2008 Woodie Awards
Hanging On
Women's basketball playoff hopes still alive despite loss to Indians at home
By Randy Klins
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Sports
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Unfortunately for SRU, those mistakes came during the most important game of the season, and arguably the program's most important game in three years.
Playing to secure a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time since 2002, SRU gave up numerous first-half turnovers and couldn't overcome an 18-point deficit as IUP hung on for a 56-52 win over the Rock at Morrow Field House.
However, with a Lock Haven loss to top-ranked California on Saturday, the Rock (13-14 overall, 5-7 PSAC West) would still clinch the Western division's fourth and final spot and earn a berth in the PSAC playoffs.
Undoubtedly, the Rock players will be keeping an eye on tomorrow's game.
"For the first time in my life I will be cheering for Cal to win just one game on Saturday," point guard Amber McFeely said.
Sophomore forward KellyAnn Staudinger agreed.
"Coach told us that there is only one day that we are allowed to cheer for Cal," Staudinger said. "And Saturday is that day."
On Wednesday, the Rock had an opportunity to control its own destiny but it literally slipped through the team's fingers.
The Rock committed a total of 19 turnovers and allowed the Indians to salvage 20 offensive rebounds.
Twelve of those turnovers came in the first half, allowing IUP to make an early 11-0 run and cruise into halftime with a 35-21 lead.
"There were a lot of unforced mistakes early on," McFeely said. "I think we were too anxious and pressing too much upon ourselves to make things happen," McFeely said.
Staudinger said the turnovers and the IUP's second chances were the deciding factor in the first half.
"I believe that was the key," Staudinger said. "We outplayed them in the second half, but we just got in too big of a hole in the first half."
For a majority of the second half, the Rock made the same kind of mistakes and allowed the Indians to maintain the lead.
The Rock didn't narrow the deficit to less than nine in the second half until Staudinger hit two free-throws with 4:15 on the clock to make the score, 48-41.
A free throw by senior Kristen Bonner cut the lead to six momentarily, until Siarra Cornelius went down the court and converted a lay-up, seconds later.
But IUP didn't score for the next two minutes. During that span, senior Cathy Lee Peffer hit a jumper, McFeely scored on a lay-up and a free-throw to cut the IUP lead to three.
McFeely said the team never gave up, despite being down by double-digits most of the game.
"The team as a whole stuck together and strived for the same goal," McFeely said. "And then we were able to regroup and slowly come back."
The Rock had an opportunity to tie the game with less than a minute remaining but senior Kristen Bonner's three-point attempt didn't fall.
SRU sent IUP players to the foul line a couple of times in the ensuing seconds and one missed free-throw kept it a two-possession game, enabling Peffer to make it a one-possession game with a trey.
However, the comeback came up short when the Rock was forced to foul and the Indians put the game away.
Earlier in the night, McFeely, Bonner, Peffer, and Jess Caso, were honored on senior night.
"We knew there was only 20 more minutes left to get a win for our seniors who deserved it so much," Staudinger said. As for the future, McFeely said it's important for everyone to stay focused because the season might not be over.
"We are not looking at it as the end of the season," McFeely said. "We're looking at it as a chance and we're hoping to play on Tuesday. I have never been to the playoffs in the PSAC," McFeely said. "And I would love to have the opportunity to get there."
