St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball explained

Women:yes
St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
University:St. Francis College
Record:384–872
Location:Brooklyn, New York
Arena:The ARC, Pratt Institute
Nickname:Terriers
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Ncaatourneys:2015
Conference Tournament:2015

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball program represented St. Francis College (SFC) in intercollegiate women's basketball. The team was a member of the Division I Northeast Conference from 1988 until 2023. The Terriers played at the Activity Resource Center at Pratt Institute (aka "The ARC") in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Through the start of the 2022–23 season, the team had played at the Peter Aquilone Court at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex on SFC's former campus in Brooklyn Heights.[1] At the end of the 2021–22 school year, SFC moved to a new campus on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn that has no athletic facilities; SFC arranged to use The ARC on at least a temporary basis. On March 20, 2023, St. Francis Brooklyn announced the discontinuation of all intercollegiate sports, meaning the 2022–23 season was the final season for the Terriers.

History

The women's team kicked off intercollegiate athletics at St. Francis College in 1973. The first head coach was Christine McGowan, who led them to a 9–5 record. Since the 1988–89 season the women's basketball team has been a part of the Northeast Conference. The programs first Conference tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament participation occurred in 2015 when both were accomplished.

John Thurston era

From 2012 until 2018, John Thurston was the head coach of the St. Francis College Terriers.[2] After the 2017–18 season Thurston retired. While at the helm of the Terriers, Thurston accumulated a 73–110 record, the highest win total of any coach in program history. Thurston also was the first coach in program history to win a Northeast Conference tournament Championship and participate in an NCAA tournament. Also under Thurston, the 2013–14 squad set the single-season program record with 19 victories.

In 2012, Thurston replaced Brenda Milano, who coached the Terriers for 9 seasons leading them to the NEC playoffs only 3 times.[3] After not making the NEC Tournament for four consecutive seasons, from 2008 to 2011, first-year head coach Thurston was able to secure the 7th seed in 2012. The Terriers also won more than 10 games for the first time in 5 years that season and had an overall record of 11–19.For the 2013–14 season the Terriers made a pair of appearances on ESPN3 for the first time in their history.[4] The 2013–14 Terriers improved to 6–2 on the season for the first time since the 1976–77 season.[5] After going 11–2 by winning 5 straight games, the Terriers for the first time in program history were ranked inside the top 25 of a national basketball poll at 25th in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Mid-Major Poll.[6] The 2013–14 squad set the single-season school record with 19 wins during the year. The Terriers also notched 10 conference wins, which was the most in St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball history to that point.

The 2014–15 team was invited to participate in the 2014 Preseason WNIT, the first in the program's history. They also won the 2014–15 Northeast Conference Women's Basketball Championship after defeating Robert Morris on the road. St. Francis Brooklyn is the first team in the conference to go on the road and win all three tournament games to be crowned Northeast Conference Champions. They are also the first number 5 seed to take home the championship trophy. This was the first championship for St. Francis women's basketball in program history. The women's basketball team also made its first NCAA tournament appearance and lost to eventual champions Connecticut.

During the 2015–16 season the Terriers excelled in the classroom and posted the number one ranking in the NCAA for team GPA.[7] Additionally, the Terriers for four consecutive years have won Northeast Conference Top Academic Team Awards, four consecutive Northeast Conference Sportsmanship Awards, and four consecutive years finishing among the top five teams in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Team GPA rankings.[7]

Linda Cimino era

Cimino was formally announced as the head coach of the Terriers on May 21, 2018.[8] She became the 13th head coach in program history. Previously, Cimino was the head coach at Binghamton. In Cimino's first year at the helm, she set the Terrier record for conference wins in a season, 12, which was previously held by John Thurston's 2013–14 squad that won 10.

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, St. Francis Brooklyn announced the discontinuation of all intercollegiate sports effective at the end of the Spring Semester 2023. This makes the 2022–23 Terriers team the last team to represent St. Francis Brooklyn in women's basketball at the Division One level.

Season by season results

St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
SeasonHead coachConferenceSeason resultsPost-Season Tournament results
OverallConferenceStandingConferenceNCAA
1973–74Christine McGowan Independents9–5
1974–75Dianne Nolan 6–11
1975–7616–10
1976–7714–10
1977–7814–13
1978–7911–13
1979–80Mary Convy9–15
1980–819–20
1981–827–16
1982–83John Woods5–22
1983–84Dominick Vulpis 5–20
1984–8513–13
1985–869–16
1986–87Kevin A. Jones 14–15 9–7 5thSemifinal (1–1)
1987–88Cecil King 4–222–14DNQ
1988–89Irma Garcia3–24 1–15DNQ
1989–906–20 2–14DNQ
1990–915–22 2–14DNQ
1991–921–260–16DNQ
1992–933–230–1810thDNQ
1993–949–195–138thSemifinal (1–1)
1994–9512–166–128thSemifinal (1–1)
1995–963–232–1510thDNQ
1996–975–222–1610thDNQ
1997–9811–167–95thQuarterfinal (0–1)
1998–9910–179–11T-6thQuarterfinal (0–1)
1999–2000Steve Fagan 2–251–17 12thDNQ
2000–01Christine Cunningham 2–252–1611thDNQ
2001–025–223–15T-11thDNQ
2002–032–251–17T-11th DNQ
2003–04Brenda Milano 8–197–11 9thDNQ
2004–0510–187–118thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2005–065–224–14T-9thDNQ
2006–0713–187–118thSemifinal (1–1)
2007–0810–207–11T-6thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2008–094–253–15T-10thDNQ
2009–102–271–1712thDNQ
2010–112–270–18 12thDNQ
2011–124–253–1511thDNQ
2012–1311–198–107thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2013–1419–1110–85thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2014–1515–199–95thChampions (3–0)First Round (0–1)
2015–167–224–149thDNQ
2016–178–226–12T-7thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2017–1813–179–9T-3rdQuarterfinal (0–1)
2018–1918–1312–63rdQuarterfinal (0–1)
2019–208–214–1410thDNQ
47
seasons
   384–872 155-435 0 NEC titles
(Regular Season)
7–13 in NEC Tournament
1 NEC tournament titles
0–1 in NCAA Tournament
1 bids
Legend
Conference regular season champion        Conference tournament champion
Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Post-season tournament invitation              Post-season tournament champion
NCAA national champion

[9]

Coaching history

See also: List of St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball head coaches.

OverallConference
NameYearsWon-LostWon-LostNote
Christine McGowan1973–74 (1yr)
Dianne Nolan1974–79 (5yr)
Mary Convy 1979–82 (3yr)
John Woods1982–83 (1yr)
Dominick Vulpis1983–86 (9yr)
Kevin A. Jones1986–87 (1yr)1987 NEC Coach of the Year
Cecil King1987–88 (1yr)
Irma Garcia1988–99 (11yr)1998 NEC Coach of the Year
Steve Fagan1999–00 (1yr)
Christine Cunningham2000–03 (3yr)
Brenda Milano2003–12 (9yr)
John Thurston2012–2018 (6yr)First coach to win NEC Conference tournament and make NCAA Tournament Appearance.
Linda Cimino2018–
Totals1973–2019

Tournament results

NCAA

The Terriers appeared in their first NCAA Tournament in 2015, a 33–89 loss to first seed and eventual champions Connecticut in the Albany Regional at Storrs, Connecticut.

Rivalry

The fiercest rival of the Terriers were the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (now LIU Sharks). They have competed annually since their first match on February 21, 1975. During the 1993–94 season the women's basketball programs of St. Francis College and Long Island University contested their first official Battle of Brooklyn match.[10] As of the 2019–20 season, the Terriers lead the series 14–13.

Terrier records

St. Francis College Records[11]
GameSeasonCareer
Points47 Pam Curcio (December 8, 1999) 598 Jade Johnson (2018–19)1,929 Karen Erving-Schiera (1987–91)
Rebounds25 Karen Erving-Schiera (February 14, 1989) 372 Karen Abrams (1986–87)1,049 Karen Erving-Schiera (1987–91)
Assists17 Sandy Salerno (February 19, 1991)268 Amy O’Neill (2018–19)589 Sandy Salerno (1987–91)
Steals9 Melissa Gialanella (September 12, 1998)156 Sharon McAdams (1980–81)354 Sharon McAdams (1977–81)
Blocked Shots9 Katja Bavendam (February 23, 2008) 93 Katja Bavendam (2006–07)236 Katja Bavendam (2004–08)

In the 2018-19 season, Amy O'Neill became the first Terrier to record a triple-double. She did so twice during the season, first at Sacred Heart (2/2/19) and again at home against LIU Brooklyn (2/16/19).[12] O'Neill also led the country by averaging 8.6 assists per game.[13] [14]

Accolades

Northeast Conference (1986–2023)

Year NEC Player of the Year [15] NEC Defensive Player of the Year NEC Coach of the Year First Team All-NEC Second Team ALL-NEC NEC Rookie of the Year
1986–87Kevin A. Jones
style=background:silver 1987–88style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
1988–89
style=background:silver 1989–90style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
1990–91Clare Guerriero
style=background:silver 1991–92style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
1992–93
style=background:silver 1993–94style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
1994–95
style=background:silver 1995–96style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
1996–97
style=background:silver 1997–98style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver Irma Garciastyle=background:silver Christine Tapsstyle=background:silver style=background:silver
1998–99Carolyn Harvey
style=background:silver 1999–00style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2000–01
style=background:silver 2001–02style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2002–03
style=background:silver 2003–04style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2004–05Kim Bennett
style=background:silver 2005–06style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2006–07Tiffany Hill
style=background:silver 2007–08style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver Tiffany Hill style=background:silver
2008–09Kara Ayers
style=background:silver 2009–10style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2010–11
style=background:silver 2011–12style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver
2012–13
style=background:silver 2013–14style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver Eilidh Simpsonstyle=background:silver
2014–15Jaymee Veney
style=background:silver 2015–16style=background:silver style=background:silver Leah Fechkostyle=background:silver style=background:silver Leah Fechkostyle=background:silver style=background:silver
2016–17
style=background:silver 2017–18style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver Jade Johnson style=background:silver
2018–19Amy O'NeillJade Johnson
style=background:silver 2019–20style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver style=background:silver Nevena Dimitrijevic

Terriers in professional leagues

Retired numbers

No.PlayerCareer
15Jeanne Zatorski1975–79
40Karen Erving-Schiera 1988–91
The St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball program retired their first two numbers in 2018. The ceremony's coincided with the 50th anniversary of St. Francis College being a coeducational institution.[20] Zatorski's number 15 was retired on December 15, 2018, during halftime of a Terriers game. Zatorski broke various Terrier records while she was playing and still holds the record for most field goals in a season with 209 in 1977–78. Erving-Schiera's number 40 was retired on February 9, 2019. Erving-Schiera is the programs leading scorer and rebounder.

Notes and References

  1. News: For a Budding Fan, Basketball the Way It Ought to Be . The New York Times. 4 November 2011. Dan. Shanoff. 28 November 2009.
  2. Web site: New Women's Basketball Head Coach John Thurston Introduced on Monday. St. Francis College Athletics. March 29, 2012. June 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630140426/http://www.sfcathletics.com/news/2012/3/28/WBB_0328123120.aspx. dead.
  3. Web site: 2004–05 Women's Basketball Season Preview. StFrancisCollege.edu. October 22, 2010. 2004.
  4. Men's & Women's Hoops To Make Seven Television }} This Season]. sfcathletics.com. 7 November 2013.
  5. Web site: Terriers Tame Lions; 73-47; on Wednesday Evening First 20+win since 2007; First 6-2 Start since 1976-77 season. SFCAthletics.com. 6 December 2013. 12 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212192324/http://www.sfcathletics.com/news/2013/12/4/WBB_1204134653.aspx. dead.
  6. Web site: Women's Mid-Major Top 25. collegeinsider.com. 8 January 2014.
  7. Web site: John Thurston Previews His 2016-17 Terriers As Official Practice Gets Underway. sfcathletics.com. 6 October 2016.
  8. Web site: Linda Cimino Named Head Women's Basketball Coach. 18 May 2018 .
  9. Web site: St. Francis Brooklyn Women's Basketball Won/Loss History. NCAA.org. 9 November 2015.
  10. Web site: LIU WBB Record Book. LIUAthletics.com. 10 November 2015. 6 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506214642/http://www.liuathletics.com/documents/2015/2/3//14_15_LIU_WBB_Record_Book.pdf?id=975. dead.
  11. Web site: WBB Records UPDATED 3.20.19.
  12. Web site: Amy O'Neill Selected to All-ECAC Honorable Mentioned Listing. 3 April 2019 .
  13. https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-women/d1/current/individual/106
  14. Web site: Amy O'Neill Finishes atop Assists-Per-Game Column in NCAA. 6 May 2019 .
  15. Web site: NEC Women's Basketball Record Book. NortheastConference.org. 11 November 2015.
  16. Web site: Amy O'Neill '19 Signs Professional Contract with Southern Sabres. 30 May 2019 .
  17. Web site: St. Francis Brooklyn's Alex Delaney Signs Professional Contract in Australia. NortheastConference.org. 21 February 2019.
  18. Web site: Recent Graduate Leah Fechko Signs Professional Contract With Killester Basketball Club in Dublin, Ireland. SFCAthletics.com. 5 July 2016.
  19. Web site: Eilidh Simpson still calls Australia home. pickandroll.com.au. 5 July 2016.
  20. Web site: St. Francis Brooklyn to Retire Basketball Jersey Numbers for Jeanne Zatorski ('79) & Karen Erving-Schiera ('91). 10 December 2018 .