The 2022 CUNY Athletic Conference Champion Brooklyn College women’s team added to their historic season after beating the Emmanuel College Saints in the first round of the National  Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament, 70–57.

It was the program’s first NCAA win; and Brooklyn became the first CUNY to advance to the second round of an NCAA tournament since the 2014-2015 Baruch College men’s team.

The game against the Great Northeast Athletic Conference was contested from the start, as the lead changed 15 times, neither team able to extend their advantage by more than a couple points. However, Emmanuel suffered several turnovers to end the first half, and Brooklyn capitalized by building a seven-point lead entering halftime.

While the Bulldogs maintained the lead the rest of the game, the Saints kept the score from reaching double digits. Brooklyn’s advantage shrank as low as two points after a pair of buckets by Emanuel’s Olivia Matela to start the fourth quarter.

Although it seemed like the Saints were climbing back, Brooklyn responded with a 10-point run their opponent could not match. In the fourth quarter, Emmanuel shot 22% from the field, 18% from three and missed all four of their free throws.

Two-time and current CUNYAC Player of the Year Chanel Jemmott had a double-double with 30 points and 22 rebounds. Ericka James led in rebounds with eight, while Gianna Gotti led in steals with eight. Both players scored double-digit points.

Matela led Emmanuel in scoring with 18 points. Loredana D’Agostino had the most rebounds, with nine.

The Bulldogs next opponent was the Smith College Pioneers, following their win against Framingham St. The champions of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference exploded in the fourth, going 9-12 from the field, to overpower Brooklyn and win 76–58.

Smith overwhelmed Brooklyn from the start, ending the first quarter with an 11-point lead. The CUNY champion responded by outscoring their opponent 22-14 in the second to close the deficit to three points before halftime.

Brooklyn took their first lead of the game following a free-throw from Jemmott, but Smith’s offense broke out in the fourth and outscored the Bulldogs 25-12, sending them back to New York.

Brooklyn’s Chanel Jemmott led in scoring, with 22 points and tied for most rebounds, with eight in her final game.

Smith will play against Wisconsin-Whitewater in the third round.