Can Lighting Strike Twice?

(Tony Correa)

By Lendro Fortyz

Originally published Fall 2007

After winning their first City University of New York (CUNY) championship last spring, the Lehman College Lady Lightning basketball team is out to prove that its impressive performance was no fluke.

Knowing that their opponents feel that the Lightning got lucky, the Lehman team members are preparing to weather the storm of challengers to their title. They are hoping to repeat last season’s memorable run, which was capped off by some of the best championship basketball games played in the city in recent history.

So can the Lightning show the other CUNY teams that last year’s outcome wasn’t a fluke?

Coach Eric Harrison is convinced that it is entirely possible.

“Last year we didn’t have too much depth on the bench,” Harrison said. “But I feel this year’s team is deeper and we can try new strategies to further shut teams down.”

Coach Eric Harrison (Tony Correa)

The Lightning’s success will depend on Harrison’s ability to fill in spots vacated by graduates to complement returning stars like Sally Nnamani and conference MVP Monique Sampson.

“I know that other teams will be coming to beat us this year,” Sampson said, “but we’ll be up to the challenge.” She said she was surprised about being selected MVP, because “my shooting was off . . . so I decided to give a better effort on defense.”

There is no doubt that the Lightning defense will stymie teams again this year on their way to the playoffs. But a key component of last year’s team, point guard Kathy Santiago, has moved on. Last year, Santiago controlled the offence with her ball handling skills, her ability to distribute the ball and her shooting talent.

This year, Junior Tiaara Carroll will be called upon to set up the Lightning in the front court. Carroll did play some minutes at the point last year, when Santiago needed a rest or got into foul trouble, so she should fit right in.

Team members realize that repeating will be a tough task, especially when they face teams such as John Jay College, which lost an overtime thriller to the Lightning in the semi-round of last season’s playoffs. Medgar Evers College almost sent the Lightning home in the quarter-final round. They will play the Lightning very tough this time around. But the fiercest competition is sure to come from the Baruch College Bearcats as they look to avenge last season’s championship loss –- after leading by seven points at the half.

Whichever team lines up against the Lady Lightning, you can expect them to play extra hard. In effect, the Lightning will have to defend the championship in every game.

To prepare for the strenuous task of repeating a championship season, the girls individually trained on ways to make their game more polished. Nnamani, a junior, already has achieved major feats at Lehman College. In two seasons she has surpassed 1,000 points. She was named “CUNY Player of the Year” in 2007, and she received accolades from the National Invitational Tournament and the Met-Writers Association. D3hoops.com selected Nnamani as a first team Atlantic All-Star.

So what did Nnamani feel like she needed to improve on?  “I worked a lot on my ball handling skills and I want to be able to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket,” she said.

Senior Maria Loor looks forward to the competition that will be trying to dethrone the champs. Loor plays center for the Lady Lightning and knows all about getting physical in the paint, below the basket. In preparation for this season, Loor played in a summer league to maintain that aggressiveness.

“It’s going to be physical right away,” Loor said. “Everybody wants us and we are going to be there waiting for them.”

Newcomer transfer student Ronniesha Lucas, from Globe Institute, is one of the heavily touted recruits who look forward to complementing Nnamani, Sampson and Loor. Lucas will play in the paint with Loor and welcomes the chance to get physical down low.

“I’m willing to do what ever it takes to fit in,” Lucas said. “They have a good team without me…I want to help repeat and win a ring for myself.”

If the new players gel and harmonize with the crew from last year, not only do the 2007-2008 Lady Lightning have a chance to defend their CUNY throne, they should be able to make history again by going on to win their first NCAA tournament and championship.

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