Valhalla, NY — It was a huge day in Valhalla this past weekend as the SUNY Westchester Lady Vikings hosted the District Championship, with a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament on the line. Standing in their way was a formidable opponent: the #3-ranked Harcum Bears, who traveled up from Pennsylvania for a Region 15 vs. Region 19 showdown.
Westchester came out firing and landed the first blow. Sophomore Angelica Rios (Ossining, NY / Ossining High School), drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key to spark an 11–3 Lady Vikings run to open the game.
But the nationally ranked Bears quickly showed why they are among the best in the country. Harcum responded with a 13–3 run of their own to close the first quarter, grabbing a 16–14 lead heading into the second.
The second quarter started slowly, but Harcum soon found its rhythm. Behind a dominant stretch from Sophia Vitucci, who poured in 10 points in the quarter, the Bears seized control. Harcum outscored Westchester 22–8 in the period, stretching the lead to 38–23 at halftime.
For Westchester, the opening minutes of the third quarter were critical. The Lady Vikings needed momentum—but the Bears continued their strong play, pushing their lead to as much as 24 points.
Yet this Lady Vikings team had shown all season that it refuses to go away quietly.
When the deficit reached 24, Westchester dug in and began to fight back. The rally started with freshman Saniya Bell (Ossining, NY / Ossining High School), who electrified the crowd by knocking down a deep three-pointer on the fast break while drawing the foul. The four-point play ignited a surge of energy and belief for the Vikings.
From there, Westchester battled relentlessly. Possession by possession, they chipped away at the lead, cutting the deficit to just eight points multiple times and keeping the pressure on Harcum deep into the second half.
But despite the furious comeback effort, the Lady Vikings simply ran out of gas in the closing minutes. Harcum managed to hold off the charge and secure the 81–67 victory, ending Westchester's remarkable run.
Freshman Saniya Bell capped off an incredible first season with 24 points and 9 rebounds in the final game of the year. Meanwhile, Angelica Rios closed out her outstanding Lady Vikings career with 18 points in her final appearance.
Even in defeat, this season will be remembered as a historic turnaround for the Lady Vikings program. After years of uncertainty, Westchester battled its way to the District Championship and stood toe-to-toe with the #3 team in the nation with a trip to the national tournament within reach.
With five key freshmen set to return, the future is bright in Valhalla, and the Lady Vikings will undoubtedly be looking to make another championship push next season.
Congratulations to the entire team on a truly historic season.
Anyone interested in joining the SUNY Westchester Women's Basketball program is encouraged to reach out to Head Coach Bobby Rodriguez.
