Women’s basketball raises its profile in Queens this weekend as CBS College Sports Network broadcasts the Queens College Knights’ game against the Molloy College Lions.
It will be the school’s first nationally televised game and is being billed as the “East Coast Conference (ECC) Women’s Basketball Showdown.”
The game, which is free and open to the public, pits the last two ECC champions against each other, with Queens College winning last season and Molloy capturing the title in 2008.
Tom Flahive, head coach for the Queens College Knights, said that the team is very excited about this opportunity, and he is very excited for Division II basketball.
“To have a nationally televised Division II game, in season, is almost unheard of,” said Flahive, who started his sixth year at Queens this season. “Division II is real basketball, we’re not UCONN [University of Connecticut], but no one is.”
The Knights (1-12) have struggled to find themselves this season since losing star point guard Amanda Bartlett to a broken wrist in the first game of the season. But, despite that and now the added pressure of a nationally televised game, Flahive expects to continue with his team’s up-tempo style of play.
“Our backup point guard [Kristen Harnischfeger] is what drives our team right now,” he said. “I’m sad for Amanda, but now Kristen has this great opportunity to lead us.”
Flahive credits Molloy (7-4) for having a very physical team, which he expects to put his big forwards up against. He also anticipates strong play from talented Molloy defender E.J. Dreyer.
“She’s a menace defensively, but can also hurt you big time if you leave her open,” he said.
The game will be played at Queens College’s Fitzgerald Gym, which is set for a $70 million renovation.
“We’re going to have a brand new floor put down for the basketball team,” said Flahive. “Tune in because it will be an amazing before and after picture.”
The college is located at 65-30 Kissena Boulevard in Flushing. For directions, go to www.qc.edu or call 718-997-5000.
