The Hunter Hawks women’s basketball team captured the 2018-2019 CUNYAC Championship over Brooklyn College on Friday night in their home turf at the Hunter Sportsplex – giving the Hawks their first conference title since 2004. The score was 76-65.
The previous Tuesday, the team had finished their season with the best record in their conference – going 15-1. The ladies in purple and gold dominated CCNY in the semifinals to get to the promised land, with a final score of 92-61.
“We’re very confident, we’ve been preparing for this this whole year and we just want to be in the moment,” said Theresa Leung, Junior point guard.
Leung said, the team has been ready for the championship stage all year – it was just a matter of waiting to get there. Leung was able to knockdown three shots from deep in the semifinals, adding to her 14-point performance in Tuesday’s game as the second leading scorer on the Hawks.
Garrett has a formula for her success on the court: “Hawks 365.”
“It’s about making it a part of your priority every day, all year, not just in your season,” he said. “Don’t be a part-time athlete.”
Receiving a technical foul is only a small price to pay when your season is on the line. Pacing back and forth or clenching his fist after his squad hits a three-pointer are only a few of many emotions Garrett goes through during a game.
Unsure about whether or not the first or last possession will win the game, head coach John Garrett doesn’t like to wish on any stars no matter what position the team is in. Whether his squad is ahead by 30 or facing a 20-point deficit, Garrett looks to take no possessions off. He remains in the face of his squad, red as a tomato, until the final buzzer.
“I mean the ball has all the value in the game,” says Garrett. “Up thirty, down thirty it doesn’t matter because I coach every possession.”
Of course no sport is complete without rituals, which in many cases help players become comfortable in settings with high intensity. Star guard and CUNYAC Player of the Year, Jade Aponte, wears the same socks, sports bra and hairstyle when heading into a critical game. Aponte acknowledged that a lot was on the line for Friday’s game.
“The whole team definitely just knew this was the last game and that was it. If we lose we’re going home, if we win we continue,” she said. “I think that definitely helped us win today.”
The Hunter Hawks women’s basketball team looks to continue their hot streak as March Madness approaches where they face-off against Bowdoin College on March 1st in Brunswick at 7pm.
