Matthew Bodnar
Staff Reporter
Yet another women’s basketball championship has made its way to the Hill. This year’s version came after a resounding 72-56 win over #22 Muhlenberg on their home court.
Seniors Ashley Lyles, Ali Moreland, and Sally Grace led the way for the Green Terror who claimed their fourth Centennial Conference Championship in school history. Lyles finished with 15 points, Moreland with 13 points, and Grace with 12 points, as the women essentially controlled this game from start to finish.
McDaniel held a 32-20 halftime advantage and withstood a furious rally from the Mules in the second half to claim the Centennial Conference crown. Senior guard Sally Grace reflected, “We came back after those two consecutive losses and rededicated ourselves to defense and rebounding.”
The two losses Grace referred to came against Ursinus and Johns Hopkins. At the time, the team looked out of synch, but it is clear Coach Martin went back to the drawing board and made the necessary changes to make this team a champion.
Credit is due of course to the efforts of the women on the squad who didn’t back down from the challenge and reasserted themselves as championship caliber players. Junior forward Whitney Snoops, who added a double-double in the championship game, commented, “The effort from the whole team was one of the main reasons we were able to win and come home with the trophy.”
The team is now reaping the benefits of their year long dedication to achieving one goal, the Centennial Conference championship. The dream doesn’t end here though, as the Lady Green Terror have earned an automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
McDaniel has been placed in the Christopher Newport part of the bracket, where the first and second round games will be held. In the first round, McDaniel will take on Roanoke College, which has a record of 23-3 and is an at-large bid in the tournament after losing in their conference playoffs. The winner of the McDaniel-Roanoke game will take on the winner of the Christopher Newport (28-0) – Washington and Lee (18-9) game in the second round.
College athletes dream of the opportunity to take part in a national championship. The women’s basketball team is now presented with this opportunity. One dream and one heart beat will carry McDaniel into the tournament. While relying on one another, the women will lay it all on the line. Be sure to show your support and appreciation of this team that has represented the College with honor and excellence on the court.
