By Dylan Butler
After a year of starting at point guard, Royal Ivey is thriving at his natural two-guard position for the University of Texas in the early season.
The former Cardozo standout is the Longhorns’ second-leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game. The Hollis native is shooting 53.8 percent from the field and is Texas’ leading long-range threat, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc.
Ivey was particularly impressive in the Longhorns’ three games at the Great Alaska Shootout last week in Anchorage, Alaska.
In a 78-68 Thanksgiving Day win over Oregon State, Ivey played all but three minutes, scoring 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and dishing out four assists.
Texas fell to Gonzaga, 67-64, the following night in the semifinals and led the Longhorns with 15 points, including 3-for-4 from three-point range.
In Texas’ final game of the tournament, a 77-71 loss to No. 20 Indiana, Ivey had 12 points in 31 minutes.
Ivey’s former Cardozo teammate Brian Woodward had 18 points, including a key three-point play in the University of Rhode Island’s game-ending 11-0 run as the Rams defeated Iona, 66-61, Saturday in Kingston, R.I.
The Gaels had one last chance to tie the score trailing 64-61, but Woodward dove to recover a loose ball on the floor with 15.3 seconds left to secure the win.
York’s Watson named CUNY Rookie of the Week
Tushana Watson, a 5-foot-5 freshman guard from August Martin, is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 steals in the Cardinals opening two losses. York opens its conference slate at Medgar Evers Wednesday. Watson scored a season-high 23 points in an opening night loss at SUNY-Old Westbury.
SJU women finish last in SJU Thanksgiving Classic
It was a weekend of firsts for the St. John’s women’s basketball team as the Red Storm fell to Hofstra for the first time ever and Fordham picked up its first victory of the year in the SJU Thanksgiving Classic, held at Alumni Hall Friday and Saturday.
St. John’s drops to 0-4 on the season.
In the 61-34 loss to Hofstra (2-2), freshman Mary Pat Statler was the Red Storm’s leading scorer with 11 points, but shot just 3-for-14 from the field. St. John’s shot a woeful 15.2 percent (5-for-33) in the first half as they trailed the Pride 35-16 at the break.
Center Patrycja Gulak had six points and nine rebounds and forward Creasie Fowler added six points and eight boards for the Red Storm.
Hofstra was led by guard Jen Brickey, who had 26 points, six rebounds and four steals. Kimberly Coke had 12 points and five boards and Pela Rume added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
In the tournament’s consolation game Saturday, the Red Storm shot the ball better but still could not come out victorious, falling 62-41 to Fordham as the Rams won their first game of the year.
Gulak led St. John’s with 14 points and was named to the all-tournament team while Danielle Rainey netted 10 points in her Red Storm debut.
Fordham (1-3) was led by Kyshawn Ruff, who had 14 points and seven rebounds and Mobolaji Akiode, who had nine points and six boards.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
