Women qualify for NCAAs, Men left off bracket

By Jim Krencik
SPORTS EDITOR

The 2007-08 College at Brockport basketball season will be remembered for both the unexpected rise of the unranked women’s team and the fall of the once-heralded men’s team.

The women’s team’s rise to prominence reached a new peak as the Golden Eagles automatically clinched a spot in the tournament Saturday with a 75-59 win over Cortland in the SUNYAC Championship game.

The win was crucial for Brockport’s qualification, as the Golden Eagles were the lone team picked for the 63-team field by the NCAA.

The Golden Eagles will travel to the Finger Lakes region for their opening round game, which will be against the Emmanuel College Saints.

The final SUNYAC game of the season was another ‘Cortland comeback’ for the Golden Eagles, who earned the right to host the tournament by beating the Red Dragons at home Feb. 5.

This time Brockport was able to pull away from Cortland with more than 14 minutes remaining after erasing a 14-point deficit and creating a 14-point lead with a 36-8 second-half run.

Courtney Hines and Ashley Broadhurst combined for 47 points, nine three-point baskets and 13 assists in the championship game.

Meanwhile, the men’s team’s championship chances crashed down in the semi-finals of SUNYACS, as the Golden Eagles dropped their third 2007-08 matchup with Oswego.

The pre-season No. 3 ranked team did not even finish third in their conference.

The Golden Eagles could not bury enough three-point shots to make up for a 46-33 disadvantage in rebounding in their loss to the Lakers.

Sherod Harris and Brandon Williams both had strong performances, scoring 23 and 18 points respectively, but none of their teammates could score more than six points.

The loss also denied the Golden Eagles a final shot to beat the Plattsburgh Cardinals, who went undefeated in SUNYAC play and was the only SUNYAC team to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Eagles both had unbelievable seasons, although for one team that means celebration in the present and for the other it will only cause head-scratching in the future.