New York, N.Y.— The John Jay women’s basketball team never lost its composure, turning back every Hunter challenge while leading from start to finish as they wrapped up their 2007-08 conference regular season schedule with a win as the Bloodhounds defeated Hunter College, 54-53, at the Doghouse on Saturday afternoon.
In what was a tightly contested game most of the way, the Bloodhounds scored the first four points and never trailed in the contest. They used a 13-4 run to start the game to take their biggest lead of the night. Parker Griffin (New York, NY / Bishop Kearney), who scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, capped the run with a lay-up at the 10:54 marker of the first half to control the contest.
But the visiting Hawks stayed within striking range to get to within three. After falling behind by nine, Hunter started an 8-2 run to make the score 15-12 with 6:06 to play.
But John Jay established another cushion and led by as much as seven in the final minutes of the first half. Maxine Jenkins (Astoria, NY / Bishop Loughlin) nailed a three point basket at the 2:56 mark to take a 20-13 lead. They increased the lead to as much as eight with forty-five seconds on a jumper in the paint by Griffin.
Hunter College edged closer in the second half. With the Bloodhounds leading 32-25 with 14:09 to go, the Hawks cut into the lead with a 5-0 spurt to get to within two (32-30).
But Dominique Grice (North Babylon, NY / North Babylon) sank a three point field goal on the ensuing possession as John Jay answered the call. Grice recorded 10 points, five assists, six steals, and seven rebounds in the contest.
While the Bloodhounds answered the call, the Hawks were persistent to the end. They went on a 4-0 spurt to cut the deficit to one before John Jay answered once again. Jenkins went the other way and connected on a lay-up and Griffin put home a lay-up moments later as John Jay went back up by five.
The Bloodhounds would then spurt away and lead by eight as senior Ganimete Ukperaj (Bellmore, NY / John F. Kennedy) landed on a three point field goal to go up 44-36 with 5:51 remaining.
John Jay still led by eight (46-38) at the 5:02 mark before Hunter came with another surge. The Hawks closed the gap with an 8-2 run to make the score 48-46 with 2:03 remaining.
But the gutsy Bloodhounds hung tight and used a 5-0 run to go back up by seven. Capitalizing off a Hunter turnover Jenkins connected on a three pointer from the corner with fifty-nine seconds to go. Then following another Hawk turnover Ukperaj scored a lay-up with forty-six seconds left to go up 53-46.
A last ditch effort by Hunter was denied. They closed the gap with a jumper with thirty-eight seconds to go before a jumper off a John Jay turnover. After the Bloodohounds missed the front end of a one and one, Hunter cut the Bloodhound lead to one (53-52) with nineteen seconds left.
But Grice made one of two free throws on the ensuing possession to go back up by two with seventeen seconds left.
Hunter had a chance to tie the game with six seconds left, but only managed to connect on one of two free throws.
But the Bloodhounds misconnected again on the first of a one and one giving Hunter one last chance. But a prayer at the buzzer did not come close as the Bloodhounds improve to 5-19 (3-10 CUNYAC).
John Jay returns to action on Mon. Feb. 11 for a home match with Manhattanville at 5 p.m.
