Upset Ravens Return from Missouri
by AJ Berube
edited by Casey Williams
After being upset by Fort Lewis in the Division II Women’s Basketball Final Four, the Women’s Basketball Team returned to Rindge on Thursday night and held a small gathering at the field house to close out their season.
Arriving at the field house a little after 7:30 p.m., the Ravens were met by a crowd of about 40 people, cheering on their East Regional Champions. Head Coach Steve Hancock gave an emotional speech to his team and the fans about a bitter end to an amazing season.
Hancock said, “Although we are certainly disappointed with last night’s performance, after a couple of days and things settle down, I think we will realize the kind of season we had, winning 32 games and ranking 1st or 2nd in the nation all year.”
The Women's Basketball team held one final meeting upon returning to campus Thursday night from Missouri. Photo: Franklin Pierce Athletics
Hancock stressed how proud he was of the team he had, and making it to the Elite Eight for the second season in a row. He continued to thank everyone in the athletics department, including President Birge, who flew out to see the girls play their last few games.
Athletic Director Bruce Kirsh then addressed Hancock, applauding the season the team gave for the university.
Kirsh said, “I think we all made some good decisions, and obviously we will take going 32-2 and making the Final Four any year. Coach, you did a great job and it’s great to have you back a second time.”
Johannah Leedham was recently named the NCAA Division II Women’s National player of the year for the second year in a row. In her final college match-up, Leedham dropped 13 points, moving her final career total to 3050 points, ranking number one all-time in Division II Women’s Basketball history and fifth among all divisions.
Leedham said, “I think it was a tough game because we worked hard as a team but we just couldn’t make shots. They shot they lights out.”
The Raven’s will be graduating four seniors this year including Leedham, Alexis Auffray, Racheal Kimball, and Kristen Doldoorian.
Handock said, “We certainly hate to see all four seniors go. Jo has been a special player, not only for this team, but for the program itself. She’s been the heart and sole of us getting to the Elite Eight, and taking our program from a good program to an elite program and we hate to see her go.”
During the game the Ravens were held to only 33 percent shooting from the field, while Fort Lewis was able to shoot 54 percent as a team. Cynthia Guadet led the game scoring wise with 23 points, while also getting five rebounds and five assists. Jewel White earned her second double-double in a row taking in ten rebounds and scoring 6 points.
The Ravens get back to work in November, 2010.
