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Top 10 Moments of 2019-20: Women's Basketball Captures First ECC Title

7/31/2020 12:00:00 PM

AMHERST, N.Y. - On Wednesdays and Fridays this summer, daemenwildcats.com will feature stories that look back upon the top 10 moments of the 2019-20 season. Record-setting performances, important wins and history-making achievements will be documented in the series.

THE MOMENT:
Women's Basketball captures first ECC title
The 2019-20 season was a historic one for the Daemen women's basketball program: 23 wins, a benchmark in the Wildcats' NCAA Division II era (2015-present); a 13-game winning streak spanning 69 days; and a share of the East Coast Conference regular season title. The icing on the cake came in early March when the second-seeded Wildcats claimed wins over third-seeded New York Tech (76-56) and fourth-seeded Molloy (68-56) on back-to-back days (March 7-8) to capture their first ECC tournament crown, earning the program's first bid to the 64-team NCAA Division II Championship. 

"I am so proud of these guys. This has been the goal since last spring and they have worked so hard to get here," said head coach Jenepher Banker following the championship tilt. 
Making the accomplishment just a bit sweeter was Daemen's ability to avenge losses from just days earlier to both their semifinals and finals opponents. The Wildcats went into the final weekend of the regular season needing one win in road games at Molloy and New York Tech to claim the outright ECC regular season title. But, it wasn't meant to be as Molloy handed the Wildcats their first setback since December 15, and less than 48 hours later it was New York Tech that emerged with a hard-fought 47-43 win. 

When the teams met again just days later, this time at the UDC Sports Complex in Washington, D.C., the Wildcats were poised to accomplish their goal. After making a season-low three three-pointers in the March 1 loss at New York Tech, Daemen canned 12-of-32 three-point attempts en route to a 20-point dismantling of the Bears in the semifinals. Tiara Filbert (Batavia, N.Y.) led the way with 20 points - her sixth 20-point outing of the season - and Katie Titus (Penfield, N.Y.) stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals. The Wildcats turned 16 offensive rebounds into a commanding 20-3 advantage in second chance points. They were off to the ECC tournament finals for the first time in team history. An anticipated showdown with fellow co-regular season champ St. Thomas Aquinas wasn't in the cards as the top-seeded Spartans were upset, 66-60. Instead it would be another chance at redemption, this time against a 22-win Molloy squad.
After falling behind 7-0 early on, Daemen outscored the Lions 23-4 to seize control, a run that spanned just over 12 minutes of the first and second quarters. The Wildcats extended to a 12-point lead (46-34) in the third quarter, but Molloy crept back within 46-42 by the end of the frame. The Lions made a further dent in the deficit, pulling within a single point (51-50) at the 5:35 mark of the fourth quarter. Daemen responded with five straight points by senior Jordan Heinold (Hamburg, N.Y.), including a clutch three-pointer at the 4:14 mark. With just over two minutes left and Daemen clinging to a 56-51 lead, the Wildcats grabbed two offensive rebounds during a flurry of action, the effort eventually paid off when Ashli Jeune (Westampton, N.J.) hit Titus underneath for a layup. Another empty Molloy possession was followed by two Filbert free throws, putting Daemen ahead by nine (60-51) with 1:06 to play. The upset-minded Lions came no closer than eight points the rest of the way. When the final buzzer sounded, Daemen's players raced to midcourt for a celebration filled with joyous embraces.
Titus, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, recorded her second double-double of the weekend (and eighth of the season) as she totaled 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks against Molloy. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Filbert (13 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Caroline White (Fairport, N.Y.) (12 points, seven rebounds, two steals).

"We talk about it all the time, making history for our program. That's definitely what we did today," Titus said afterwards. 
Later that same evening, after boarding the team bus and heading back to Western New York, the Wildcats heard their name called during the NCAA Division II Championship Selection Show. Daemen would be the No. 7 seed in the East Region and were set to face second-seeded Stonehill in the opening round March 13 on the campus of regional host Adelphi. Only that game never happened. On March 12, with Daemen already at the host hotel on Long Island, NCAA officials announced the cancellation of remaining winter and spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although their season came to end abruptly and prematurely, it was one that won't soon be forgotten in the annals of Daemen history. 

ADDITIONAL TOP 10 MOMENTS FROM THE 2019-20 SEASON:

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

 
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