Boxscore
In a game that featured five lead changes, four in the second half, it was Jen Hum-Traverso's three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference in NYU's 54-51 victory over host Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday in the ECAC Metro Championship Final in Hoboken, NJ.
NYU (16-12) led most of the game, but trailed 51-49 when the Ducks' Sarah Gehring connected on a three-pointer with 53 seconds left.
After the Violets re-captured the lead on Hum-Traverso's trey, Steven Tech's (18-11) Kathleen Schuckers missed a pair of shots, then fouled Hum-Traverso with 16 seconds to play.
The NYU senior, playing in her final collegiate game, calmly sank both freebies and finished with a team-high 14 points.
“Jen's three at the end was almost like a movie,” said NYU head coach Stefano Trompeo. “It couldn't have ended any better.”
After Hun-Traverso's free throws, Schuckers missed another jumper with 10 seconds to go and then a potential game-tying three-pointer right before the final buzzer as NYU hung on for its record seventh ECAC title.
“Winning a championship feels very good, but I'm only going to enjoy this for a little bit because the second the buzzer goes off, this team will never be the same,” Trompeo said.
Senior Grace Carmen, who scored nine of her 13 points in the second half and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Bianca Storts, after scoring a season-high 16 points in the Violets' 64-54 win over Drew University on Saturday, added another 11 on Sunday.
Emily Foshag, who also played in her final collegiate contest, had five points and six rebounds.
Schuckers led Stevens Tech with 15 points, while Victoria O'Connor finished with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
It was NYU's first ECAC Metro Championship since the 2005 season. The Violets also won the title in 1988, 2000, 2002, and 2003. They are now 18-2 all-time in the tournament.
“Just a great ending to the season,” Trompeo concluded. “Especially for our seniors.”
