2008 Woodie Awards
Women's basketball clips Hawks, clinch playoff berth
Molly Rosa
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports
It was hunting season for the Pioneers, as they took down the Monmouth Hawks on Monday night, defeating them 64-55.
The win improved Sacred Heart's record to 16-8 overall and 11-2 in the Northeast Conference, keeping pace with first place Quinnipiac.
Junior Stephanie Ryan recorded her seventh double double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
"Stephanie is one of our leaders, especially for the defense. I feel as though she is one of the best defenders in the league," said head coach Ed Swanson.
The Pioneers have not seen the court since last Monday, which may have rendered the first half's result. With Monmouth also playing for a playoff berth, the Hawks came out firing, as they built a 26-25 lead going into the half.
"Coming up on the end of the season, we have to realize, as a team, that every opponent is fighting for a playoff spot and is going to challenge us," junior Kaitlin Sowinski said.
Monmouth intensified their defensive and rebounding efforts as they forced the Pioneers to yield 14 turnovers.
"We weren't playing very well offensively but it shows a lot that we were able to dig in and pull out the win," said freshman Alisa Apo.
"Games against Monmouth are always real scrappy and their defense took us out of rhythm," said Ryan.
With the score remaining close throughout the first twenty minutes, the Pioneers were a point shy of the Hawks at the end of the half.
The Pioneers picked up the pace in the second half as Ryan charged through the Hawks' defense to boost the Pioneer spirits.
"In the second half we had good defense, good plays, and the team was feeling good. I knew we would find a way to win," Ryan said.
Sacred Heart raced out to a 36-30 lead with just over five minutes gone by in the second half, led by a three-pointer from the top of the key by freshman Maggie Cosgrove and a pull-up jumper by freshman Alisa Apo.
Monmouth was led by Jenifer Bender, Veronica Randolph, LaKia Barber who each netted 10 points apiece. Bender added eight rebounds in the contest. Monmouth shot 38.5 percent for the game, while SHU shot 42.9 percent.
"We made big plays offensively at the end of the game that gave us a lead they couldn't come back from," Apo said.
Junior Kaitlin Sowinski grabbed the ball right out from the Hawk's grip to make a layup which gave the Pioneers a five point lead. She led all Pioneers with 16 points to go with six rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists, and two steals.
With Ryan and Apo unable to find an opening through the Hawks' defense, Cosgrove buried her third three point shot with 53 seconds to go. With 6.6 seconds left in regulation, Monmouth junior Marbely Montas fouled Ryan, who made both shots putting the Pioneers ahead by a final of 64-55.
"Tonight was a perfect example of the opponent coming out strong from the tip and taking it too us but luckily we were able to regroup and battle through for a win," said Sowinski.
The Pioneers will play host to Saint Francis (PA) this Saturday, February 16th, at 2:00 pm in the William H. Pitt Center.
The win improved Sacred Heart's record to 16-8 overall and 11-2 in the Northeast Conference, keeping pace with first place Quinnipiac.
Junior Stephanie Ryan recorded her seventh double double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
"Stephanie is one of our leaders, especially for the defense. I feel as though she is one of the best defenders in the league," said head coach Ed Swanson.
The Pioneers have not seen the court since last Monday, which may have rendered the first half's result. With Monmouth also playing for a playoff berth, the Hawks came out firing, as they built a 26-25 lead going into the half.
"Coming up on the end of the season, we have to realize, as a team, that every opponent is fighting for a playoff spot and is going to challenge us," junior Kaitlin Sowinski said.
Monmouth intensified their defensive and rebounding efforts as they forced the Pioneers to yield 14 turnovers.
"We weren't playing very well offensively but it shows a lot that we were able to dig in and pull out the win," said freshman Alisa Apo.
"Games against Monmouth are always real scrappy and their defense took us out of rhythm," said Ryan.
With the score remaining close throughout the first twenty minutes, the Pioneers were a point shy of the Hawks at the end of the half.
The Pioneers picked up the pace in the second half as Ryan charged through the Hawks' defense to boost the Pioneer spirits.
"In the second half we had good defense, good plays, and the team was feeling good. I knew we would find a way to win," Ryan said.
Sacred Heart raced out to a 36-30 lead with just over five minutes gone by in the second half, led by a three-pointer from the top of the key by freshman Maggie Cosgrove and a pull-up jumper by freshman Alisa Apo.
Monmouth was led by Jenifer Bender, Veronica Randolph, LaKia Barber who each netted 10 points apiece. Bender added eight rebounds in the contest. Monmouth shot 38.5 percent for the game, while SHU shot 42.9 percent.
"We made big plays offensively at the end of the game that gave us a lead they couldn't come back from," Apo said.
Junior Kaitlin Sowinski grabbed the ball right out from the Hawk's grip to make a layup which gave the Pioneers a five point lead. She led all Pioneers with 16 points to go with six rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists, and two steals.
With Ryan and Apo unable to find an opening through the Hawks' defense, Cosgrove buried her third three point shot with 53 seconds to go. With 6.6 seconds left in regulation, Monmouth junior Marbely Montas fouled Ryan, who made both shots putting the Pioneers ahead by a final of 64-55.
"Tonight was a perfect example of the opponent coming out strong from the tip and taking it too us but luckily we were able to regroup and battle through for a win," said Sowinski.
The Pioneers will play host to Saint Francis (PA) this Saturday, February 16th, at 2:00 pm in the William H. Pitt Center.
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