2/15/2007 - (Queens, NY) - Junior Ruchelle Austin (Brooklyn, NY/Sheepshead Bay HS) enjoyed one of the finest nights of her storied career with a game-high 34 points (on 12 for 20 shooting) and 12 rebounds as the fifth-seeded College of New Rochelle stunned #4 Yeshiva University, 61-55 in the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) Quarterfinals on Thursday night during a game played at Yeshiva. The win marks the fourth time this season that CNR defeated Yeshiva, but the Lady Macs scored a 61-40 win over CNR on Feb. 1 to gain the #4 seed for the playoffs. CNR now advances to the HVWAC Semifinals where they face #1 Mount Saint Vincent on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

The first half saw Yeshiva in control for the most part as the Lady Macs held a slim lead throughout most of the opening stanza. Yeshiva led by as many as six during the closing minutes of the first half, and despite a late CNR run, YU was able to extend the lead back to six points, 31-25 at halftime, thanks to a three-pointer by Elana Kastzl with six seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

But the second half proved to be a different story as Austin turned it on, and Yeshiva was unable to contain her. The center scored an incredible 28 points (on 10 for 16 shooting) and pulled down 10 rebounds during the final 20 minutes. An Austin free throw with 3:26 to play put CNR ahead 57-50, and it appeared that the Blue Angels were to cruise to the final four, but Yeshiva did not go down without a fight. Five straight Lady Mac points, capped by a Rivke Pianko (Lawrence, NY/SKA)  made it a 57-55 game with 1:04 to play, but Yeshiva missed its final three field goal attempts, and the Lady Macs were forced to foul. CNR converted four of their six free throw attempts for the six-point win

Yeshiva, who finishes the 2006-07 season with a 3-15 record, jumped out to the halftime lead thanks to strong performances by Pianko and sophomore Tova Laufer (New York, NY/Ramaz). Both Lady Macs registered double-doubles after scoring 16 points apiece, and Pianko added 14 rebounds while Laufer chipped in 11 boards. But the game quickly turned around during the second half of play as Austin and company rallied down the stretch to improve to 7-12 overall.

With the early bracket on Saturday now set, the later bracket is set as well with #3 Saint Elizabeth facing #2 St. Joseph's at 8:00 p.m. also at the Pratt Institute.

2007 HVWAC Basketball Championships:
Thursday, Feb. 15 (Quarterfinals):
#5 College of New Rochelle 61, #4 Yeshiva 55 

Saturday, Feb. 17 (Semifinals at the Pratt Institute):
#3 Saint Elizabeth vs. #2 St. Joseph's - 6:00 p.m.
#4 Yeshiva vs. #1 Mount Saint Vincent - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 18 (Championship Game at the Pratt Institute):
Semifinal Winners - 4:00 p.m.