Gators Look to Continue Strong Play

Feb 25, 2008

NCAC Tournament Bracket (.pdf)

GRANVILLE, Ohio – Since the first meeting of the season between Allegheny College and Denison University; a 60-50 Big Red victory on January 26; the Gators have reeled off six wins in their last eight games, including a 67-59 upset victory over the same squad from Granville on Saturday. The reward for the Blue and Gold upset? A return trip to Granville in the first round of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, pushing the squad’s frequent-bus mileage to more than 870 over the last four days.

“It is interesting because we had that stretch there in the end of December and beginning of January where things were not going our way,” said Allegheny College Interim Head Coach Kate Costanzo. “It was an exhausting part of the season. We had a few losses in which we should have won, including at Oberlin after being up in the second half, and that was around the same time we played Denison. Part of being a good team is facing adversity and getting better through the growing pains. We had a team meeting during that time where we re-focused and talked about what it would take to get us back to where we want to be. The team has really responded, winning six-of-eight, and losing to Wittenberg by one and at Ohio Wesleyan by 12, the effort has been there. When we put the effort in, anything is possible.”

“We should be alright as far as bus-lag goes,” noted Costanzo about the back-to-back road trips. “We were off yesterday, we are having a short practice today, and then we are heading out there tonight. Tomorrow we have all day to recover from the bus ride and focus on the game. It is good for us – we put ourselves in the best position possible. We took care of our own fate as far as the tournament goes by winning Saturday, and that was huge for us.”

The young Gators squad, which features no seniors and just four juniors, has put up impressive numbers during the eight-game run to end the regular season, including out-scoring opponents by an 8.6 point-per-game margin. The two Allegheny losses have come to the #2 seed Ohio Wesleyan by 12 points on February 16 and a hard-fought one-point loss to third seed Wittenberg University on February 8.

Sophomore Brittany Bell (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) has been the main offensive catalyst for the squad, as she has hit 31-of-48 three-point baskets during that span – a .646 percentage – including hitting at least two three-pointers in every game and drilling six against both Wooster and Earlham. Her scoring average of 14.6 is tops on the squad during that span.

“Having Brittany be on with her shot adds a different dimension to our game,” said Costanzo. “It is what we have been pushing the entire season. When you pound the ball inside, the opponent will start to double down, which opens up the shooters on the outside. Brittany is an excellent shot when she is open like that, and because opponents are respecting Stephanie and Emilie more on the inside, that opens up the outside for us.”

Stephanie Wolf (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Emilie Simone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) have also been averaging in double figures over the final eight games of the regular season, putting in 13.0 and 11.4 points-per-game apiece. Additionally, Wolf has dished out a team-best 42 assists (5.25 per game), while picking up 18 steals and pulling down 40 rebounds. Five-foot, six-inch forward Shannon Culbreath (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) has been the team’s top rebounder, pulling down 47 rebounds over the most recent eight games, with Simone and Wolf close behind with 44 and 40, each.

On Saturday, the team was led by a trio of players in double figures, led by Stephanie Wolf’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) 17 points. After being shut out in the opening meeting going 0-5 from the field and 0-1 from long range, Bell added 16 points, hitting 4-of-8 three-point field goals.

“Saturday we played really well – it was a complete team effort,” said the interim coach. “Our defensive effort was there and we were diving on the floor for loose balls. Stephanie and Hilary (Collins, Franklin, Pa./Franklin Area) really took over and showed leadership on the court. We got the ball inside which opened up our outside shot. We put it all together in a big game, and got out of there with the upset.”

Despite holding a 31-21 advantage in the all-time series against the Big Red, the Gators are 1-5 when the teams have faced each other in the conference tournament, including 63-47 and 59-42 Denison wins in 2007-08 and 2006-07, respectively, with the Big Red earning the league’s automatic NCAA berth by virtue of the victories.

“It is a new year and anything is possible,” said Costanzo. “The team enjoyed beating Denison on Saturday, but with such a young team, something like the recent tournament losses has no impact on us at all.”

Tip-off for the game in Granville, Ohio is at 7:30 p.m.

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