St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball

Last updated
St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
StFrancisBrooklynTerrierswordmark.png
UniversitySt. Francis College
All-time record384–872 (.290)
Location Brooklyn, New York
ArenaThe ARC, Pratt Institute
Nickname Terriers
ColorsRoyal blue and red [1]
   
Uniforms
Kit body thinbluesideblueshoulders2.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts blanksidesandhems.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit body whitesidesshoulders.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts whitesidesandhems.png
Kit shorts.svg
Away
Kit body thinbluesideblueshoulders2.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts bluesides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
2015
Conference tournament champions
2015

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball program represented St. Francis College (SFC) in intercollegiate women's basketball. The team was a member of the Division I Northeast Conference from 1988 until 2023. The Terriers played at the Activity Resource Center at Pratt Institute (aka "The ARC") in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Through the start of the 2022–23 season, the team had played at the Peter Aquilone Court at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex on SFC's former campus in Brooklyn Heights. [2] At the end of the 2021–22 school year, SFC moved to a new campus on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn that has no athletic facilities; SFC arranged to use The ARC on at least a temporary basis. On March 20, 2023, St. Francis Brooklyn announced the discontinuation of all intercollegiate sports, meaning the 2022–23 season was the final season for the Terriers.

Contents

History

The women's team kicked off intercollegiate athletics at St. Francis College in 1973. The first head coach was Christine McGowan, who led them to a 9–5 record. Since the 1988–89 season the women's basketball team has been a part of the Northeast Conference. The programs first Conference tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament participation occurred in 2015 when both were accomplished.

John Thurston era

From 2012 until 2018, John Thurston was the head coach of the St. Francis College Terriers. [3] After the 2017–18 season Thurston retired. While at the helm of the Terriers, Thurston accumulated a 73–110 record, the highest win total of any coach in program history. Thurston also was the first coach in program history to win a Northeast Conference tournament Championship and participate in an NCAA tournament. Also under Thurston, the 2013–14 squad set the single-season program record with 19 victories.

In 2012, Thurston replaced Brenda Milano, who coached the Terriers for 9 seasons leading them to the NEC playoffs only 3 times. [4] After not making the NEC Tournament for four consecutive seasons, from 2008 to 2011, first-year head coach Thurston was able to secure the 7th seed in 2012. The Terriers also won more than 10 games for the first time in 5 years that season and had an overall record of 11–19. For the 2013–14 season the Terriers made a pair of appearances on ESPN3 for the first time in their history. [5] The 2013–14 Terriers improved to 6–2 on the season for the first time since the 1976–77 season. [6] After going 11–2 by winning 5 straight games, the Terriers for the first time in program history were ranked inside the top 25 of a national basketball poll at 25th in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Mid-Major Poll. [7] The 2013–14 squad set the single-season school record with 19 wins during the year. The Terriers also notched 10 conference wins, which was the most in St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball history to that point.

The 2014–15 team was invited to participate in the 2014 Preseason WNIT, the first in the program's history. They also won the 2014–15 Northeast Conference Women's Basketball Championship after defeating Robert Morris on the road. St. Francis Brooklyn is the first team in the conference to go on the road and win all three tournament games to be crowned Northeast Conference Champions. They are also the first number 5 seed to take home the championship trophy. This was the first championship for St. Francis women's basketball in program history. The women's basketball team also made its first NCAA tournament appearance and lost to eventual champions Connecticut.

During the 2015–16 season the Terriers excelled in the classroom and posted the number one ranking in the NCAA for team GPA. [8] Additionally, the Terriers for four consecutive years have won Northeast Conference Top Academic Team Awards, four consecutive Northeast Conference Sportsmanship Awards, and four consecutive years finishing among the top five teams in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Team GPA rankings. [8]

Linda Cimino era

Cimino was formally announced as the head coach of the Terriers on May 21, 2018. [9] She became the 13th head coach in program history. Previously, Cimino was the head coach at Binghamton. In Cimino's first year at the helm, she set the Terrier record for conference wins in a season, 12, which was previously held by John Thurston's 2013–14 squad that won 10.

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, St. Francis Brooklyn announced the discontinuation of all intercollegiate sports effective at the end of the Spring Semester 2023. This makes the 2022–23 Terriers team the last team to represent St. Francis Brooklyn in women's basketball at the Division One level.

Season by season results

St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
SeasonHead coachConferenceSeason resultsPost-Season Tournament results
OverallConferenceStandingConferenceNCAA
1973–74Christine McGowanIndependents9–5
1974–75Dianne Nolan6–11
1975–7616–10
1976–7714–10
1977–7814–13
1978–7911–13
1979–80Mary Convy9–15
1980–819–20
1981–827–16
1982–83John Woods5–22
1983–84Dominick Vulpis5–20
1984–8513–13
1985–869–16
1986–87Kevin A. Jones NEC 14–159–75thSemifinal (1–1)
1987–88Cecil King4–222–14DNQ
1988–89 Irma Garcia 3–241–15DNQ
1989–906–202–14DNQ
1990–915–222–14DNQ
1991–921–260–16DNQ
1992–933–230–1810thDNQ
1993–949–195–138thSemifinal (1–1)
1994–9512–166–128thSemifinal (1–1)
1995–963–232–1510thDNQ
1996–975–222–1610thDNQ
1997–9811–167–95thQuarterfinal (0–1)
1998–9910–179–11T-6thQuarterfinal (0–1)
1999–2000Steve Fagan2–251–1712thDNQ
2000–01Christine Cunningham2–252–1611thDNQ
2001–025–223–15T-11thDNQ
2002–032–251–17T-11thDNQ
2003–04Brenda Milano8–197–119thDNQ
2004–0510–187–118thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2005–065–224–14T-9thDNQ
2006–0713–187–118thSemifinal (1–1)
2007–0810–207–11T-6thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2008–094–253–15T-10thDNQ
2009–102–271–1712thDNQ
2010–112–270–1812thDNQ
2011–124–253–1511thDNQ
2012–13 John Thurston 11–198–107thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2013–14 19–1110–85thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2014–15 15–199–95th Champions (3–0) First Round (0–1)
2015–16 7–224–149thDNQ
2016–17 8–226–12T-7thQuarterfinal (0–1)
2017–18 13–179–9T-3rdQuarterfinal (0–1)
2018–19 Linda Cimino 18–1312–63rdQuarterfinal (0–1)
2019–20 8–214–1410thDNQ
47
seasons
  384–872155-435 0 NEC titles
(Regular Season)
7–13 in NEC Tournament
1 NEC tournament titles
0–1 in NCAA Tournament
1 bids
Legend
  Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion

  Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
  Post-season tournament invitation               Post-season tournament champion
  NCAA national champion

[10]

Coaching history

OverallConference
NameYearsWon-LostWon-LostNote
Christine McGowan1973–74 (1yr)9–5 (.643)
Dianne Nolan1974–79 (5yr)64–38 (.627)
Mary Convy1979–82 (3yr)25–51 (.329)
John Woods1982–83 (1yr)5–22 (.185)
Dominick Vulpis1983–86 (9yr)27–49 (.355)
Kevin A. Jones1986–87 (1yr)14–15 (.483)9–7 (.563)1987 NEC Coach of the Year
Cecil King1987–88 (1yr)4–22 (.154)2–14 (.125)
Irma Garcia 1988–99 (11yr)68–228 (.230)36–151 (.193)1998 NEC Coach of the Year
Steve Fagan1999–00 (1yr)2–25 (.074)1–17 (.056)
Christine Cunningham2000–03 (3yr)9–72 (.111)6–48 (.111)
Brenda Milano2003–12 (9yr)58–201 (.224)39–116 (.252)
John Thurston 2012–2018 (6yr)73–110 (.399)46–62 (.426)First coach to win NEC Conference tournament and make NCAA Tournament Appearance.
Linda Cimino 2018–26–34 (.433)16–20 (.444)
Totals1973–2019384–872 (.306)155–435 (.263)

Tournament results

NCAA

The Terriers appeared in their first NCAA Tournament in 2015, a 33–89 loss to first seed and eventual champions Connecticut in the Albany Regional at Storrs, Connecticut.

YearRoundOpponentResult, Score
2015 First Round Connecticut L, 33–89

Rivalry

The fiercest rival of the Terriers were the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (now LIU Sharks). They have competed annually since their first match on February 21, 1975. During the 1993–94 season the women's basketball programs of St. Francis College and Long Island University contested their first official Battle of Brooklyn match. [11] As of the 2019–20 season, the Terriers lead the series 14–13.

Terrier records

St. Francis College Records [12]
GameSeasonCareer
Points47 Pam Curcio (December 8, 1999)598 Jade Johnson (2018–19)1,929 Karen Erving-Schiera (1987–91)
Rebounds25 Karen Erving-Schiera (February 14, 1989)372 Karen Abrams (1986–87)1,049 Karen Erving-Schiera (1987–91)
Assists17 Sandy Salerno (February 19, 1991)268 Amy O’Neill (2018–19)589 Sandy Salerno (1987–91)
Steals9 Melissa Gialanella (September 12, 1998)156 Sharon McAdams (1980–81)354 Sharon McAdams (1977–81)
Blocked Shots9 Katja Bavendam (February 23, 2008)93 Katja Bavendam (2006–07)236 Katja Bavendam (2004–08)

In the 2018-19 season, Amy O'Neill became the first Terrier to record a triple-double. She did so twice during the season, first at Sacred Heart (2/2/19) and again at home against LIU Brooklyn (2/16/19). [13] O'Neill also led the country by averaging 8.6 assists per game. [14] [15]

Accolades

Northeast Conference (1986–2023)

YearNEC Player of the Year [16] NEC Defensive Player of the Year [16] NEC Coach of the Year [16] First Team All-NEC [16] Second Team ALL-NEC [16] NEC Rookie of the Year [16]
1986–87Kevin A. Jones
1987–88
1988–89
1989–90
1990–91Clare Guerriero
1991–92
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98 Irma Garcia Christine Taps
1998–99Carolyn Harvey
1999–00
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05Kim Bennett
2005–06
2006–07Tiffany Hill
2007–08Tiffany Hill
2008–09Kara Ayers
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14Eilidh Simpson
2014–15Jaymee Veney
2015–16Leah FechkoLeah Fechko
2016–17
2017–18Jade Johnson
2018–19Amy O'NeillJade Johnson
2019–20Nevena Dimitrijevic

Terriers in professional leagues

Retired numbers

No.PlayerCareer
15Jeanne Zatorski1975–79
40Karen Erving-Schiera1988–91

The St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball program retired their first two numbers in 2018. The ceremony's coincided with the 50th anniversary of St. Francis College being a coeducational institution. [21] Zatorski's number 15 was retired on December 15, 2018, during halftime of a Terriers game. Zatorski broke various Terrier records while she was playing and still holds the record for most field goals in a season with 209 in 1977–78. Erving-Schiera's number 40 was retired on February 9, 2019. Erving-Schiera is the programs leading scorer and rebounder.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis College</span> Private Franciscan college in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

St. Francis College is a private Franciscan college in Downtown Brooklyn, New York City. It was founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn as the St. Francis Academy and was the first private school in the Diocese of Brooklyn. St. Francis College began as a parochial all-boys academy in the City of Brooklyn and has become a small liberal arts college that has 19 academic departments offering 72 majors and minors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Thurston (basketball)</span> American college basketball coach (born 1948)

John Thurston is a retired American college basketball coach. He was the head coach of the St. Francis College women's basketball team from 2012 to 2018. Thurston was born in the Bronx, New York and is an alumnus of Archbishop Molloy High School and Seton Hall University. Through both high school and college, Thurston was a two sport player playing baseball and basketball. After graduating high school in 1966, Thurston was drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 MLB Amateur Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of St. Francis College

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers were the 21 teams that represented St. Francis College in athletics. The Terriers were members of NCAA Division I and participated in the Northeast Conference (NEC) except in two sports that the NEC does not sponsor—men's and women's water polo. The water polo teams respectively competed in the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Glenn Braica is an American college basketball coach, currently an assistant coach at Fairfield University. He was previously the head coach at St. Francis College from 2010 until the program was cut in 2023. Braica was born in Brooklyn, New York and is an alumnus of Bishop Ford High School and Queens College. Braica began his head coaching career at St. Francis College in 2010 and had 22 years of coaching experience at the time split between New York City Tech, St. Francis and St. John's as an assistant coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball</span> American college basketball team

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball program represented St. Francis College (SFC) in intercollegiate men's basketball up through the 2022–23 season, which was its last in intercollegiate competition. The team was a member of the Division I Northeast Conference. From late November 2022 until March 2023, the Terriers played home games at the Activity Resource Center at Pratt Institute in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Through the 2021–22 season, they had played in the Daniel J. Lynch '38 Gym in the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex, located on SFC's former Brooklyn Heights campus. However, after the 2021–22 school year, SFC closed its Brooklyn Heights campus to move to a new campus on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn. With the new campus lacking any athletic facilities, SFC arranged to use other nearby venues on at least a short-term basis. The Terriers' final game at the Pope Athletic Complex was held on November 19, 2022. The Terriers have also hosted home games at Madison Square Garden and at the Barclays Center. On March 20, 2023, St. Francis College announced that it would end intercollegiate athletics following the spring semester, making the 2022–23 season the program's final season in existence.

The 2011–2012 St. Francis Terriers men's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is coached by Glenn Braica, who is in his second year at the helm of the St. Francis Terriers. The Terrier's home games are played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1981. They finished the season at 15–15 overall and 12–6 in NEC play to finish in fourth place. The Terriers went on to lose in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference Basketball tournament to Quinnipiac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The St. Francis Terriers men's soccer team represented St. Francis College, which is located in Brooklyn Heights, New York. The team was a member of the Division I Northeast Conference (NEC). The Terriers played their home games at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Pier 5, which is also located in Brooklyn Heights. The field is located on the East River and has the Manhattan Skyline as a backdrop.  

The Battle of Brooklyn was the college sports rivalry between Long Island University and St. Francis College. The LIU Sharks and SFBK Terriers were both in the Northeast Conference and competed against each other in various sports. The Battle of Brooklyn was a fierce rivalry, which originated in men's basketball; while the two schools are rivals in all sports that both schools sponsor, the "Battle of Brooklyn" name is currently applied only to matchups in men's and women's basketball and men's soccer. The intensity of the rivalry was augmented by the proximity of the two universities, located less than a half-mile apart in Downtown Brooklyn. The name of the rivalry is in reference to the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brooklyn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2014–15 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn was coached by John Thurston, who was in his third year at the helm of the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2015–16 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represents St. Francis College during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games are played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn is coached by John Thurston, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the Terriers. Last year, the Terriers won the programs first NEC Tournament and participated in their first NCAA Tournament. For this season the Terriers return only one starter from last season and have 7 freshman joining the program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2013–14 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn was coached by John Thurston, who was in his second year at the helm of the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012–13 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2012–13 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn was coached by John Thurston, who was in his first year at the helm of the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team</span>

The 2016 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team represented St. Francis College during the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Terrier's home games were played at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1981 and was coached by Tom Giovatto, who was in his tenth year at the helm of the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2017–18 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn is coached by John Thurston, who was in his sixth year at the helm of the Terriers. They finished the season 13–17, 9–9 in NEC play to finish in a tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament to LIU Brooklyn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2018–19 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Terrier's home games are played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1981. They are coached by Glenn Braica, who was in his ninth year at the helm of the Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2018–19 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn is coached by Linda Cimino, who was in her first year at the helm of the Terriers.

Linda Cimino is an American basketball coach and former player. She was the final women's basketball head coach at St. Francis College from 2018–2023. Cimino was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island and is an alumnus of North Smithfield High School and Adelphi University. Cimino began her head coaching career at Queensborough Community College in 2001 and was the 13th and last head coach of the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's program. She had previously coached at Caldwell and Binghamton Universities.

Irma Garcia was the athletics director at St. Francis College up until the school disbanded its entire athletics program following the 2022–23 school year. When she took the job in 2007, Garcia was the country's first Latina athletic director in NCAA Division I sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Glenn Braica, who was in his 10th season as the head men's basketball coach. The Terriers played their home games at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex in Brooklyn Heights, New York as members of the Northeast Conference. They finished the season 13–18, 7–11 in NEC play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament to Robert Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2019–20 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers women's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Terrier's home games were played at the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1988. St. Francis Brooklyn was coached by Linda Cimino, who was in her second year at the helm of the Terriers.

References

  1. 2015–16 MBB Media Guide (PDF). Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  2. Shanoff, Dan (28 November 2009). "For a Budding Fan, Basketball the Way It Ought to Be". The New York Times . Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  3. "New Women's Basketball Head Coach John Thurston Introduced on Monday". St. Francis College Athletics. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  4. "2004–05 Women's Basketball Season Preview". StFrancisCollege.edu. 2004. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  5. "Men's & Women's Hoops To Make Seven Television Apperances [sic] This Season" (Press release). sfcathletics.com. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  6. "Terriers Tame Lions; 73-47; on Wednesday Evening First 20+win since 2007; First 6-2 Start since 1976-77 season". SFCAthletics.com. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  7. "Women's Mid-Major Top 25". collegeinsider.com. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  8. 1 2 "John Thurston Previews His 2016-17 Terriers As Official Practice Gets Underway". sfcathletics.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  9. "Linda Cimino Named Head Women's Basketball Coach".
  10. "St. Francis Brooklyn Women's Basketball Won/Loss History". NCAA.org. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  11. "LIU WBB Record Book" (PDF). LIUAthletics.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  12. "WBB Records UPDATED 3.20.19" (PDF).
  13. "Amy O'Neill Selected to All-ECAC Honorable Mentioned Listing".
  14. https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-women/d1/current/individual/106
  15. "Amy O'Neill Finishes atop Assists-Per-Game Column in NCAA".
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NEC Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). NortheastConference.org. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  17. "Amy O'Neill '19 Signs Professional Contract with Southern Sabres".
  18. "St. Francis Brooklyn's Alex Delaney Signs Professional Contract in Australia". NortheastConference.org. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  19. "Recent Graduate Leah Fechko Signs Professional Contract With Killester Basketball Club in Dublin, Ireland". SFCAthletics.com. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  20. "Eilidh Simpson still calls Australia home". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  21. "St. Francis Brooklyn to Retire Basketball Jersey Numbers for Jeanne Zatorski ('79) & Karen Erving-Schiera ('91)".