Hunter (13-14) advances to play Staten Island (25-2) in the championship game on Friday night. Tip off in the Apex Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.
The game will mark the seventh time in the last eight seasons that these two schools will meet to play for an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Hunter led at the half by the score 22-18 in a very suprising low scoring affair in the first 20 minutes. Baruch (20-6) scored the first seven points, but Hunter, despite not scoring in the first five minutes, came back to rally for the halftime lead.
The two teams played close for most of the second half until the last six minutes of the game.
Hunter took a six-point lead at 43-37 with 5:18 remaining following two free throws from sophomore guard Teresa Rozza, but the Bearcats came back, pulling ahead 46-45 on a three-pointer from the baseline from junior forward Jessenia Marrero with just under one minute left in the tension-filled semifinal.
On the next possession, guard Jen Ithier made two free throws to pull the Hawks ahead by one, 47-46, but a foul by Hunter put Ally Stamatiades at the line. She nailed one of two to tie the game at 47.
On the next possession, Rozza was fouled going to the basket and she proceeded to make both shots, giving her team the 49-47 lead and eventual game-winning points. Baruch missed a 3-pointer on their possession down the court and Ithier went to the line with 0.06 seconds to provide the final margin of 51-47.
Marrero led all Baruch scorers with 15 points and three steals. Ally Stamatiades scored 11 points.