8 from the field for the Rams.
Mount Saint Mary was led by senior forward Shannon Sangster who scored a team-high 12 points. Junior forward Jess Tice tallied 11 in the loss for the Blue Knights.
The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee will release the bracket and listings of teams that have been selected for the tournament during the selection show, which will air Monday, March 1st at 12:30 p.m.