Women's record-breaking season finishes with loss
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports
The women's basketball team returned to NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in four years but suffered a season-ending loss to Quincy University in the first round March 14.
Ending their record-breaking season, the Chargers fell 82-73 after an intense second half of back-and-forth runs.
Head coach Claudette Charney said the team was surprised by Quincy's physicality and didn't set a defensive tone early enough in the game.
"We played too soft and let them do too much," she said. "We just couldn't get a rhythm."
Charney also said when scoring became critical, the team was unable to deliver shots from the arc to pull them out of a point slump.
With 12 minutes to go in the second half, the Chargers began pulling it together providing a few steals and shots. They brought themselves up to a two point lag behind Quincy at 4:55 left on the clock but couldn't make the necessary basket.
"We had the capability but we were one step behind," junior Katie Cezat said.
Junior Claire Aubrey said the team's usually strong defense began to emerge in the second half, though not enough to win.
"It was exciting that we got as far as we did but it was really frustrating to lose," she said.
The Chargers were 23-5 in the regular season, and the team hopes to have set a new precedent for future seasons.
"It's a standard for the team from now on," Cezat said.
Aubrey also said she looks forward to trying to make NCAA play again next year.
"Next year we know what we'll be working for," Aubrey said. "We know what we want the end of the season to be. We just want to make it the best we can possibly make it."
Charney said next season is looking good with the addition of six freshmen and the loss of one senior.
Conference competition is going to heat up, however, with a new schedule where the Chargers will play every team twice.
"It's going to be a tough schedule and we're going to be looked at as a team that can win it all," Charney said.
Cezat honored as All-American
After a record breaking season, junior Katie Cezat became the fifth Charger to be honored as First-Team All-American this year.
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association, comprised of Division II coaches around the nation, announced 10 players nationwide as All-American Wednesday morning.
Cezat finished the season as Division II's leading scorer with 673 points. She led the Chargers to a 23-5 record - the best in school history. She averaged 24 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
Cezat is the second women's basketball player in Hillsdale College history to be named All-American. Stephanie Heid, '03, received the honor after the 2002-2003 season.
Junior Claire Aubrey, who played against Cezat in high school, said she was proud of her teammate.
"Katie's had such an amazing year this year she'll have an even better one next year," she said.
Ending their record-breaking season, the Chargers fell 82-73 after an intense second half of back-and-forth runs.
Head coach Claudette Charney said the team was surprised by Quincy's physicality and didn't set a defensive tone early enough in the game.
"We played too soft and let them do too much," she said. "We just couldn't get a rhythm."
Charney also said when scoring became critical, the team was unable to deliver shots from the arc to pull them out of a point slump.
With 12 minutes to go in the second half, the Chargers began pulling it together providing a few steals and shots. They brought themselves up to a two point lag behind Quincy at 4:55 left on the clock but couldn't make the necessary basket.
"We had the capability but we were one step behind," junior Katie Cezat said.
Junior Claire Aubrey said the team's usually strong defense began to emerge in the second half, though not enough to win.
"It was exciting that we got as far as we did but it was really frustrating to lose," she said.
The Chargers were 23-5 in the regular season, and the team hopes to have set a new precedent for future seasons.
"It's a standard for the team from now on," Cezat said.
Aubrey also said she looks forward to trying to make NCAA play again next year.
"Next year we know what we'll be working for," Aubrey said. "We know what we want the end of the season to be. We just want to make it the best we can possibly make it."
Charney said next season is looking good with the addition of six freshmen and the loss of one senior.
Conference competition is going to heat up, however, with a new schedule where the Chargers will play every team twice.
"It's going to be a tough schedule and we're going to be looked at as a team that can win it all," Charney said.
Cezat honored as All-American
After a record breaking season, junior Katie Cezat became the fifth Charger to be honored as First-Team All-American this year.
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association, comprised of Division II coaches around the nation, announced 10 players nationwide as All-American Wednesday morning.
Cezat finished the season as Division II's leading scorer with 673 points. She led the Chargers to a 23-5 record - the best in school history. She averaged 24 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
Cezat is the second women's basketball player in Hillsdale College history to be named All-American. Stephanie Heid, '03, received the honor after the 2002-2003 season.
Junior Claire Aubrey, who played against Cezat in high school, said she was proud of her teammate.
"Katie's had such an amazing year this year she'll have an even better one next year," she said.
Be the first to comment on this story