NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Hunter College women's basketball team climbed the mountain Friday night, defeating top-seeded Brooklyn College, 77-69, to claim the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championship in front of a packed crowd in the ARC Arena, claiming the program's first conference title since 2019.
Fueled by a dominant second half and a star-making performance from Alexa Charles, the Hawks avenged last season's title-game loss and secured the conference crown in emphatic fashion.
Charles was electric on the championship stage, pouring in 31 points on 10-for-20 shooting while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 39 minutes. She attacked relentlessly, converted in transition and delivered in every key moment down the stretch to earn CUNYAC Tournament MVP honors.
Mia Fuller and Gianna Henriques were named to the All-Tournament Team after playing pivotal roles in the victory. Fuller scored 15 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, while dishing out a game-high six assists. Henriques dominated the interior with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, anchoring the paint on both ends and repeatedly igniting the Hawks' offense with outlet passes and second-chance finishes. She posted a career-high eight blocks, capping off her dominant performance.
Hunter (20-7) weathered an early deficit after trailing 19-11 at the end of the first quarter, but steadily chipped away in the second. A late 3-pointer from Charles cut the margin to one heading into halftime, setting the stage for a defining third quarter.
The Hawks erupted out of the break, shooting 9-for-14 in the third and outscoring Brooklyn 26-21 in the frame. Fuller buried a pair of clutch 3-pointers during a back-and-forth stretch, and Henriques controlled the glass while finishing through contact inside. Charles added timely buckets and free throws as Hunter carried a 53-49 lead into the fourth.
From there, the Hawks seized control.
Makkedah Murray opened the final quarter with a strong finish in the paint, and Henriques followed with another inside score to stretch the lead. Hunter's defense tightened, contesting shots and forcing difficult possessions while converting in transition. Charles delivered the knockout blows — attacking the rim for consecutive layups and calmly sinking free throws to push the lead to double digits.
Hunter shot 50.9% from the field and 54.5% from 3-point range, showcasing offensive balance and composure. The Hawks also scored 22 points off turnovers and 16 fast-break points, turning defense into offense at critical moments.
As the final seconds ticked away, the Hawks emptied the bench and celebrated at midcourt, conference champions once again.
With Charles named Tournament MVP and Fuller and Henriques earning All-Tournament recognition, Hunter completed its postseason run in style, reclaiming the CUNYAC title and cementing one of the program's most resilient and rewarding championship performances.
The Hawks await seeding for the NCAA Division III tournament, to be announced early next week.
