2/16/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College women's basketball has one more swing through its regular season, with two road games to closer out the year, starting with a Thursday night tilt at SUNY Sullivan in non-region action.  
 
The game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off inside the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in Loch Sheldrake, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the SUNY Sullivan Athletics Livestream, which can be accessed HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (10-9) enters Thursday's match-up after a week away from action. The Falcons' last game was a 90-34 triumph in their home finale over Raritan Valley CC last Thursday. Lackawanna shot 57% from the field in the first half, and put five of their six sophomore honorees in double-figures in the win. Mahogony Collins had a season-best 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Seanlajah Smith had her season-high 18 points and Nya Jackson had 16 points and five assists. You can read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 63.8 points per game, and are giving up 59.2 points per game on the year. The Falcons are hitting around 35.8% from the field, and are holding opponents to 32% on the year. Lackawanna College has struggled from deep, shooting just 21.3% from downtown this year. Lackawanna is hitting 67.4% of its free throws this season, going 203-for-301 on the year. The Falcons are +2 on rebounding margin so far this season, and have forced an average of 16.9 turnovers per game this season, while giving the ball up around 17.4 times per game. The Falcons average 5.6 blocks per game, defensively, and they average around nine steals per game, while their opponents are up to ten swipes per contest.  
 
The Falcons are balanced, with four players averaging around eight points or more per game this season. Last year's second-leading scorer, and 2^nd Team All-Region selection, Gabrielle Jackson (Darby Twp, PA), is first on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game. Jackson is pulling down 5.2 rebounds per contest, third on the team, and has 48 total assists, first on the team, while putting up 23 total steals so far this year. Jackson, back for her third year, is third on the team in field goal percentage (41.3%) and has made 15 three-point shots on the year, tied for second on the team. Jackson has scored in double-figures eleven times this season, going for her season-best 21 points last Tuesday against Montco. Jackson was 9-for-14 from the floor and hit three three-point shots, while pulling down seven rebounds and doling out two assists in the win. In her last four games, Jackson is averaging 17 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.3% from the field and hitting ten three-point shots. Against Raritan on Thursday, she had 14 points, nine rebounds, and a team-high six assists, while posting four steals in the win.
 
Nya Jackson (Harrisburg, PA), a returner from last year, is second on the team, averaging 9.9 points per game. Jackson averages just under four rebounds per game, and is second on the team in assists, putting up 42 on the year. Jackson is shooting 30% from the field, but is 36-for-46 from the free throw line on the season, a team-best 78.3% average. Jackson has 24 steals, tied for second on the team this season. Jackson has scored in double-figures nine times this season, and had her season-best performance against Essex this semester, where she scored a season-high 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting, knocking down two three-pointers and pulling down four rebounds. Nya has scored in double-figures in her last two games, including 16 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the win over Raritan.  
 
Sidney Spence (Bronx, NY) is third on the squad, averaging 8.9 points per game on the year. Spence leads the team in shooting, hitting 44.2% of her shots this year, and is third on the team in free throw percentage, hitting 72.2% of her shots from the charity stripe this season, where she leads the team in makes (39) and attempts (54). She's fourth on the team in rebounds (5.1 per game) and has 24 steals this year, tied with Nya Jackson for second on the team. Spence has scored in double-figures ten times this year, including five times in the spring semester. Spence set her season-high in the win against Northampton, going for 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, while pulling down five rebounds against the Spartans. Spence scored nine points and put up five rebounds and four assists in the win over Raritan on Thursday.  
 
Cianna Roberts (Brooklyn, NY) is averaging 8.2 points per game and pulling down just under four rebounds per game. Roberts is hitting around 35.7% of her shots this year, and is tied with Gabrielle Jackson for second-most makes from deep with 15. Roberts leads the Falcons in steals (27) this season, and is also third on the team with 31 total assists this year. Roberts has scored in double-figures seven times this season, including a season-best 17 points in the win over Union in December. Roberts was 7-for-9 from the field, and had five rebounds and two assists to help the Falcons to victory. Against Monroe CC, Roberts had her first double-double as a Falcon, going for 14 points and ten rebounds in the win. Roberts was 5-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. Roberts had 13 points and a pair of steals in the win over Raritan last week.
 
Dominique Geiger (Plainfield, NJ) is averaging 7.6 points per game this year, fifth on the team. Geiger is hitting 34.3% of her shots this year, and has made eleven three-point shots, which is fifth on the team this year. Geiger has 21 steals on the season (Fifth on the team) and also has 27 assists. She's gone for double-digits in points in five games, including against Morris, where she set her season-high with 25 points. Geiger was 11-for-22 from the floor, and hit three three-point shots, while grabbing four rebounds and posting three steals on the evening. She didn't score in just four minutes of action against Raritan on Thursday evening.  
 
Mahogony Collins (Harrisburg, PA) is up to 6.8 points per game this year, and averages 11.7 rebounds per game, tops on the team. Collins has also denied a team-best 95 shots this year, good for 5.3 blocks per game. That rate has Collins as the #1 shot-blocker among all NJCAA Division II players. Collins is now shooting 42% from the field this year, and has 59 offensive rebounds on the year. Collins got her season and career-high in points against Raritan last Thursday, scoring 20 points and pulling down 20 rebounds, along with four blocks.  She's crossed double-digits in rebounds 12 times this year, already. Collins set her season-high in rebounding with 21 boards against Monroe College Bronx. She also had eight points and nine rebounds in the win. Against Northampton, Collins had 15 rebounds and nine blocks, setting a season-high for rejections this year. Collins has three double-doubles on the year, and has reached double-digit rebounds in seven of nine games this spring semester, including her last six appearances.
 
The newest face in the women's basketball program is Monica Spence, entering her first year in charge of the program. Spence follows in the footsteps of Joya Whittington, who was third all-time in wins as a coach and led the Falcons to several stops in the national tournament. Spence joined as an assistant last season, and was elevated to head coach with Whittington's departure. Spence has spent time as a coach at the youth level, as well as the semi-professional men's basketball level.
 
About the Opponents
SUNY Sullivan (16-9) has won its last five games, and its most recent game happens to also be a game against Raritan Valley. The Generals knocked off the Lions earlier this week on the road, 63-44, on Tuesday evening. Sullivan built a 20-point after the first quarter, and led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter. The Generals shot 43% from the field, and were led by Deivejon Harris with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Tamari Hubbard added 12 points and five boards, while Malaysia Bryant had six points and a team-best five assists. Sullivan forced 20 Raritan turnovers, which turned into a 22-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
On the season, the Generals average just below 66 points per game, and are giving up around 53 points per contest this year. The Generals average 40.8% from the floor, and hit around 31% from downtown, while their opponents hit 35.4% and 22.8%, respectively. Sullivan has a +9 rebounding margin on the year, and averages over 12 steals per game, forcing their opponents into 19.6 turnovers per game. Sullivan turns the ball over an average of 16.7 times per game this year.
 
There are two Generals averaging double-figures, with Deivejon Harris leading the way at 16 points per contest. Harris is a 59.4% shooter this season, and leads the Generals in rebounding with 14.3 boards per game this season. Harris averages just shy of seven offensive rebounds per game, and also averages about an assist per game. Harris has scored in double-figures 20 times this season, going over 20 points nine different times this year. Her season-high came against SUNY Westchester in a 77-53 win back on February 7^th, scoring 26 points and going 10-for-17 from the floor, while hitting a season-best six free throws in the win. Harris has gone over double-digits in rebounds 19 times this year, going for a double-double in 18 games this year. She's gone over 20 rebounds five times this year, and had her season-high with 26 rebounds in that win over Westchester. She had 18 points and 18 rebounds in the win over Raritan on Tuesday.
 
Brieanne Maple is second on the team with 15.1 points per game this year. She averages just shy of 40% from the field this year, and is a 37% three-point shooter. Maple leads the Generals in free throw shooting, hitting on 84.6% of her shots from the stripe this year. Maple is second on the team in steals per game (2.8) and tied for third on the team in assists per game (2.2). She also averages four rebounds per game. Maple has gone over double-digits in scoring 20 times this year, going over 20 points on six different occasions. Her season-high 31 points came in the 68-58 win over Monroe College on February 9^th. She was 10-for-19 from the floor, and made six three-point shots in the win. Maple set her season-highs with ten rebounds and six assists in a 91-27 win over Rockland back in December, and set her season-best with seven assists in the win over Essex on February 11^th. She had seven points and two steals in the win over Raritan on Tuesday.
 
Barbara Bruno is tied with Tamari Hubbard for third on the team with seven points per game. Bruno averages 40.7% from the field, and is a 65.6% free throw shooter on the year. Bruno averages 4.6 rebounds per game, fourth on the team, and leads the Generals in assists with 3.4 helpers per game. She also averages 1.6 assists per game. She's gone four double-digit points seven times this year, going for her season-best 16 points in a win over Raritan back in January, where she was 7-for-14 from the floor. Bruno has twice gone for double-digit rebounds, setting her season-high with 13 boards against Raritan Valley back in November. She had a double-double against Raritan in January, backing up her 16 points with ten rebounds. She also set her season-high in assists (11) and steals (5) in a December win over Bergen CC. Bruno had two points, three steals, and two assists in the win over Raritan Valley on Tuesday.
 
Hubbard is shooting 41.7% from the floor, and is a 61.7% free throw shooter on the year. Her 6.3 rebounds per game is third on the team, and she averages 1.4 steals per game, and 1.2 assists per game. Hubbard has gone over double-digits in points nine times this season, setter her season-high with 18 points in the win over Westchester in February. She was 8-for-13 from the floor, and had a double-double with ten rebounds. She has two double-doubles on the year, and has gone over double-digits in rebounds four times this year, setting her season-high with 15 rebounds in a win over SUNY Adirondack back in November. She has gone for her season-best four assists twice this season, and set her season-high with six steals in a 54-39 win over Erie CC in January. Hubbard had 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting, five rebounds, and three steals in the win over Raritan.
 
Mei-Lin Calliste is averaging 6.5 points per game, and is a 37.3% shooter on the year. She is second on the team with 7.7 rebounds per game, and is tied with Maple for third on the team in assists at 2.2 per game. She also leads the Generals with three steals per contest this season. Calliste has five double-doubles on the year, scoring a season-best 14 points in a 76-65 win over SUNY Herkimer back on January 8^th, going for a double-double with eleven rebounds. She has four double-doubles on the year, and set her season-best with 14 rebounds in the win over UConn Avery Point back in December. She had a triple-double in that game, going for eleven points, 14 rebounds, and a season-best ten steals. Calliste set her season-high with five assists twice this season. Calliste had two points and two steals in the win over Raritan Valley on Tuesday evening.
 
Malaysia Bryant averages 6.2 points per game this season, shooting 34.5% from the field on the year. Bryant is second on the team at 2.7 assists per game, and third on the team with just over two steals per game this year. She also averages just under two rebounds per contest this year. Bryant has gone for double-figures in scoring seven times this season, and her season-high 17 points came in a narrow loss to Onondaga in January, where she was 8-for-9 from the floor. She set her season-high in assists with seven in a win against Nassau back in December, and set her season-best with six steals in a close loss to Howard CC on January 21^st. She had six points, five assists, and two steals against Raritan Valley on Tuesday.
 
Ben Newberg took over the Generals' program back in July 2021. Newberg came to Sullivan after spending time at the Borough of Manhattan CC, and has also spent time as the head women's coach at Medgar Evers College for two years, where he helped the school achieve their most wins in over ten years. Newberg has also served as an assistant men's coach at CCNY, Mercy College, SUNY New Paltz, and SUNY Sullivan. Newberg earned bachelor's degree from SUNY Albany, and got his master's degree at Mercy College. Newberg had an immediate impact last year in his first season, taking the Generals to a 20-4 overall record and capturing the Region XV DII championship. Newberg is 36-13 in his time with SUNY Sullivan.
  
The Match-Up
The game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off inside the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in Loch Sheldrake, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the SUNY Sullivan Athletics Livestream, which can be accessed HERE.
 
The next game for the Falcons will be their final game of the regular season, when they travel to Valhalla, NY to take on the SUNY Westchester women's basketball squad on Sunday, February 19^th for a 1:00pm ET tip-off. That game will be the first of a doubleheader, with the men's teams tipping at 3:00pm ET.