Chesnut Hill, MA – The University of Valley Forge Women's Basketball team took on the Gators of Pine Manor College in the ACAA Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon.  The Patriots earned their first NCAA Conference Title in school history by beating the Gators by a final score of 73-67.

The Patriots (15-8) had 3 different players score in double figures during the contest: Jhanel Brown led the Patriots with 26 points and an incredible 21 rebounds.  Bailey Mayforth added 21 points and 6 rebounds.  Natalie Cortes had 17 points that included knocking down key free throws in the final minute of the game.

The Gators (10-17) were led by Shaquanda Middleton with 20 points.  Erica Jones added 17 points along with 12 assists.

Bailey Mayforth got things rolling for Valley Forge.  Mayforth sunk a deep three just seconds into the game to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.  Pine Manor would answer and with the score tied at 5, the Patriots Jhanel Brown went to work.  Brown made three consecutive layups on 3 straight UVF possesions and followed by a free throw from Amaya Brown, the Patriots led 12-5 midway through the first quarter.  The Gators clawed their way back and managed to bring the UVF lead down to 2 with 1:36 left in the opening quarter.  Valley Forge would add a free throw and lead 18-15 after the first quarter.   

Twice the Patriots were able to build a slight 6-point advantage but Pine Manor managed to come back and erase the deficit each time.  With 51 seconds remaining until halftime, Bailey Mayforth made her second three of the game however, on the Gators next possession, Shaquanda Middleton answered with a three of her own.  Middleton's three made the score 30-27 in favor of Valley Forge at the half.

The third quarter saw three ties and 5 lead changes as both team battled back and forth.  UVF never led by more than 4 points.  After a Jhanel Brown jumper that made the score 44-40, the Gators ended the quarter with an 8-3 run that gave Pine Manor a 48-47 lead heading into the 4^th and final quarter.

Natalie Cortes wasted little time putting the Patriots back in the lead by making a layup on UVF's opening possession of the 4^th quarter.  After getting a stop on the defensive end, Jhanel Brown made a layup and the Patriots led 51-48 but more timely Pine Manor shooting  from long range tied the game at 51 with 8:06 remaining.  Back and forth play continued until Valley Forge was able to build its largest lead of the game.  With the score 61-60 and 2:54 left on the clock, The Patriots were determined not to let the game slip away.  Jhanel Brown made her 26^th point after grabbing an offensive rebound and putting the ball back up and in.  UVF then tightened on defense and forced a missed jumper.  On the Patriots following possession, Bailey Mayforth drove to line and to the lane and laid the ball softly off the glass to give Valley Forge a 5-point advantage 65-60.  Just like in any tightly contested game UVF would be forced to put the game away at the free throw line.  The combination of Bailey Mayforth, Natalie Cortes and Amaya Brown took care of business by going 5 of 6 from the stripe. 

The Patriots finished off Pine Manor 73-67 to earn the school's first NCAA Conference Championship. 

Congratulations to the Women's Basketball team for being crowned as American Collegiate Athletic Association Conference Champion! 

All-Tournament Team

Molly Berg, Finlandia

Antanasia Chambers, SUNY Canton

Shaquanda Middleton, Pine Manor

Jhanel Brown, Valley Forge

Natalie Cortes, Valley Forge (MVP)

  
Go Patriots!