That's about if for the NCAA tournament coverage. But who knows, maybe there will be blogs going for most MSU teams by the time next season starts? And finally, for even more coverage on the MSU women's basketball team and its NCAA Championship, make sure to pick up the MSU Reporter Tuesday. There will be plenty to read.
Thanks for following.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
First-Ever Champions
By Kyle Ratke and Josh Berhow
SAN ANTONIO — Sitting at the press table Tuesday afternoon, minutes after beating Michigan Tech to advance to the NCAA Division II semifinals, Alex Andrews said she wanted to be one of the few players who ended their career with a win.
And on Friday, the senior forward’s career-high 25 points helped her do so.
“It’s perfect,” said Andrews, fighting back tears after the Mavericks first-ever NCAA Championship. “It’s just unreal. It’s awesome.”
Led by Andrews and Heather Johnson’s 29 points, the Mavericks dropped Franklin Pierce 103-94 to be crowned NCAA Division II Champions Friday at Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary’s University.
Andrews was one of five seniors on the Mavericks’ roster to end their college career with a win.
“My whole life has revolved around basketball,” said senior guard Joanne Noreen. “It’s everything I wanted and I’m just glad to end my career at MSU with a win.”
The Mavericks used their run and gun offense from the initial tip-off, and after totaling 58 first-half points, their lead was only two at halftime.
“What a great game for the advancement of women’s basketball,” said MSU head coach Pam Gohl, who won a national championship in her first year heading the Mavericks. “We couldn’t figure out how to stop them, but thank God we scored more than them.”
Led by Johannah and Jennifer Leedman, who combined for 30 first-half points, the Ravens kept the Mavericks on their heels. MSU’s fast-paced offense finally found a worthy counterpart, not something the Mavericks’ are used to seeing from their opponent.
“Absolutely not,” said Noreen. “We got a taste of our own medicine.”
It was the Mavericks’ third 100-point game of the season. They led for most of it, but things looked grim late in the second half as they trailed 82-74 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Heather Johnson nailed two big 3-pointers to help the Mavericks tie the game at 84 with 6:51 left. Johnson, along with Noreen and Andrews, was named to the All-Tournament Team. Johnson was named MVP, her third MVP award this season.
“We never put our heads down,” Johnson said. “Being down eight points didn’t faze us at all.”
Johnson’s team-high 29 points were aided by a 5 for 9 effort from the 3-point line. Andrews added 11 rebounds to her career-high point total and was 11 of 13 from the field. Andrews also had a game-high five steals. Tiffany Moe and Noreen had 18 points each, and had eight and six rebounds, respectively. Noreen led the Mavericks with five assists and Moe and Andrea Walsh had four assists each.
After winning 32 games and ending their career as national champions, the Mavericks will surely be remembered.
“We want to be remembered as a cohesive group that has a lot of chemistry,” Andrews said. “We are so positive and had fun together.”
But they’ll also be remembered as champions.
SAN ANTONIO — Sitting at the press table Tuesday afternoon, minutes after beating Michigan Tech to advance to the NCAA Division II semifinals, Alex Andrews said she wanted to be one of the few players who ended their career with a win.
And on Friday, the senior forward’s career-high 25 points helped her do so.
“It’s perfect,” said Andrews, fighting back tears after the Mavericks first-ever NCAA Championship. “It’s just unreal. It’s awesome.”
Led by Andrews and Heather Johnson’s 29 points, the Mavericks dropped Franklin Pierce 103-94 to be crowned NCAA Division II Champions Friday at Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary’s University.
Andrews was one of five seniors on the Mavericks’ roster to end their college career with a win.
“My whole life has revolved around basketball,” said senior guard Joanne Noreen. “It’s everything I wanted and I’m just glad to end my career at MSU with a win.”
The Mavericks used their run and gun offense from the initial tip-off, and after totaling 58 first-half points, their lead was only two at halftime.
“What a great game for the advancement of women’s basketball,” said MSU head coach Pam Gohl, who won a national championship in her first year heading the Mavericks. “We couldn’t figure out how to stop them, but thank God we scored more than them.”
Led by Johannah and Jennifer Leedman, who combined for 30 first-half points, the Ravens kept the Mavericks on their heels. MSU’s fast-paced offense finally found a worthy counterpart, not something the Mavericks’ are used to seeing from their opponent.
“Absolutely not,” said Noreen. “We got a taste of our own medicine.”
It was the Mavericks’ third 100-point game of the season. They led for most of it, but things looked grim late in the second half as they trailed 82-74 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Heather Johnson nailed two big 3-pointers to help the Mavericks tie the game at 84 with 6:51 left. Johnson, along with Noreen and Andrews, was named to the All-Tournament Team. Johnson was named MVP, her third MVP award this season.
“We never put our heads down,” Johnson said. “Being down eight points didn’t faze us at all.”
Johnson’s team-high 29 points were aided by a 5 for 9 effort from the 3-point line. Andrews added 11 rebounds to her career-high point total and was 11 of 13 from the field. Andrews also had a game-high five steals. Tiffany Moe and Noreen had 18 points each, and had eight and six rebounds, respectively. Noreen led the Mavericks with five assists and Moe and Andrea Walsh had four assists each.
After winning 32 games and ending their career as national champions, the Mavericks will surely be remembered.
“We want to be remembered as a cohesive group that has a lot of chemistry,” Andrews said. “We are so positive and had fun together.”
But they’ll also be remembered as champions.
MAVS WIN
MSU wins first-ever National Championship with 103-94 victory over Franklin Pierce....more to come later.....
In-Game
Andrews has 23 points, nine rebounds and is 11 of 13 shooting. Her 23 points has to be close to a career-high. Four MSU players have at least 14 points.
Leedham Sisters
The pair currently has 47 combined points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, seven blocks and three steals....Yikes...
Poll results: Mavericks MVP?
Eleven people voted for Joanne Noreen as the Mavericks' 2008-09 MVP. Noreen was followed by Heather Johnson (7 votes), Alex Andrews (6 votes), Tiffany Moe (4 votes) and Andrea Walsh (2 votes).
Early in the second half Johnson is leading the way with 21 points and three 3-pointers. Andrews has 15 points, Moe has 11 points and Noreen has 10.
Still waiting for the 'D'.....
It's a good thing not either team is having an off night shooting -- otherwise they'd be in trouble. The teams are on pace for an 100-point game each. Mari Korton has four points off the bench.
Where's the 'D'?
Both offenses are working early, and the defenses are still on the bus. Tiffany Moe, Alex Andrews and Heather Johnson have seven points each, and Johannah Leedham leads the Ravens with eight points and five rebounds...
Pregame
The NCAA Division II Championship Game between (1) Minnesota State and (1) Franklin Pierce is about two minutes away from tip-off. Here are tonight's starters:
MSU
Andrea Walsh -- 5-8, So.
Tiffany Moe -- 5-9, Jr.
Heather Johnson -- 5-8, Sr.
Joanne Noreen -- 5-8, Sr.
Alex Andrews -- 5-11, Sr.
FPU
Toby Martin -- 5-5, Sr.
Cynthia Gaudet -- 5-6, So.
Jennifer Leedham -- 5-7, Sr.
Johannah Leedham -- 5-11, Jr.
Marielle Giroud -- 5-11, Fr.
Leedham Sisters Will Be Key
— Jennifer (left) and Johannah Leedham, Raymond Starin • MSU Reporter —
And just like the Mavs, the sisters have come a long way to San Antonio, especially if you're considering their hometown is Ellesmere Port, England. Both Leedham's were considered solid prospects, but Johannah was thought to play nothing but Division I basketball. But when they payed a visit to Franklin Pierce's campus when Jennifer was a senior, the British National Under 18 Team was making a campus visit, something they do every year. It seemed like a homecoming for the girls, especially since Jennifer's best friend was apart of the Under 18 Team, who she hadn't seen for about two years.
So when Jennifer decided to attend Franklin Pierce, head coach Mark Swasey had to push hard to get Johannah to make the choice the following season.
"I couldn't believe that Jo was going to be coming into Division II at the time, I was really shocked," Swasey said. "When it turned out she was going to look at our conference pretty hard, we were very excited. Obviously Jen played a huge role in that but Jo had some tough decisions to make, and I hope she's happy with the decision she made."
Jennifer, a senior, and Johannah, a junior, lead the Ravens in minutes per game and points per game. The sisters average about eight more minutes per game than the rest of the team, and Johannah was a Second Team All-American this season.
Johannah -- a 5-foot-11 guard/forward -- leads the Ravens with 23.4 points per game and her six rebounds per game is second on the team. She's also first in blocks (44), steals (101) and second in assists (107). Johannah shoots 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from the 3-point line and even 86 percent from the free-throw line.
Johannah, along with her sister Jennifer -- a 5-7 guard who averages 11.8 points per game and leads the team with 177 assists -- both like to run the fast break, which is similar to the style the Mavericks have used to create their success this season. It could turn into a fast-paced game.
"We are all kind of beat up from the Alaska-Anchorage game and a little tired from all that running, but once we get on the court I don't think anything will matter and we won't feel our legs," said MSU guard Joanne Noreen. "It will be a track meet out there."
Tipoff is slated for for 7 p.m. tonight on ESPN2.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
MSU vs. Franklin Pierce Preview -- Part 1
SAN ANTONIO — Since the beginning of the season the Minnesota State women’s basketball team had a reminder in its locker room of its only goal of the season.
Coach Pam Gohl put a picture of San Antonio – the host site of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight – in the Mavericks’ locker room, and making a trip to southern Texas has been the lone goal since.
“We've been talking about San Antonio since September when coach posted that sign on in our locker room,” said MSU forward Alex Andrews. “We've been pumped since that first win and we're just having fun and we still have a lot of basketball to show.”
Heather Johnson paced the Mavericks with 25 points Wednesday against Alaska-Anchorage in the semifinals. And for Johnson, her scoring couldn’t have come at a better time with the title game against Franklin Pierce slated for Friday.
Johnson was 5 of 7 from the 3-point line Wednesday and 8 of 10 from the field, a night after scoring eight points on just 3 of 10 shooting.
“Tuesday I stood a lot and [Wednesday] I came off screens a little bit better and was more aggressive,” Johnson said. “That allowed me to get my shot off a little bit quicker.”
The Mavericks will need Johnson to make a similar contribution Friday, but need their defense to step up and stop the Leedham sisters.
Johannah Leedham, a 5-foot-11 junior forward, averages 23.3 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. Her sister Jennifer, a senior, averages 11.9 points per game. The Ravens – a one-seed – dropped Delta State 58-39 to reach Friday’s final. The Ravens have lost just one game since New Year’s and started the season ranked No. 6 in the nation, but are 14th nationally in the most recent poll.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Greehey Arena, and will air live on ESPN2.
“We’ve watched a lot of teams have their last few games over the past few weeks and our seniors, they don’t want that,” Gohl said. “They want to win. They want to go out on a winning note and they want to celebrate all the way back to Mankato.”
Coach Pam Gohl put a picture of San Antonio – the host site of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight – in the Mavericks’ locker room, and making a trip to southern Texas has been the lone goal since.
“We've been talking about San Antonio since September when coach posted that sign on in our locker room,” said MSU forward Alex Andrews. “We've been pumped since that first win and we're just having fun and we still have a lot of basketball to show.”
Heather Johnson paced the Mavericks with 25 points Wednesday against Alaska-Anchorage in the semifinals. And for Johnson, her scoring couldn’t have come at a better time with the title game against Franklin Pierce slated for Friday.
Johnson was 5 of 7 from the 3-point line Wednesday and 8 of 10 from the field, a night after scoring eight points on just 3 of 10 shooting.
“Tuesday I stood a lot and [Wednesday] I came off screens a little bit better and was more aggressive,” Johnson said. “That allowed me to get my shot off a little bit quicker.”
The Mavericks will need Johnson to make a similar contribution Friday, but need their defense to step up and stop the Leedham sisters.
Johannah Leedham, a 5-foot-11 junior forward, averages 23.3 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. Her sister Jennifer, a senior, averages 11.9 points per game. The Ravens – a one-seed – dropped Delta State 58-39 to reach Friday’s final. The Ravens have lost just one game since New Year’s and started the season ranked No. 6 in the nation, but are 14th nationally in the most recent poll.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Greehey Arena, and will air live on ESPN2.
“We’ve watched a lot of teams have their last few games over the past few weeks and our seniors, they don’t want that,” Gohl said. “They want to win. They want to go out on a winning note and they want to celebrate all the way back to Mankato.”
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Mavericks Blow Past Seawolves
With the smiles and laughs being shared between members of the Minnesota State women’s basketball team, one would’ve never known that 24 hours ago Heather Johnson played one of her worst games of the season. Luckily for Johnson and the Mavericks, they still found a way to win.
It would have been easy for Johnson to hang her head during Wednesday’s semifinal matchup against Alaska-Anchorage, but she knew Tuesday’s performance didn’t matter. The senior guard knew that any member of the team could pick her up.
But Johnson took matters into her own hands at Bill Greehey Arena, scoring 25 points to lead the Mavericks to their first-ever national championship game in a 83-60 massacre against the Seawolves.
“As long as I can come in and contribute,” Johnson said. “Anything I can do to help us win, whether it’s an assist, rebound, or defensively.”
Johnson electrified the Mavericks from the start – showing no signs of her struggles from the night before – as she scored 15 points in the first half and didn’t miss a shot from the floor, and was 3 for 3 from the 3-point line.
“We’ve been shooting pretty well throughout the course of the year,” said MSU head coach Pam Gohl. “But you never know if your shots are going to go in or if you’re going to be a little tight on your jumpers. The girls were relaxed and they just did a great job of knocking their shots down.”
The topic of the night wasn’t supposed to be about Johnson and the guards, but instead on the post play of UAA’s Rebecca Kielpinski and whether the Mavericks could match up with the All-American center.
Alex Andrews answered that question in the first half, as she and Mari Korton held Kielpinski to just two points, as she shot 1 for 3 from the field.
“We weren’t too worried about the big girls,” Andrews said. “We knew what we had to do and had to try and be as big as we could.”
The second half was more of the same for the Mavericks. But this time they got more players involved and were able to stretch the lead.
As Gohl’s said before, the Mavericks have so many dangerous players, some fans might not even see on the court.
One of those players is senior center Teresa Parker. Parker played in just 10 games this season and has seen minimal minutes. Gohl decided to sub in Parker midway through the second half, hoping it might give the lineup a boost.
It turned out to be a smart move as she had a team-high three blocks in just 10 minutes of work. And during every one of those blocks, every member of the bench was on their feet.
“We’ve had so much confidence coming down here,” Andrews said. “Like with Teresa stepping up, we have so much confidence in each other that we knew that whoever we faced—you can’t stop all of us on this team.”
The Mavericks will likely be on their feet for a few more hours, trying to settle down from the excitement.
“These girls have managed to understand the difference between celebrating after a big win and focusing on the next game,” Gohl said. “They’ve been so focused that I think we’ll be OK.”
The Mavericks have done more than what’s been expected, as they’re just two days away from a chance at making history.
The dream of bringing a national championship back to Mankato is no longer out of the question, as the Mavericks are just one game away from turning their dream into a reality.
It would have been easy for Johnson to hang her head during Wednesday’s semifinal matchup against Alaska-Anchorage, but she knew Tuesday’s performance didn’t matter. The senior guard knew that any member of the team could pick her up.
But Johnson took matters into her own hands at Bill Greehey Arena, scoring 25 points to lead the Mavericks to their first-ever national championship game in a 83-60 massacre against the Seawolves.
“As long as I can come in and contribute,” Johnson said. “Anything I can do to help us win, whether it’s an assist, rebound, or defensively.”
Johnson electrified the Mavericks from the start – showing no signs of her struggles from the night before – as she scored 15 points in the first half and didn’t miss a shot from the floor, and was 3 for 3 from the 3-point line.
“We’ve been shooting pretty well throughout the course of the year,” said MSU head coach Pam Gohl. “But you never know if your shots are going to go in or if you’re going to be a little tight on your jumpers. The girls were relaxed and they just did a great job of knocking their shots down.”
The topic of the night wasn’t supposed to be about Johnson and the guards, but instead on the post play of UAA’s Rebecca Kielpinski and whether the Mavericks could match up with the All-American center.
Alex Andrews answered that question in the first half, as she and Mari Korton held Kielpinski to just two points, as she shot 1 for 3 from the field.
“We weren’t too worried about the big girls,” Andrews said. “We knew what we had to do and had to try and be as big as we could.”
The second half was more of the same for the Mavericks. But this time they got more players involved and were able to stretch the lead.
As Gohl’s said before, the Mavericks have so many dangerous players, some fans might not even see on the court.
One of those players is senior center Teresa Parker. Parker played in just 10 games this season and has seen minimal minutes. Gohl decided to sub in Parker midway through the second half, hoping it might give the lineup a boost.
It turned out to be a smart move as she had a team-high three blocks in just 10 minutes of work. And during every one of those blocks, every member of the bench was on their feet.
“We’ve had so much confidence coming down here,” Andrews said. “Like with Teresa stepping up, we have so much confidence in each other that we knew that whoever we faced—you can’t stop all of us on this team.”
The Mavericks will likely be on their feet for a few more hours, trying to settle down from the excitement.
“These girls have managed to understand the difference between celebrating after a big win and focusing on the next game,” Gohl said. “They’ve been so focused that I think we’ll be OK.”
The Mavericks have done more than what’s been expected, as they’re just two days away from a chance at making history.
The dream of bringing a national championship back to Mankato is no longer out of the question, as the Mavericks are just one game away from turning their dream into a reality.
Never Too Late To Find Another Fan
SAN ANTONIO — Even 1,220 miles away, it’s never too late to make a new friend, gain a fan, or in the Minnesota State women’s basketball team’s case — both.
It’s been about 10 years since Don and Janis Furness were last in Minnesota, but the married couple of 15 years were regulars in the crowd Wednesday night on the campus of St. Mary’s University, as they watched MSU triumph over Alaska-Anchorage 83-60 to advance to Friday’s NCAA Division II Final.
“They might be able to beat Iowa State or Oklahoma,” said Don Furness, 55, at halftime of Wednesday’s game, when the Mavericks held a 38-27 lead.
The couple makes their home in Pottsboro, Texas, about 70 miles north of Dallas, but became new-found MSU fans when they ran into MSU forward Alex Andrews’ mom, Glenda Andrews, Tuesday. They engaged in friendly conversation after bumping into each other at a restaurant, and the Andrews’ told the Furness’ the television channel and radio station where they could find the game.
But the Furness’ decided to make the trip in person, and did on Janis Furness’ 57th birthday. Alex Andrews was nothing short of thrilled when she found out the Furness’ were in attendance Wednesday.
“Oh my gosh they made it—that’s awesome!” she said. “We were just talking Tuesday about how many people we were seeing from Minnesota. It’s just such a small world.”
The couple came to San Antonio through work, as they were attending a Homeland Security Conference throughout the week. And of all the places to be on Janis’ birthday, she never thought it would be in Bill Greehey Arena watching MSU basketball.
“No, not at the Elite Eight,” she said with a laugh. “But we love basketball, we watch it all the time.”
The Mavericks meet Franklin Pierce at 7 p.m. Friday in the title game, but unfortunately for MSU’s new biggest fans, the Furness’ might not be able to make the trip.
“I’d like too,” said Janis Furness, “but we won’t be here.”
The couple has dinner plans for 4 p.m. Saturday in Pottsboro, and it’s about a six and a half hour drive home. They might be well on their way back home by tip-off Friday night.
“We might have to stay, honey,” said Don Furness to his wife. “We might have to. We could do it but we would have to be driving late at night.
“We might do it, we might.”
I guess it’s never too late to find a couple new fans, no matter how many miles away from home.
It’s been about 10 years since Don and Janis Furness were last in Minnesota, but the married couple of 15 years were regulars in the crowd Wednesday night on the campus of St. Mary’s University, as they watched MSU triumph over Alaska-Anchorage 83-60 to advance to Friday’s NCAA Division II Final.
“They might be able to beat Iowa State or Oklahoma,” said Don Furness, 55, at halftime of Wednesday’s game, when the Mavericks held a 38-27 lead.
The couple makes their home in Pottsboro, Texas, about 70 miles north of Dallas, but became new-found MSU fans when they ran into MSU forward Alex Andrews’ mom, Glenda Andrews, Tuesday. They engaged in friendly conversation after bumping into each other at a restaurant, and the Andrews’ told the Furness’ the television channel and radio station where they could find the game.
But the Furness’ decided to make the trip in person, and did on Janis Furness’ 57th birthday. Alex Andrews was nothing short of thrilled when she found out the Furness’ were in attendance Wednesday.
“Oh my gosh they made it—that’s awesome!” she said. “We were just talking Tuesday about how many people we were seeing from Minnesota. It’s just such a small world.”
The couple came to San Antonio through work, as they were attending a Homeland Security Conference throughout the week. And of all the places to be on Janis’ birthday, she never thought it would be in Bill Greehey Arena watching MSU basketball.
“No, not at the Elite Eight,” she said with a laugh. “But we love basketball, we watch it all the time.”
The Mavericks meet Franklin Pierce at 7 p.m. Friday in the title game, but unfortunately for MSU’s new biggest fans, the Furness’ might not be able to make the trip.
“I’d like too,” said Janis Furness, “but we won’t be here.”
The couple has dinner plans for 4 p.m. Saturday in Pottsboro, and it’s about a six and a half hour drive home. They might be well on their way back home by tip-off Friday night.
“We might have to stay, honey,” said Don Furness to his wife. “We might have to. We could do it but we would have to be driving late at night.
“We might do it, we might.”
I guess it’s never too late to find a couple new fans, no matter how many miles away from home.
Poll Results
Of our most recent poll of what was most likely to happen against the Seawolves, an astonishing, breathtaking 18 people voted. Six people said Heather Johnson would hit more than three 3's. Johnson rebounded from Tuesday's game to hit five 3's, and three in the first half.
Four people voted for Jo Noreen to score at least 20 points, and the senior guard finished with 16. Three people voted for Alex Andrews to record a double-double, and she finished with 15 points but was seven rebounds shy of a double-double. Two people voted for Tiffany Moe to record seven assists and she finished with five. Moe, however, lit up the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Two more people voted for more than five people to vote on our poll, and they're the real winners, as 18 people were Mavericks Basketball blog junkies. One person voted for a bench player to score at least 10, and Lauren Barber led the bench with six points on two 3-pointers.
A new poll will be up shortly, along with three stories about tonight's game. We'll be back Thursday with press conference notes from both teams.
Four people voted for Jo Noreen to score at least 20 points, and the senior guard finished with 16. Three people voted for Alex Andrews to record a double-double, and she finished with 15 points but was seven rebounds shy of a double-double. Two people voted for Tiffany Moe to record seven assists and she finished with five. Moe, however, lit up the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Two more people voted for more than five people to vote on our poll, and they're the real winners, as 18 people were Mavericks Basketball blog junkies. One person voted for a bench player to score at least 10, and Lauren Barber led the bench with six points on two 3-pointers.
A new poll will be up shortly, along with three stories about tonight's game. We'll be back Thursday with press conference notes from both teams.
Parker enters game
Senior center Teresa Parker has not played many minutes for the Mavericks this season, but she has surprisingly just entered the game. She has been great defensively picking up a few blocks. The Mavericks are losing the lead though, as they are up by less than 10 with just over six minutes left.
New half.. same results
UAA came out early on and looked to get the ball inside, but a big 3-pointer from Alex Andrews stopped the momentum. Andrea Walsh is also hitting some clutch shots. Johnson has not scored yet in the second half, but MSU still holds a double-digit lead.
Seawolves might be in trouble...
The Mavericks are in the driver's seat early, and UAA could be in trouble. Johnson is a point shy of doubling last night's total--and there's still just more than seven minutes left in the half.
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