February 19, 2017
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Led by Tournament MVP and Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year Dannie Griffin (Paramus, N.J.), top-seeded Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (12-8, 5-1) rallied to defeat No. 2 seed College of New Rochelle (12-10, 5-1), 70-58, on Sunday afternoon at the CNR Wellness Center to capture the 2017 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball title.
Griffin recorded a double-double in the championship with game highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds and shot 11-of-18 from the field to help the Panthers reverse a 10-point first-half deficit to win their fourth title in program history. The junior center also posted 25 points and 14 rebounds in the Panthers semifinal win over No. 4 Berkeley College as the Panthers needed overtime to avoid an upset after falling behind by 12 in the first half.
The title game—a rematch of last year's finale—saw tournament hosts New Rochelle score the first nine points of the contest and led by as many as 10 on multiple occasions before taking a 28-22 lead into the lockers. Griffin led the way in the half scoring 13 of the Panthers' 22 points.
But a four-minute scoring drought for the Blue Angels spanning the third and fourth quarters would allow the Panthers to score 21 straight points to take a 16-point lead, 49-33, with 7:50 to play—a gap too large to overcome. CNR's Dar'Neisha Brice had eight quick points to pull her squad within seven with three minutes to go and excite the home crowd, but the Panthers maintained their separation at the free throw line pushing their lead back to double digits.
The Panthers scored 48 in the second half, including a 32-point outburst in the fourth quarter. Additionally, all five Albany Pharmacy starters played every single minute of the tournament, including an extra five-minute overtime in the semifinals.
Sophomore guard Aaliyah Fields (Hollywood, Md.) posted 13 points to lead New Rochelle in defeat and freshman forward Ashley Martin (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) added a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.
With the victory, Albany Pharmacy claims the league's automatic bid to the upcoming USCAA National Championships from February 28-March 4 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The Panthers, who were ranked 14th in the last USCAA Coaches' poll, will await their seed and first-round matchup as the full eight-team field will be announced on Tuesday, February 21st at 5 p.m. on www.theuscaa.com.
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2017 HVIAC Women's Basketball Championships

Tournament Central

Semifinals

Saturday, February 18
at The College of New Rochelle
#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #4 Berkeley, 69-64 (OT)
#2 New Rochelle def. #3 Davis, 72-63

Championship

Sunday, February 21
at The College of New Rochelle
#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #2 New Rochelle, 70-58

Tournament & Regular Season Champions

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Tournament Runner-Up

The College of New Rochelle

Tournament MVP

Dannie Griffin - Albany Pharmacy

Past Champions

• 2016: Albany Pharmacy
• 2015: St. Joseph's
• 2014: New Rochelle
• 2013: St. Joseph's
• 2012: Albany Pharmacy
• 2011: Albany Pharmacy
• 2010: St. Joseph's
• 2009: St. Elizabeth's
• 2008: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2007: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2006: St. Joseph's
• 2005: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2004: Purchase

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Web release: http://www.hviac.net/sports/wbkb/2016-17/all-conference

All-HVIAC Women's Basketball Team Announced; Griffin Named Player of the Year

February 19, 2017
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences junior Dannie Griffin was named the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball Player of the Year as the league announced the members of the All-HVIAC Women's Basketball Team at the start of the 2017 HVIAC Tournament at the College of New Rochelle.
Griffin averaged 20.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.3 steals, and 3.2 assists in conference play this season leading the Panthers to the regular season title. A two-time Player of the Week honoree this season, the junior center recorded double-doubles in five of six league contests highlighted by a 32-point, 12-rebound double-double against Vaughn.
Davis College freshman Brooke Lewandowski was selected as Rookie of the Year. The freshman averaged 17.2 points and 13.3 rebounds, recording a double-double in all six league games. The four-time Rookie of the Week selection also averaged 3.3 assists, 3.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks.
In total, 13 women received All-Conference recognition for outstanding play throughout the season and five were repeat honorees.
Leading Panthers to the regular season title, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences head coach Cornelius Tavarres was voted the 2017 Coach of the Year.
The HVIAC All-Conference Team, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year are selected by the conference's women's basketball coaches based on regular season conference play.
Player of the Year - Dannie Griffin (Albany Pharmacy)
Rookie of the Year - Brooke Lewandowski (Davis) 
Coach of the Year - Cornelius Tavarres (Albany Pharmacy)

Bethany Atwood	Davis	Jr.	G	Whitney Point, N.Y.
Anna Eaves *	King's	Jr.	F	Prattville, Ala.
Aaliyah Fields	New Rochelle	So.	G	Hollywood, Md.
Rebecca Foote	Albany Pharmacy	Sr.	F	Arcade, N.Y.
Dannie Griffin *	Albany Pharmacy	Jr.	C	Paramus, N.J.
Emily Guerra	Pratt	Fr.	F	Babylon, N.Y.
Caitlin Harrison *	New Rochelle	Jr.	F	Bronx, N.Y.
Brooke Lewandowski	Davis	Fr.	F	Buffalo, N.Y.
Akiah Luceus	Berkeley	So.	F	Brooklyn, N.Y.
Baytania Newman	Berkeley	Jr.	G	Brooklyn, N.Y.
Maia Rivers *	Vaughn	Jr.	G	Dix Hills, N.Y.
Chelsea Thomas	New Rochelle	Jr.	G	Bronx, N.Y.
Emma Webster	Albany Pharmacy	Fr.	G	Cadyville, N.Y.

* Denotes 2015-16 All-Conference Team Selection
 
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