The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament: Valiant DWC Eagles Bow Out In Opening Round, 70-52
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The most successful, memorable and
remarkable season in Daniel Webster College women's basketball
history came to its conclusion Friday night against a superior
opponent, but not without earning a healthful dose of respect in
the process.
Jodie Luther and Michelle Ketcham combined for 12 points in a span
of six minutes as the University of Rochester, a year removed from
the Final Four, took command and pushed past upstart Daniel
Webster College, 70-52, in the opening round of the NCAA Division
III Women's Basketball tournament at the Louis Alexander
Palestra.
Luther and Ketcham finished with 14 points apiece for Rochester.
The Yellowjackets improved to 21-5 and moved into the second round
and will host Muhlenberg College which edged Williams, 64-63
in the final second of play. The winner of that game advances to
the Sweet 16.
Vanessa Bosques led Daniel Webster, which finished its season 18-11, with 18 points. Kacie Lang had eight points and 11 rebounds. The Eagles were making their first NCAA appearance having won the New England Collegiate Conference tournament title a week before.
"You never take anyone for granted," said Rochester head coach Jim Scheible. "We knew Bosques was a great player. She scored 18, but she had to work for everything."
"Rochester has a great squad," said Daniel Webster head coach Kristin Kunzman. "The experience factor was big. We had first half jitters, but we settled down."
A jumper by Bosques pulled the Eagles within 19-14 with 9:33 left in the first half. But Luther ignited a 20-2 run by making two free throws, then scoring on back to back layups. Ketcham hit a pair of three-point goals – she finished four of four outside the arc. The run ended on a three-pointer by Kate Agan and a layup by Amy Woods.
"We knew they would be big and they played big," said Alyssa Regan, one of two seniors on DWC's squad. "They are a great and disciplined team. Now we know what it takes to get to the NCAA tournament."
Size was one of the ultimate factors in the contest. Rochester had plety of it, and it showed. The 'Jackets finished with a two-to-one differential in scoring in the paint (32-16) and won the battle of the boards (43-37) including 14-11 on the offensive glass.
"We knew with a team like this, every posession would be important," said Kunzman. "Every box out was important. A team like this forces you to payt for any mistake. We knew if they won the boards, we'd have problems. We had to hustle throughout, but I'm proud of our effort tonight."
Rochester established itself early, shooting 52-percent in the opening frame while some opening minute jitters hurt DWC. The Eagles shot 31-percent in the frist stanza and Rochester took advantage, building a 41-21 lead at the break.
"I think we definitely had some jitters over the opening 10 minutes," Kunzman said. "We dug a hole for ourselves and once we settled down, we spent the rest of the game working our way to climb out of it, which is tough to do against a program like theirs."
DWC would trail by as many as 27 in the second half, but worked
the lead down to 17 at four different points over the final six
minutes.
"They were deep, discipled team," remarked Regan. "But as a senior,
I can't express how special this season has been. I've never been
more proud to be part of a program like this. We've come a long way
as a program and to part of the first NCAA team in program history
is a an achievement I'll never forget. I couldn't have asked for a
better senior season."
The Eagles will lose both Regan and senior Tonisha
Tate (Lynn, Mass.), who added five points, to graduation, while
10 letterwinners are anticipated to return in 2011-12.
"I like our chances to make another challenge next season," added
Kunzman. "I'm proud of how far we've come."
Courtesy of Daniel Webster Sports Information
