Tournament Results

Quarterfinals
#4 Yeshiva 77, #5 New Rochelle 38

Semifinals
#1 St. Elizabeth 61, #4 Yeshiva 40
#3 St. Joseph's 65, #2 Albany Pharmacy 60

Championship
#1 St. Elizabeth 68, #3 St. Joseph's 25

Tournament Most Valuable Player

Jessica Dixon • College of St. Elizabeth
Senior • Guard • Linden, NJ (Linden)

Saint Elizabeth captured its first-ever HVWAC Tournament Championship with a commanding performance during the championship tournament, defeating Yeshiva and St. Joseph’s by an average of 34 points. The Eagles went 6-0 against HVWAC competition during the 08-09 campaign, with their closest game being a 21-point win over Yeshiva in the HVWAC Semifinals. CSE senior Jessica Dixon was a huge factor behind the Eagles’ success, averaging 18 points, six steals, 4.5 assists, and four rebounds per game. After a 14-point, nine-steal, six assist effort against Yeshiva, she had 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the finals against St. Joseph’s.  

2008-09 Coach of the Year

Tony Bonavitacola • College of St. Elizabeth

It’s hard to be that only a few years ago, simply advancing to the HVWAC Basketball Championship Weekend was a major success for the College of Saint Elizabeth Basketball team. However, it seemed from the moment Tony Bonavitacola took over at the helm of the Eagles, the fortunes of CSE changed, culminating with their first-ever regular season and tournament championship during the 2008-09 campaign. After two straight trips to the HVWAC Finals where they fell to Mount Saint Vincent both times, Bonavitacola’s Eagles dominated the conference this season, going undefeated during the regular season and winning their four games by an average of nearly 40 points per game. CSE then downed Yeshiva and St. Joseph’s during Championship Weekend to capture their first post-season title. CSE was not finished there as the Eagles  earned a bid to the ECAC Tournament, advancing to the semifinals en route to an outstanding 19-9 final record.