Shannon KeoughMadison Square Garden has been said to be one of the world’s most famous arenas. As soon as you enter, you can feel the presence of the teams who have played there, the performers who have drawn thousands and the history that has been made over decades of games and performances.
For many, it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in such a place, but for Cabrini’s women’s basketball team, Jan. 23 marked the third consecutive year.
The Cavaliers got their third win at the Garden in three years, defeating Immaculata University 66-52. With the win the women improved to 8-7 overall and 6-2 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
“It’s always an unbelievable experience playing in Madison Square Garden,” Deana DiAmico, senior history major, said. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play there three times during my career and of course winning all three times has made the experience even better.”
Senior guards Alyssa Brady and DiAmico led the way for the Cavs with 21 and 20 points respectively. Brady added 13 rebounds notching her second double-double in three games. DiAmico added four rebounds.
Senior guard Kate Walck scored nine points during the night. Walck closed out the game for the Cavs going 5-of-7 from the charity stripe in the final 1:11 of the second half.
Sophomore guard Lauren Caron scored seven points and sophomore forward Kara Hinkelmon tallied six points. Junior guard Julie Bonomo played 24 minutes off the bench against the Mighty Macs.
Bonomo, a native of New York, felt right at home playing at Madison Square Garden. Growing up she was always at “the Garden,” as she called it as if she was a regular.
“That is where I began to love the sport of basketball,” Bonomo, junior marketing major, said.
Bonomo’s father is a former baseball player for St. John’s University in New York. and still maintains a strong relationship with a lot of people at the institution. He is fortunate enough to be able to set up the annual Madison Square Garden game for Cabrini.
“It feels great to play in New York. where so many of my family members who don’t normally get the opportunity to see me play a lot get the chance to come out and watch,” Bonomo said.
The Immaculata Mighty Macs basketball program also have a bit of history at the Garden as they earned a victory against Queens College in the first ever women’s basketball game played there on Feb. 25, 1977.
Villanova men’s basketball team, who are currently ranked fourth in the nation, took on St. John’s University prior to the Cabrini game, followed by St. John’s women’s basketball versus South Florida University. The final game of the night was Cabrini’s game.
“It was an amazing experience to play at Madison Square Garden,” Alison Gentry, freshman education studies, said. “While we were out to dinner the night before the game we watched Kobe Bryant play on the same court, then seeing Villanova men play and knowing we were going to play on the same court was just an unbelievable feeling.”
Cabrini women’s basketball team looks to keep the momentum going after their memorable game at the Garden. Each of them understands the magnitude of playing at the garden where so much history has been made.
“So many big names have played on that court so it was a dream come true to be playing where all of basketballs greats have played,” Bonomo said.
