(yumacs.com) It was a special night for the Yeshiva University women’s basketball team, at ARC Arena, on Saturday night. In addition to the Maccabees earning a key Skyline Conference victory over the Panthers of SUNY Old Westbury, 76-47, four of the women’s basketball team’s graduating seniors—Nina Yurovsky, Gabrielle Kupferman, Daniella Rothman and Yuval Nitzan—were honored with a ceremony by Yeshiva University.
A Big Night for the Seniors
The seniors played key roles in YU’s (8-8, 5-7 Skyline) dominating victory over Old Westbury. Nitzan had a game-high 24 points, brought down 10 rebounds, distributed five assists and forced four steals. The Hod Hasharon native shot 50.0% (9-for-18) from the field and drained three triples out of seven attempts.
Rothman had a double-double of her own, scoring 14 points and tying a career high with 20 boards. The Woodmere native also dished out five assists and collected two steals.
Kupferman produced 10 points, three rebounds and a steal.
“A good win with all the seniors contributing,” Yeshiva University Head Coach Bill Zatulskis. “These seniors have helped elevate the women’s basketball program at YU to the next level! They will be remembered for years to come for creating the standard for this program.”
Impact on the Skyline standings: With the win, Yeshiva strengthens its playoff position. YU is now two full games ahead of both College of Mount Saint Vincent and Sarah Lawrence College for the sixth and final playoff spot. The Maccabees aim to qualify for the Skyline Conference Championships for the first time in program history.
How It Happened
After falling behind early in the game, 6-4, a jump shot by Nitzan began a run of 12 unanswered points for Yeshiva, and she capped off the blitz with a triple, to give the Macs a commanding 16-6 hold with 3:26 left in the opening period. After the Panthers (1-16, 0-13 Skyline) pulled to within seven, junior guard Shai Rahamim drained a shot from downtown to put the Blue and White up by double digits for good.
In the fourth quarter, Kupferman buried a free throw to give Yeshiva its largest lead of the evening, at 74-40, on its way to earning its fifth conference win of the season.
