IN THE NEWS: Mount Basketball Team Ends Regular Season

CALDWELL - The Mount St. Dominic Academy basketball team concluded its regular season on a positive note.

The Lions (11-13) were the 10th seed in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public A tournament. They were set to take on seventh-seeded Dwight-Englewood in the first round of the tournament Wednesday, March 4.

The Lions ended the regular season with a 3-3 record after losing in the first round of the Essex County Tournament on Feb. 8.

The team lost a close game Feb. 11 to conference rival Livingston, 39-38.

“We resumed division play and suffered a heart-breaking loss to Livingston,” said head coach Dave Mead. “Freshman Mia Barone '23 and sophomore Juliet Howell '22 both scored 13 points. After that defeat, the team came together and decided to play spoiler for the teams ahead of us. We also ended division play on a three-game winning streak.”

The Mount next defeated James Caldwell, 55-48, on Feb. 13.

“We went to Caldwell and defeated the Chiefs, avenging an overtime loss earlier in the season,” Mead said. “Juliet Howell led Mount with 19 points, while Alexa Murphy '22 scored 15 points and Mia Barone contributed 13 points. The victory for us put Caldwell out of contention for the division title.”

The Chiefs previously defeated the Lions, 58-54, on Jan. 16.

The Lions’ second victory came against Newark Collegiate, 53-37, on Feb. 18.

“We came out with a very strong 16-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back,” Mead said. “Alexa Murphy scored 19 points, junior Bianca Coltenback '21 scored 16 points and Juliet Howell scored 10 points.”

The Lions’ final victory of the regular season was a 34-27 victory over Cedar Grove.

“Our final division game saw us again avenge an early-season loss at the hands of Cedar Grove,” the coach said. “We knocked them out of a chance to share a division title with a 34-27, hard-fought defensive battle. Down 19-13 at halftime, we held Cedar Grove to eight points in the second half, including a 15-4 fourth quarter.”

Cedar Grove had edged the Mount, 48-45, on Jan. 21.

The Lions lost two out-of-conference games to conclude the regular season.

“We lost two out-of-conference games to two Bergen County teams,” Mead said. “Tenafly beat us 63-55. Bianca Coltenback scored 19 points, and Juliet Howell scored 17 points. Our regular season ended with a 73-48 defeat at the hands of Dumont High School. Juliet Howell and Alexa Murphy each scored 12 points.”

Last season in the state tournament, the Lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Non-Public, North A Tournament. The Lions are hoping to again get past the first round of the tournament.

“If we can get past Dwight-Englewood, we will play Hudson Catholic, (the second seed),” Mead said.