Health & Fitness
St. Francis Brooklyn Faces Sacred Heart in Play-In Game for NEC Men’s Basketball Tourney
Terriers hope of advancing to the Northeast Conference tournament rests on outcome of Saturday's game against the Pioneers; St. Francis women's squad have clinched 1st NEC berth since 2008.
The St. Francis Brooklyn men’s basketball team has arrived at a “win or go home” moment in their 2012-13 Northeast Conference (NEC) season. Win tomorrow’s 4:30 matchup with Sacred Heart—part of a basketball doubleheader at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex—and the Terriers will clinch the final spot in the 2013 NEC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
A loss means the visiting Pioneers (9-19; 7-10 NEC) will claim the spot and St. Francis (11-17; 7-10 NEC) will be on the outside looking in.
“Tomorrow is obviously a critical game for us to win,” said St. Francis coach Glenn Braica. “We feel fortunate that we have an opportunity to control our own destiny and grab the final playoff spot.”
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“We are really excited about our doubleheader against Sacred Heart tomorrow,” said Irma Garcia, St. Francis Athletic Director. “Obviously our men have a huge game to make the NEC playoffs, but our women have already clinched their first postseason berth since the 2007-2008 season.”
Coach Braica’s men’s squad may be the most dangerous team lurking in the lower half of the NEC’s tournament bracket. In a year of relative parity for the conference, the Terriers already own quality wins against playoff qualifiers Mount St. Mary’s, Quinnipiac, Wagner and—most importantly—number one seed Robert Morris.
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Confident that his team will do some damage if they qualify, Braica said “we have shown that we can compete with everyone that has made the tournament this season.” But the 2012 NEC Coach of the Year knows his team needs to come up big on Saturday. “Obviously we’ll need to play extremely well.”
If the Terriers do make the NEC tournament, they can draw confidence from a 71-61 home victory over Robert Morris earlier this season. Braica believes that St. Francis will be a tough opening round opponent for the Colonials, the 2013 NEC regular season champions. “We should have confidence playing Robert Morris knowing that we already defeated them this season.”
Not to be overshadowed by the men’s team, St. Francis women’s squad (11-16; 8-8 NEC) has a 2 p.m. tip off against the Pioneers, the number two team in the women’s half of the NEC tournament. With two games remaining in their regular season, the Terriers have a realistic chance to end up with a winning conference record since the 1986 squad finished 9-7. With eight wins, first year coach John Thurston’s squad has already exceeded St. Francis’ NEC win total for the preceding 4 years.
As part of Saturday’s festivities, St. Francis will host National Girls & Women In Sports Day and their annual Shoot For a Cure initiative to raise awareness for cancer.
AD Garcia welcomes all in the local community to “come out and support the Terriers and join in these important events.”
St. Francis College, Brooklyn Women’s and Men’s Basketball vs. Sacred Heart University, 2 and 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 2. Generoso Pope Athletic Complex, 180 Remsen Street (between Court and Clinton Streets). For more information contact Meghan O’Brien at 718-489-5411 / mobrien@sfc.edu
