Wednesday wrap: Big roll, big finish

Feb 23, 2022
Gian Batista's triple-double: 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
Lehman athletics file photo
 

Drew scored the last 21 points to remain in the Landmark Conference race, Gian Batista put up a triple-double in a CUNYAC semifinal and more from Wednesday night in Division III basketball. 

Catholic led 58-39 at Drew with 5:44 left and was on the verge of booking a berth in the Landmark Conference title game. But the Cardinals (17-7) did not score again, as Drew scored the final 21 points, capped by Howard McBurnie's traditional three-point play, one which he completed by banking in a free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining. The win puts the second-seeded Rangers (18-8) into the Landmark final against Susquehanna, which defeated Juniata 59-52.

For more info on the night in Division III men's basketball conference tournaments, check out our 2021-22 Division III men's basketball conference tournament tracker.

The women’s side had just a handful of upsets in which lower seeds advanced to the next round of their conference playoffs.

Gwynedd Mercy knocked top-seed Marymount out of the Atlantic East Conference tournament, 70-59, thanks to a hot start and a big night from junior forward Haley Crossley. The Griffins opened the game on a 10-0 run and led by double digits for almost the entire second half. Crossley finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes for Gwynedd Mercy, which will face Immaculata in Saturday’s title game.

Catholic put its two regular season losses to Elizabethtown behind it and ousted the Blue Jays from the Landmark Conference playoffs, 70-52. The Cardinals outrebounded Elizabethtown by 13 and hit 18 of their 21 free throws. Three Catholic players finished either one point or one rebound shy of a double-double, led by Carly Mulvaney who had 16 points and nine boards. Catholic will head to No. 13 Scranton for the Landmark Conference finale on Saturday.

UW-Eau Claire had a similar turnaround at UW-Stout, as the Blugolds turned an 0-2 regular season performance against the Blue Devils into an 87-68 win. Jessie Ruden and Courtney Crouch combined for 43 points for UW-Eau Claire who will play No. 11 UW-Whitewater in Friday night’s WIAC championship.
UW-Whitewater earned its eight appearance in the WIAC tournament game by battling past UW-Oshkosh, 67-59. The game was tied at 55-all with two minutes remaining when Rebekah Schumaker hit a three and Aleah Grundahl followed with a three-point play that put the Warhawks in front by six. The Warhawks and Blugolds split their regular season matchup with each winning at home.

Lakeland nearly pulled off the biggest upset of the conference playoff season so far when the Muskies went in front of No. 20 Wisconsin Lutheran, 51-50, on Kerstin Sauerbrei’s 3-pointer with 15 seconds left. But the Warriors called time out and got the ball to Sam Leiseman who scored the game-winning layup with six ticks on the clock. Lakeland missed its final shot and Wisconsin Lutheran advanced, 52-51. Leiseman had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Warriors.

For more info on the night in Division III omen's basketball conference tournaments, check out our 2021-22 Division III women's basketball conference tournament tracker.