Photo from Christendom College
CV NEWS FEED // Christendom College’s women’s basketball team won the Division II national championship for the second consecutive year earlier this month, beating Miami-Hamilton University 63-60.
Christendom College, a small Catholic liberal arts school in Front Royal, Virginia, states that this is the first time in the school’s history that a sports team has won a national championship two years in a row.
The women’s basketball team had a successful year, with a 23-2 regular season record, a conference championship, and numerous individual awards from the USCAA conference.
In the national championship tournament, the team beat Penn State Shenango 86-56, and, in the semifinal, overcame Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte, 71-55.
In the March 15 title game in Buffalo, New York, Christendom was leading 37-27 by the end of the first half. Mary Pennefather was leading the team’s offense with 11 points until she fouled out in the third quarter.
By the end of third quarter, Christendom was still leading 52-40, but Miami-Hamilton made a comeback. Three minutes before the end of the game, the score was tied at 56-56.
Regina Bonvissuto, a Christendom senior, then scored a long-range three-pointer, and senior Catherine Thomas, the USCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, landed two free throws, bringing the score to 61-56 with under a minute left in the game.
Miami-Hamilton continued to fight back, sinking a jump shot and a lay-up, and with 24 seconds left in the game, the score was 61-60.
Then, Christendom coach Mary Minick called a time-out. The girls prayed together, “Our Lady, Queen of Victory, pray for us,” and returned to the court.
Miami-Hamilton quickly fouled Christendom senior Miranda Keller, who hit a free throw. Miami-Hamilton then got the ball but missed a lay-up. Christendom player Libby Kolesar rebounded the ball and was fouled with 1.6 seconds on the clock.
“The entire team, and Christendom’s passionate fans who traveled all the way to Buffalo, were on their feet for Kolesar’s free throws,” Christendom reports. “Miami-Hamilton rebounded the ball and made one last throw from beyond half-court, but it was too late. Christendom held on 63-60 and charged the court — national champions once again.”
Christendom’s website states that the women’s resilience, determination, faithfulness, and commitment to each other embodies the motto of the college’s athletic program: “for the love of the game and the glory of God.”
The women also earned several individual awards, with Pennefather as the tournament MVP and Thomas selected for the all-tournament team. Both girls earned 1st-team All-Americans, and Bonvissuto earned an All-American Honorable Mention
Thomas had also been named USCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, and Keller was honored as Student-Athlete of the Year.
Eight of Christendom’s players secured Academic All-American status for their GPAs of 3.5 or higher.
