Simmons’ Free-Throws Extinguish Upset-Minded Firebirds; University of the District of Columbia Women’s Basketball Falls to Dowling 55-54

OAKDALE, NY –  The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team nearly upset No. 25 Dowling College on the road in an East Coast Conference thriller Saturday afternoon, but a 5-0 Lions run, culminating in a pair of free-throws by Connie Simmons, propelled Dowling to a 55-54 victory.

The Firebirds, who were playing without injured team leading scorer and the third-ranked scorer in the ECC, Jamilia Bonner, fell to 10-3 overall and 1-2 in league play. Dowling, which overcame a four-point deficit with 18 seconds remaining in regulation, ended a three-game losing skid to improve to 10-3 as well and a perfect 3-0 in the ECC.

A pair of free-throws by Janelle Junior (Riverside, CA – La Sierra HS) put District of Columbia ahead 54-50 with 18 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Lions marched quickly down the court and Kelly Puwalski (six points, 2-of-4 3-pt. FG) buried a three-pointer to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds left. Puwalski immediately fouled Junior, who was 2-for-2 from the line during the game at that point. Junior, a 70-percent free-throw shooter on the season coming into the game, clanked the first shot of a one-and-one, and during the scrum for the rebound, the Firebirds unintentionally fouled Simmons with six seconds showing on the clock. The league's top free-throw shooter at 90-percent knocked down both to put her team in front 55-54, and the Lions escaped with the one-point victory.

Junior led all scorers with 18 points and Lauren Brittingham (Washington, DC – Potomac HS) hit four three-point field goals in the second half to finish with 14 points. Brittingham also led the team in rebounds (nine) and assists (three).

Simmons led three Dowling players in double-figures with 13 points to go with seven rebounds. Julia Koppl and Seja Gamble pitched in with 12 and 10 points, respectively and Christine Verelle had a team-high nine rebounds.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as UDC shot a mere 26-percent from the field while Dowling committed a staggering 18 turnovers. The Lions controlled an 18-8 advantage after a Simmons layup at the 9:30 mark, but an and-one layup by Dohnay Banice (Wilmington, DE – Williamson HS) ignited a 12-0 Firebirds run which put UDC on top, 20-18. Dowling would close out the half on a 6-2 run and take a 24-22 lead into the intermission.

Trailing 34-30 in the second half just past the 12-minute mark, Brittingham buried the first of her four second-half three-pointers to bring UDC within one. After Koppl answered right back with a three, Brittingham knocked down another from downtown to keep it a one-point game. Then, consecutive layups by Rich and Monet Nias (Glen Burnie, MD – Old Mill HS) gave District of Columbia a 40-37 lead at the 9:14 mark. Brittinham's third three-pointer gave the Firebirds their largest lead of the game, 49-43 with a little over four minutes left to play when a 5-0 Lions run cut the lead back to one at the 2:44 mark. With 1:18 showing on the clock, Brittingham connected on her fourth and final three to push the Firebirds' lead back to four, but the chaos at the end of regulation would ultimately end with Dowling on top, 55-54.

UDC shot much better in the second half (41-percent) than it did in the first and Dowling settled down offensively with nine second-half turnovers. The Lions finished with 27 turnovers to the Firebirds' 18 but out-shot UDC 39-percent to 32-percent from the field for the game and held a 43-39 rebounding advantage. Neither team shot well from the free-throw line (UDC – 40%, Dowling – 50%), but District of Columbia's 4-for-10 shooting at the stripe was costly down the stretch.

The Firebirds will look to bounce back on Wednesday as they host ECC foe NYIT at the UDC Gym at 5:30 p.m. Eli Pearlstein will call the action via a live video broadcast of the game courtesy of Stretch Internet.