CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE CLAIMS 2024 USCAA WOMEN’S DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

PETERSBURG, VA. – Miranda Keller scored 22 points to lead four in double figures for Christendom College on Wednesday night as they claimed the USCAA Women’s Basketball Division II National Championship with a 76-65 win over top-seeded Johnson & Wales University -Charlotte at Virginia State University. 

Jamyah Blakeney put the Wildcats up 9-6 with 4:22 left on a jumper, but the Crusaders scored buckets from Catherine Thomas and Mary Pennefather to take a 10-9 lead 70 seconds later. Blakeney gave JWU its last lead of the quarter at 11-10 on a jumper with 2:57 left, only to have the Crusaders score seven of the last nine points as Regina Bonvissuto drained a 3-pointer for a 17-13 lead after one quarter. 

Blakeney put the Wildcats up 18-17 at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter on a 3-ball, though Christendom quickly answered and pushed the lead to eight on a Keller three-point play with eight seconds left leading 36-28 with eight seconds on the clock. 

In the third quarter, Christendom went on the attack and pushed the lead up to 16 points taking a 56-40 advantage on a Thomas jumper from a Liliana Speier feed with 94 seconds on the clock. That margin grew to as much as 23 points in the fourth as Thomas sank a pair of free throws to take a 72-49 lead with 2:42 left. 

Thomas and Pennefather had 19 points apiece for Christendom, while Bonvissuto added 16. Keller and Thomas each recorded double-doubles as Keller had 22 points and 12 boards, while Thomas added 19 and 10 caroms. 

JWU was paced by Blakeney with 17 points off the bench, while Jayla Lovett chipped in 16 and Jordan Durant added 13.

2024 USCAA All-Tournament Team

Christendom – Regina Bonvissuto, Miranda Keller, Mary Pennefather

Johnson & Wales (NC) – Jamyah Blakeney; Jayla Lovett

Tournament MVP: Christendom College – Catherine Thomas