Old Westbury women’s basketball’s winning season is over. The Skyline Champions season came to an unfortunate end on Friday March 2nd with a 90-69 loss to Montclair State University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
After closing the season on a five-game winning streak, Old Westbury continued their dominance in the opening game of the Skyline Conference against Farmingdale State.
Charlotte Renker had a dominant game by recording a double-double of 16 points and 22 rebounds, along with three blocks. Bridgid McNeill recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tori Bellings, along with Renker and McNeill, played a big role in the Panthers’s offense as all three players connected on five shots each. Old Westbury picked up a 60-48 win over Farmingdale State.
Renker maintained her productivity in the following game against Mount Saint Mary by putting up another double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Bellings scoring and defense played a big role in the game. As a whole, Old Westbury’s defense came up strong in the second quarter by holding their opponents to four points. With a win over Mount Saint Mary, Old Westbury clinched their second-ever Skyline Conference. Their previous conference championship came in the 2015-16 season.
Old Westbury was poised to make noise in the NCAA Tournament with their experienced players and a winning season. Montclair State came out strong and maintained their balance throughout the game. They posted 20-plus points in the final three quarters, which included a 28-point burst in the final quarter and picked up a 21 point win over Old Westbury. Montclair State connected on 51.8 percent of their shots from the field and 54.5 percent of their three-pointers.
Despite the loss to Montclair State, the Panthers finished their winning season with a 23-4 record and the Skyline Conference title. With a well-balanced roster of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, don’t be surprised if the Old Westbury team replicate the same success next season and makes an impact in the NCAA Tournament.
