By Joshua Gallatin
The Bulldog faithful have something to celebrate as the women’s basketball season dies down for the year. On February 13, the Bergen Community College women’s basketball team ended their season with a bang by defeating the Lehigh Carbon Community College Cougars 78-65, snapping a four game losing streak at home.
It was a back and forth penalty frenzy throughout the night, although Bergen started to accumulate more than they bargained for in the second half. The Cougars led the Bulldogs at halftime by one with a score 38-37. However, the Bulldogs took control near the end of the third quarter.
Guard Jacqueline Carballo, who came into the game leading the team in points per game with 13.7, rebounds per game with 10.4, and field goal percentage at 33.8, got the Bulldogs going early in the first quarter before getting the rest of the team involved, finishing the game with 40 minutes, 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Carballo is expected to graduate this year. She finishes the season with a slight bump in points per game to 13.8. It was her night as it was for freshman guard Ariana Garo, who put up quite some numbers during the season finale. Garo led the team in scoring with 21 points, had eight rebounds, and four assists. Reserve Ashley Urqia, who operates as both a guard and a forward, and guard Sonja Syla (both freshmen), both got heavily involved in the second half of the match as the Bulldogs started to rack up points. Urqia had the most game time from a reserve player, and scored a whopping 18 points while Syla had 10 points.
Head Coach Sean Pekarsky utilized his bench to full strength. Sophomore forward Mary Palazzo and freshman guard Guiliana Sculli also contributed to the team’s scoring in the single digits, as did reserve freshman guard Ava Debaar.
BCC’s Men’s baseball team was present in the crowd over the course of the evening alongside the women’s softball team, who had their bake sale outside promoting the beginning of their season. During halftime, there was a moment to spotlight National Girls and Women in Sports Day when female athletes were gathering on the court to celebrate female empowerment in sports. Another thing that was on display was the level of aggressiveness by the BCC Women’s Basketball team throughout the game. The fouls that were called during game on were back-to-back calls involving Bergen ranging from staying in bounds, jump ball violations, and traveling. Going into next season, a big priority for the coaches and those who come back on the roster would likely be cleaning up the peanlties. Despite the women’s basketball team finishing the season 5-17 (3-8 at home, 2-9 away, and 4-16 in conference), the Bulldogs concluded on a high note, especially on their turf.