46 JANUARY 20 - JANUARY 26, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP Bonnies’ bench plus Howard take down Tigers BY JIM DOLAN WFontbonne 72 Kearney 49 ith first place on the line for Fontbonne to defend, there was a palpable intensity at the Bishop Kearney gym as the Bonnies warmed up to play the always-tough Tigers for the first time in the 2017 season. That intensity played out immediately after the tip-off on Kearney’s first possession as Natalie LaCognata took a charge under the basket and was knocked down to the hardwood, which set the tone for this game between cross-borough rivals. After taking the charge, LaCognata stayed in the game as the Tigers led by Kristin O’Shaughnessy (12 points) came out aggressively to the hoop and took an early 13-12 first quarter lead. Then, suddenly in the second quarter, the turning point of the game came early as Fontbonne began to make bench substitutions. Seeing that some of his starters were playing flat, Head Coach Steve Oliver sent in Emily Lind (six points) and Erin Kennedy (seven points) who scored a combination of 13 points to jump start the team to go on a 22-10 run for a 34-23 lead at the half. Led by Emily Buziacki (nine points) and Jesse Diaz (11 points), the Tigers came back with 18 points but continued to trail Fontbonne 52-41 by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Bonnies came up with another big run (20-8) which sealed the game by mid-quarter. For Fontbonne, this was a breakout game for sophomore newcomer Jill Howard who scored a game high 28 points, 20 of which came in the second half. In addition to her high score, Howard was six for eight from the foul line as a major part of the team’s nine for 11 foul shot total. Noting that the game was a tale of two halves, Coach Oliver stated that his team only earned this win by playing up-tempo in the second half. “As I’ve said before, this year we have a really good bench and the rest of the team just built on the lead that the bench gave us,” said Oliver. Photo courtesy of Jim Dolan Setting up alongside of Kearney’s Emily Buziacki, Fontbonne’s Jill Howard scored a game high 28 points for the Bonnies’ 72-49 win over the Tigers. ASK THE COMMISSIONER BY DONNA CORRADO STOPPING SOCIAL ISOLATION Q. I feel bad for seniors who have no family or friends. How can I help? A. Thank you for wanting to make a difference. Social isolation affects an estimated one in five older adults. You can help by checking on older relatives and neighbors, but you can also be alert for changes in their routines. For example, mail piling up outside a door or in a mailbox could be a sign that an older person is sick, incapacitated or worse. A city of almost nine million people, New York can be a lonely place. One person providing genuine contact can make a significant difference. Social isolation isn’t inevitable. We know how to fix it, if we can identify it. Additionally, you can volunteer with nonprofits and even senior centers. For more information, call the VRC at 212-602-4464 or email [email protected]. Q. What is the city doing to help socially isolated seniors? A. First Lady Chirlane McCray recently launched NYC Well, which provides confidential counseling through online chats, text messages or phone. The number is 888-NYC-WELL. This is a wonderful resource for New Yorkers of all ages, including olders. Addi t ional ly, through DFTA-funded case-management agencies, olders who are confined to their homes receive vital assessments, which include determining their risk of social isolation. Case managers then work to meet clients’ needs. We are working to expand our friendly visiting service for isolated olders. Our home-delivered meals service provides both food and faceto face contact with the deliverer to olders who are largely confined to their homes. DFTA funds the delivery of about 4.5 million meals a year. Approximately 30,000 olders visit more than 250 DFTA-funded senior centers daily. A DFTA-commissioned Fordham University study found that socialization – or avoiding isolation – was among the five most common reasons that olders gave for attending a center. We’re here for isolated older New Yorkers. They don’t have to be alone. Donna Corrado is commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging. She holds a doctorate in social policy and administration and a master’s degree in social work. The city is home to nearly 1.44 million seniors, and that number is expected to keep growing.
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