NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – In a rematch of the last four Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference Basketball Championships, No. 2 seed St. Joseph’s College outscored No. 1 seed Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 34-17 in the second half to take a 57-43 victory in the 2013 championship game on Sunday evening at The College of New Rochelle Wellness Center.

St. Joseph’s (16-10) captures their first league title since 2010 and fifth overall, leveling the series against Albany Pharmacy (16-5) at 2-2 in title games. Junior Kelly McNamee (Glendale, NY) was named Tournament MVP leading the Lady Bears in scoring, which included 13 points in the second half of the championship that powered a run that put St. Joseph’s on top for good.

Regular season champion Panthers cruised through the semifinals with an 84-43 victory, shooting a blistering, season-best 63 percent to lead from start to finish eliminating hosts The College of New Rochelle. St. Joseph’s got off to a quick start in their semifinal win over Berkeley, but had to fend off a second-half surge by the Knights to take a 56-42 win.

In the championship, Albany Pharmacy used a 10-0 run early in the opening stanza to take a 16-8 lead that they held until the intermission, but St. Joseph’s never let the deficit grow to double digits and two baskets before the break had the Panthers leading 26-23 at halftime.

St. Joseph’s still trailing by three early in the second half, McNamee—who scored only two points in the first half—found her rhythm scored five quick points amidst seven unanswered that put St. Joseph's on top for good, 32-30, with 15:39 to play. McNamee later powered another 5-0 run that pushed the lead to eight, 44-36, with five minutes left.

In the second half, the Lady Bears defense held the Panthers to only five field goals and 16 percent shooting (5-31) while connecting on 50 percent (11-22) on their offensive end, which helped grow the lead to double digits late in the contest.

McNamee finished with a team-high 15 points and for the tournament shot 52 percent (14-27). Sophomores Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, NY) and Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, NY) contributed 12 points each.

Albany Pharmacy was led by junior Kelsey Johnson (Malone, NY) who netted a game-high 18 points and junior Alexa Schooley (Auburn, NY) added a 14-rebound, 12-point double-double.

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2013 HVWAC Basketball Tournament

Hosted by The College of New Rochelle

Quarterfinals

Thursday, Febuary 14, 2013

#1 Albany Pharmacy (4-1) & #2 St. Joseph's (4-1) received byes

#3 Berkeley def. #6 Vaughn, 76-19
#4 New Rochelle vs. #5 Yeshiva, 66-61

Semifinals

Saturday, Febuary 16, 2013

#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #4 New Rochelle, 84-43
#2 St. Joseph's def. #3 Berkeley, 56-42

Championship

Sunday, Febuary 17, 2013
at College of New Rochelle

#2 St. Joseph's def. #1 Albany Pharmacy, 57-43

Tournament Champions

St. Joseph's College

Regular Season Champions & Tournament Runner-Up

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Tournament MVP

Kelly McNamee, St. Joseph's - Jr. - Guard 

2012-13 Coach of the Year

Kashif Hameed, College of New Rochelle

2012-13 All-Conference Team

* Denotes 2011-12 HVWAC All-Conference Team Selection

Past Champions

• 2012: Albany Pharmacy
• 2011: Albany Pharmacy
• 2010: St. Joseph's
• 2009: St. Elizabeth's
• 2008: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2007: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2006: St. Joseph's
• 2005: Mount Saint Vincent
• 2004: Purchase