Welcome back, sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. While the world of professional sports has come to somewhat of a standstill while the Olympics go on, that doesn't stop our amazing athletes here at Richard Stockton College from competing. Last night both the men's and women's basketball teams were in action, both with a lot on the line. The women came into their game with TCNJ with a 12-12 record, and a 6-6 record in the NJAC. The lady Ospreys needed a victory over the Lions in order to clinch a playoff berth in this year's NJAC Tournament. Meanwhile, the men, having already clinched a playoff spot as well as a first round bye, still had something to prove. Last year's NCAA Division III runners-up were looking to build momentum toward the NJAC playoffs, with the hopes of returning to the NCAA tourney. In addition to that, senior Santini Lancioni came into the game just ten points shy of his 1000th career point. Needless to say, excitement filled the air as "Big Blue" was jam-packed with hundreds of the Stockton faithful.
The Women tipped off at 6PM, and from the start you could see determination in their eyes. The girls knew a playoff spot was on the line, and they played like it. The Ospreys started the game on a 30-7 run, and never looked back. By the half, the girls had jumped out to a 40-13 lead, and the Lions never got back into the game. Noelle Hogan. Ailyah Nelson, and Aspen Price-Perry each netted 13 points, as Price-Perry was on fire from outside the arc. The women didn't let up on the gas pedal, as they cruised to a 73-44 victory over their NJAC South rivals, and in the process secured a berth in the playoffs. The lady Ospreys will head to Montclair State University this Saturday, the 20th, to take on the Red Hawks in the first round of the NJAC tournament. Should they win, the girls will then head off to Kean University to take on the #1 seeded Cougars.
Shortly after the girls' victory, the guys came onto the floor and gave their seniors a warm welcome, as this would be the final regular season home game for the three veterans. Santini Lancioni, Omar Smith, and Steve Sheck were all honored for their contributions to the team over their tenure here at Stockton, and the Ospreys looked to close out the regular season with a "W". Lancioni came out firing, knowing full well that he needed just 10 points to get to 1000. He quickly reached 7, and then fired up a few three-pointers to try and lock it up. He missed both of those, but by the time the clock read 4:00 in the first half, Santini drained a three from just outside the arc to seal the deal, and the game was stopped momentarily to honor him. Lancioni would net twenty-one in his final regular season game. Omar Smith was a huge factor as well, as he led the team in points with 26, as well as in rebounds with 13. The Ospreys got out to an early 36-26 lead, but the margin narrowed quickly. Midway through the second half, the Lions took a one point lead, their first of the game, and it seemed as though all momentum had been lost. The ever-resilient Ospreys clawed their way back and eventually got their lead up to twenty, a deficit TCNJ would not be able to overcome. The men went on to win it 99-85. The Ospreys, #1 in the South region of the NJAC, will sit and wait as Rutgers Newark (#2 in the North) will take on Kean (#3 in the South). The winner will take on Stockton, with the winner of that heading to the finals.
Last night was a huge night for both the men's and women's bball squads, and things are only just starting to get interesting as both teams head into the playoffs. Come out and support the men next Wednesday night as they'll host either Rutgers Newark or Kean here at "Big Blue"!
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