The Trident

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Sports

The women's basketball team knew just how they wanted to end their regular season: They wanted to gain momentum going into the tournament and did just that, beating 3 ODAC teams by an average margin of 28 points. "We pretty much had our spot in the tournament secured," said junior Emily Wolff, "so the last few games were about gaining confidence and playing the best basketball we could." Those three wins sparked the Generals' game to an ODAC tournament upset of #3 seed Eastern Mennonite. Junior Kristen Krouchick said the team was highly motivated for the EMU game, since they had already lost two regular season games to the Royals (57-67, and 48-68) and "wanted to get another shot [at EMU] after losing to them twice during the regular season." At first it seemed like history would repeat itself when the Blue and White were scoreless for the opening 7 minutes of the game, but then the Generals stepped up with a 15-0 run to end the half up 2 points. They finished the game strong, with a 20-6 run, and were perfect from the charity stripe (8-8) in the last 1:26. "We went into the playoff game ready to knock them out of the tournament and we did just that," Krouchick said. Wolff said the past losses might have caused EMU to look past the Generals, "which was obviously a mistake. . . we just took it personal and realized we had nothing to lose." That ODAC tournament win was the first since the 1998-99 season for W&L women's basketball, and the Generals extended their win streak to four heading into the semifinal game against Virginia Wesleyan. The Marlins had a ten point lead at halftime, but the Blue and White rallied back to within two points with 12 minutes left in the second half. That was the closest the Generals would get, and Va Wes ended up advancing to the championship with a score of 73-62 despite an all-out team effort by W&L that had four players in double figures.

Emily Wolff credits the record-breaking season to the team chemistry and hard-work by all the girls, and is eager to continue the success next year. It is always bittersweet to end a sports season, and although Krouchick is excited for next year because of the returning players, the team loses two of it's core members in captains Sarah Otey and Jessica Hunsinger. It's tough to replace great leadership, and filling the hole of Division III's fourth ranked shot blocker (Hunsinger) and a ODAC-leading 9.9 rebounds per game will not be easy. "I have confidence that other people on the team will step up to help transition from the loss [of Otey and Hunsinger]," says Krouchick, whose 13.4 ppg was a team-high this year. The second-team all-ODAC captain [Krouchick] will be key for the General's success next year, but she will not be alone. Hayley James stepped up at the end of the season, earning three double-doubles in the last four games of the year, and Wolff is a consistent player, with a team-best 80.8 FT %, and both players will fill in leadership roles along with fellow junior Amanda Kane. The season may be over, but the women's basketball program is only tasting the beginning of its success.

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